Hendersonville's Holidays Run on a Few Dates, and the Lake Gets the First Night
October 29, 2026
October 29, 2026
Hendersonville's 2026 holiday calendar is short. HolidayFest has three holiday-season events this year: the Indian Lake Loop on Thanksgiving morning, the Christmas Boat Parade on Saturday, December 5, and the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 6. Its event list skips straight from there to a 2027 gala.
So the season really rests on one Thursday morning and one weekend. Most of the planning has to happen in November, before the events themselves. The Thanksgiving race doesn't take same-day sign-ups, Rock Castle's evening concerts are booked by email, and the first weekend of December puts the lake event and the Main Street event on back-to-back days.
The 20th Annual Indian Lake Loop starts at 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 26, at The Streets of Indian Lake. You can run the 5 Mile Timed Race or the 5K Fun Run. The race's own site says the start and finish are in front of the Regal theater.
Most of the work happens before race day. The race's RunSignup page says there is no same-day registration, and every runner has to pick up a packet and shirt ahead of time at Birdie Bros at The Streets of Indian Lake. HolidayFest's own event page says same-day registration is allowed, but the registration page and the race site both say no, so plan on registering in advance.
Here's the schedule that matters, from the race listing:
The road closures affect people who aren't running, too. If Thanksgiving morning includes a grocery run or a drive past Indian Lake, those streets close at 7:30.
Before the December weekend, the season's sit-down evenings are at Historic Rock Castle. The Winter Concert Series runs Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, from 5 to 9 p.m. in Lakeview Hall. Tickets are $75 per guest, all-inclusive, and cover heavy hors d'oeuvres, craft beer from Half Batch Brewing, and wine. The performers haven't been posted yet. Reservations go only through Executive Director Sam Gilbert by email.
Two days earlier, on Thursday, November 19, the Hendersonville charity Christmas 4 Kids holds its Songwriters Night at Rock Castle. A start time and ticket details haven't been listed yet. So the Castle hosts evening events three times in four days, and the Winter Concert Series is the one you can't simply show up for.
HolidayFest's two big events are 24 hours apart. One takes place on the water after dark. The other is on Main Street on a Sunday afternoon.
The 2026 Deck The Hulls Christmas Boat Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, and HolidayFest lists it as running until 8. The route starts in Drakes Creek, passes Mallard Park, where the judges sit, and finishes at Sanders Ferry Park. Watching is free, and so is entering a boat. The city's calendar lists the event at the Mallard Point Boat Launch on Sanders Ferry. Boat owners can sign up through HolidayFest's entry form now. The presenting partners are ExS Group, FOX 17, Comcast and Hendersonville Parks & Rec.
The same Saturday, Christmas 4 Kids holds its Twelve Stones Golf Scramble, and the city calendar lists the Collegiate Rugby Playoffs at Rugby Park on Avant Lane.
The next afternoon, HolidayFest's "A Storybook Christmas" parade starts at 2 p.m. and runs down Main Street. HolidayFest says it includes more than 80 floats, trailers, dancers and entertainers, with Santa at the end. The tree lighting follows at Memorial Park, 151 E Main St. ExS Group presents the parade, and HolidayFest lists the afternoon as running from 2 to 6 p.m. The city calendar has the parade at Memorial Park on the same date.
Historic Rock Castle's free open house, "A Merry Castle Christmas," is planned for that weekend too. Visitors can tour the 1784 home of General Daniel and Sarah Smith for free, have refreshments, browse the holiday gift shop and take photos with Santa from 3 to 6 p.m. No ticket is needed. Rock Castle's event page lists the date as "Saturday, December 6, 2026." In 2026, December 6 falls on a Sunday. If the open house is on Sunday, its hours overlap the parade and tree lighting. If it's on Saturday, it ends shortly after the boat parade starts at 5:30. Either way, it's worth emailing Rock Castle to confirm the day before you plan the weekend around it.
| Date | Event | Where | Before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Nov. 19 | Christmas 4 Kids Songwriters Night | Historic Rock Castle | Start time and tickets not yet listed |
| Sat.–Sun., Nov. 21–22 | Winter Concert Series, 5–9 p.m. | Lakeview Hall, Rock Castle | $75 per guest, reserve by email |
| Mon.–Wed., Nov. 23–25 | Indian Lake Loop packet pickup | Birdie Bros, The Streets of Indian Lake | Required, no race-day registration |
| Thu., Nov. 26 | Indian Lake Loop, 8 a.m. | The Streets of Indian Lake | Roads close at 7:30 a.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Deck The Hulls Boat Parade, 5:30 p.m. | Drakes Creek to Sanders Ferry Park | Free to watch and to enter a boat |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting, 2 p.m. | Main Street and Memorial Park | Tree lighting follows the parade |
| Dec. 6, per Rock Castle | A Merry Castle Christmas, 3–6 p.m. | Historic Rock Castle | Free, confirm the day |
| Sat.–Sun., Dec. 12–13 | Santa Skate | Not yet listed | On the city calendar |
| Mon., Dec. 14 | Christmas 4 Kids Bus Show | First Baptist Hendersonville | Details "Coming Soon" |
Main Street has more places to eat than it did last holiday season, and one more is on the way. Chick-fil-A Johnny Cash Pkwy opened at 262 East Main Street on March 17, 2026. On the west side, Degthai took over the former Trattoria La Caverna space at 750 West Main Street, as WhatNow Nashville reported in June. Degthai's website now lists the Hendersonville restaurant with hours for dine-in and takeout.
The newest one isn't open yet. In-N-Out Burger is building at 100 N. Anderson Lane on East Main Street, near the Lowe's. The company's director of real estate, Matt Loevenguth, told the Tennessean on October 20 that the company hopes "to be serving Double-Doubles by Christmas." That's a goal, not an announced opening date. If it opens on time, it would be East Main's newest restaurant during the holidays.
The city calendar lists Santa Skate on December 12 and 13 but no location yet. Christmas 4 Kids runs a middle school shopping event at the Hendersonville Walmart on December 13, its Bus Show at First Baptist Hendersonville on December 14, and another shopping event at the Hendersonville Walmart on December 15.
Hosting family over the holidays, or trying to fit Rock Castle into parade weekend? Jessica Cassalia knows Hendersonville well and is happy to talk through it, from boat parade nights at Sanders Ferry Park to Sunday afternoons on Main Street. If your own plans include a move next year, a free home valuation is a simple place to start.
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