Batavia holiday season 2026: lights, Santa and shopping dates

Batavia's holiday season starts downtown with the Holiday Lantern Walk on Friday, Nov. 13, and the big family night is the Celebration of Lights on the Riverwalk on Sunday, Nov. 29. Here are the Batavia dates confirmed on official organizer and venue pages, in calendar order.

Friday, Nov. 13: Holiday Lantern Walk downtown

Batavia MainStreet's Holiday Lantern Walk runs from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13. More than 30 downtown businesses stay open late for early holiday shopping. A free hop-on, hop-off holiday trolley runs across downtown, or you can follow the lantern trail on foot.

The list of participating businesses includes A Rooted Home, Batavia Creamery, Batavia Popcorn Depot, Fat Sam's for Pets, Limestone Coffee & Tea, Paula's Couture Consignment, Red Hive Market, Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Warehouse 55 and Wilson Street Mercantile. Batavia Academy of Dance plans live ballet dancers in its windows, and Start Something Studio hosts a Young Makers Market from 5 to 7 p.m.

The $25 wine tickets, new this year for adults 21 and older, are sold out, according to the MainStreet event page. The full list of shops and specials is on that page.

Saturdays: Indoor Market at Sturdy Shelter

The Indoor Market series is listed on the MainStreet calendar on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon at Sturdy Shelter Brewing, 10 S. Shumway Ave., with dates running through November and December. It is a good stop for local food and gifts on a weekend morning. Check the calendar before you go, since individual dates can change.

Sunday, Nov. 29: Celebration of Lights

The Batavia Park District's Celebration of Lights is the big family night of the season. It runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 29 on the Batavia Riverwalk around the Peg Bond Center, 151 N. Island Ave.

The posted schedule includes:

• A community sing-along at 5:15 p.m.
• Santa's arrival and the ceremonial tree lighting with Mayor Schielke at 5:30 p.m.
• Christmas Tree Lane, with trees decorated by local organizations, businesses and families, plus winners announced in three categories
• Reindeer viewing, a holiday craft, story time with the Batavia Public Library and a free treat
• Santa's Warming House at the Peg Bond Center, with a treat from Santa for kids under 10 while supplies last
• Free hayrides with a food donation for the Batavia Food Pantry
• A Hometown Holidays exhibit about Batavians' holiday traditions at the Batavia Depot Museum

Bring a canned or boxed food item if your kids want the hayride.

Tuesday, Dec. 8: Winter Wonderland at BFAC

Batavia High School's music department presents its Winter Wonderland holiday concert at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1250 W. Wilson St., on Dec. 8. The centre describes it as all 400 BHS student musicians performing holiday music in one show that runs 75 minutes or less. Show times and tickets are on the BFAC site.

Friday, Dec. 11: The Midtown Men Holiday Hits

For a night out, The Midtown Men bring their holiday show to BFAC at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 11. Tickets are $48 to $77, with children's pricing for ages 12 and under.

Saturday, Dec. 12: Breakfast with Santa

The park district's Breakfast with Santa takes place from 8:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Shannon Hall, 14 N. Van Buren St. Santa and Mrs. Claus visit, and Santa talks with each child and hands out a small gift. There are two time slots. Register every family member who plans to attend and choose your slot when you sign up. Tickets are sold through the park district.

Plan ahead

The Lantern Walk and Celebration of Lights are open to everyone. Breakfast with Santa and the BFAC shows need tickets, and family events like these can fill up, so book early. We will add more Batavia holiday dates as organizers confirm them.