Wendell Wonderland — Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival

Rain or shine; downtown street closures; trolley pickup at the Woman's Club lot.

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About this adventure

Wendell Wonderland is the Town of Wendell's free kickoff to Christmas, held downtown on the first Friday of December, which in 2026 is Friday, Dec 4. The evening centers on the lighting of the town Christmas tree at about 6 pm at the J. Ashley Wall Town Square, at the corner of Cypress and Third streets, followed straight away by Santa Claus, who rolls in on a Wendell Fire Department truck. Around that, downtown fills with a craft market, food trucks, live performances, a cookie walk, a s'mores wagon, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a Polar Express story time (time still to be announced). A trolley circulates through downtown from 5:30 to 9 pm, picking up and dropping off at the Woman's Club lot by the Town Square, and families can also visit the Lake Myra Christmas Light Show. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots drive. The event is rain or shine. Main, Third, Cypress, Depot and Campen streets close from about noon to 11 pm, so use public lots or legal street parking nearby.