# Gastonia Christmas in the City & Tree Lighting > Event for families in the Charlotte–Concord–Gastonia area (NC / SC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Sun, Dec 6 · 3:00 PM – 7:30 PM - Where: Rotary Centennial Pavilion & Downtown Gastonia, 107 N South St, Gastonia, NC 28052 - Ages: All ages (free public celebration with children's train rides, bounce houses, and Santa photos) - Price: Free admission; all activities, trackless train rides, inflatables, and entertainment are free - Organizer: City of Gastonia Parks and Recreation & Keep Gastonia Beautiful - Official page: https://www.gastonianc.gov/ - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 12, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-11), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/charlotte/activities/gastonia-christmas-in-the-city-and-tree-lighting--listing-d39112fbc400dfbd58fe932b ## About Christmas in the City is Gaston County's premier downtown holiday celebration, held at the covered open-air Rotary Centennial Pavilion. The festive afternoon features a holiday artisan marketplace, free trackless train rides through the streets for children, a holiday bounce village, Victorian carolers, and free photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Families line Main Avenue to watch the Gastonia Christmas Parade featuring high school marching bands, festive floats, and youth dance teams, followed by the official lighting of the towering city Christmas tree at the pavilion. The Rotary Pavilion and surrounding downtown streetscapes feature flat, concrete pedestrian surfaces that are fully accessible for strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs. The open-air pavilion provides covered seating to protect against chilly breezes. Heated public restrooms with diaper changing stations are located directly inside the pavilion complex, and free parking is available in adjacent downtown parking decks. ## Similar picks in Charlotte - [Christmas in the City (Gastonia)](https://grassyknees.com/charlotte/activities/christmas-in-the-city-gastonia--listing-c04388390833a316101a2968) — Sun, Dec 6 · 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM · Rotary Pavilion, Gastonia · Free · checked Oct 14. 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