✦ Holiday Guide 2026 ✦
Holiday Magic on Hawaiʻi Island: Christmas Parades, Markets and Festive Celebrations for 2026
Christmas parades through town, handmade gifts from island artists, Santa arriving beside the ocean—holiday season on the Big Island comes with its own sense of place. From Hilo and Keaʻau to Kailua-Kona and the Kohala Coast, the 2026 calendar offers community celebrations, festive meals and plenty of reasons to gather.
Whether you’re planning a family outing or a special evening with friends, here’s a guide to the season, from November’s craft fairs through New Year’s Day.
All dates are for 2026 unless otherwise noted. Times are Hawaiʻi time. Check organizer links before heading out; some schedules are still being finalized. For resort events, confirm reservations, pricing and access for visitors who aren’t overnight guests.
◆ Start the Season with Holiday Shopping
Nov 20–21
37th Annual Hilo Christmas Craft Fair
Nov 20, 5–9 p.m. · Nov 21, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. · Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Stadium, Hilo
Hilo gets an early start with a chance to browse local crafts and get a head start on holiday gifts.
Nov 27
Queens’ Marketplace Black Friday Holiday Mākeke
10 a.m.–4 p.m. · Waikoloa Beach Resort, Kohala Coast
Local vendors and live entertainment on the Kohala Coast. In Kailua-Kona, the Kailua Kalikimaka Tree Lighting is listed for that evening at 5 p.m.
Queens’ Marketplace event → · Kailua Village’s 2026 calendar →
Dec 4–5
Nā Mākua Invitational Christmas Gift Fair
Dec 4, 2–7 p.m. · Dec 5, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. · Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Stadium, Hilo
Dec 5–6
Paradise Studio Art Tour Free
10 a.m.–4 p.m. · Hawaiian Paradise Park, Keaʻau
Artists open their studios to visitors for a weekend of browsing and holiday shopping.
Dec 19
Mauna Lani Holiday Market
1–6 p.m. · Resort lower lobby, Kohala Coast
A coastal shopping afternoon later in the month.
◆ Make Time for the Christmas Parades
The island’s Christmas parades are a highlight of the season, bringing neighbors, families and visitors together along town streets.
Nov 28
Hilo Christmas Parade
Start time and route to be confirmed
Check the parade organizer for updates before making plans.
Dec 5
66th Annual Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade
6 p.m. · Waimea
This year’s theme, “Waimea…Small Town…Big Legacy,” celebrates the community’s history and enduring connections.
Dec 12
Kailua Village Christmas Parade
5:30 p.m. · Kailua-Kona · Theme: “Mele Kalikimaka Magic”
Dec 12
Keaʻau Lighted Christmas Parade
6 p.m. · Along Keaʻau–Pāhoa Road · Theme: “ʻOhana Lights the Way”
Planning tip: The Kailua Village and Keaʻau parades take place the same evening, so choose the side of the island where you’d like to spend the night.
Dec · TBA
Waikoloa Village Christmas Parade & Keiki Fest
Also one to watch—its December date is still pending. Remember that Waikoloa Village is inland, separate from the Waikoloa Beach Resort shopping and hotel area.
◆ Spend a Holiday Sunday in Kailua Village
December 13 is a good day to set aside for downtown Kailua-Kona.
Dec 13
Kōkua Kailua Village Stroll — Kailua Kalikimaka Edition
1–6 p.m. · Aliʻi Drive, Kailua-Kona
Aliʻi Drive becomes a pedestrian marketplace with local vendors, food and entertainment.
The village’s published 2026 calendar also lists a holiday concert at Emma’s Square at 4 p.m. and a Lighted Boat Parade near Kailua Pier at 6 p.m. Recheck those two events closer to the date, as some live calendars still show their final details as pending.
◆ Celebrate with Food, Music and an Evening Out
Dec 5
Christmas with the Chefs
5:30–8:30 p.m. · OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa, Keauhou
A culinary fundraiser featuring tasting stations, beverages and live entertainment, with individual tickets and VIP tables available.
Dec 5
Fairmont Orchid Holiday Social 21+
6–10 p.m. · Kohala Coast · $150 per person, including tax and service charge
An adults-only celebration with a dinner buffet, DJ and dancing. Reserve by November 25 by calling 808-887-7333.
Nov – Dec
Holiday Season at Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort
The season includes the Bar BenFiddich Pop-Up on November 21–22, Pūlehu Night on November 24 at 5:30 p.m., Thanksgiving dining on November 26, and Paniolo Pāʻina on December 22 at 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining are also planned.
Holidays
Festive Lūʻaus
Holiday dates are listed for Island Breeze at Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort, Hawaiʻiloa at Fairmont Orchid, and Hale Hoaloha at Mauna Lani, including Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s celebrations at participating locations. Check each venue’s schedule when booking.
◆ Find Family Fun from Kaʻū to the Kohala Coast
Dec 5
Holidays in Kahuku Free
9 a.m.–3 p.m. · Kahuku Unit, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
A daytime community celebration with local artisans, live music, children’s activities and food.
Dec 23 & 25
Gingerbread Hale & Santa on the Beach at Kona Village
Dec 23, 10 a.m. at Hale Hoʻokipa · Dec 25, 9 a.m. at Kahuwai Bay
The family calendar includes a Gingerbread Hale Decorating Contest, followed by Santa on the Beach on Christmas morning. Ask the resort about participation and reservations.
Season
Mauna Lani Holiday Program
Lists a holiday tree lighting, Santa’s outrigger canoe arrival, gingerbread decorating and family movie nights. Exact dates and participation details vary by activity.
◆ Catch The Nutcracker Before Christmas
West Hawaiʻi Dance Theatre brings The Nutcracker Ballet to two venues this December.
Dec 19–20
Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua
Dec 19 at 2 and 6 p.m. · Dec 20 at 2 p.m.
◆ Welcome the New Year Beside the Ocean
Dec 31 – Jan 1
New Year’s at Kona Village
A family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration with beachside dining, Hawaiian entertainment, live music and children’s activities. On January 1, 2027, the Intention Setting Sound Bath offers a quieter start to the year at 6 p.m. at Hale Hoʻokipa ($75 per person, ages 16 and older).
Dec 31
Mauna Lani New Year’s Program
Festive dining, a Great Lawn party and fireworks on the Kohala Coast. Confirm event times, reservations and visitor access directly with the resort.
◆ More Holiday Traditions to Watch For
Several community favorites still have December dates to be announced:
Holualoa Music & Light FestivalHāwī Christmas StrollKainaliu Kalikimaka Holiday StrollWest Hawaiʻi County Band Holiday ConcertChristmas in the Park: Garden Enchantment (Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Hilo)
Holualoa updates → · Big Island event calendar →
With celebrations spread across the island, it helps to build each outing around one area. Spend an afternoon shopping before a parade, make a festive dinner the centerpiece of an evening, or take the family to a community fair. There’s plenty of room to create a holiday tradition of your own on Hawaiʻi Island.
MELE KALIKIMAKA ✦ HAUʻOLI MAKAHIKI HOU
