The Leesburg Christmas parade is 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, down King Street, rain date Dec. 13. Road closures, parking and the Dec. 5 tree lighting.
Last checked Oct. 28, 2026. This page is updated each year. Source: the Town of Leesburg’s Holidays in Leesburg page and its parade parking detour directions.
The 2026 dates are set. The Town of Leesburg lights its holiday tree on the Town Green at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and the Christmas and Holiday Parade steps off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, from Ida Lee Park down King Street. The same first weekend brings the town’s Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show at Ida Lee Park. All three are free. Questions: Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, 703-777-1368.
Who to call
- Ida Lee Park Recreation Center (town events, parade entries): 703-777-1368
- Town of Leesburg main line: 703-777-2420
- Leesburg police non-emergency (traffic and closures on the night): 703-771-4500
The dates at a glance
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show | Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, 60 Ida Lee Drive NW |
| Saturday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m. | Holiday Tree Lighting | Town Green, 25 W. Market St. |
| Sunday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show | Ida Lee Park Recreation Center |
| Saturday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m. | Christmas and Holiday Parade | Ida Lee Park down King Street to the Safeway lot |
| Sunday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m. | Parade rain date | Same route |
Holiday Tree Lighting, Dec. 5
The town’s tree lighting begins at 6 p.m. on the Town Green beside Town Hall at 25 W. Market St., with lights, live music, holiday characters and what the town calls “community cheer.” Sunset that day is just before 4:50 p.m., so the tree goes on in full dark.
Christmas and Holiday Parade, Dec. 12
On the second Saturday of December, the Christmas and Holiday Parade brings Santa and his friends down King Street through historic downtown. It starts at 6 p.m. at Ida Lee Park, 60 Ida Lee Drive NW, and ends at the Safeway parking lot on King Street. If it rains, the parade moves to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.
- Watching: King Street downtown, between Ida Lee Park and the Safeway lot, is the route. Bring layers; it is a December evening.
- Taking part: entry is free and open to the public. The town posts a 2026 Holiday Parade entry form on the same page.
- Accessibility: the town takes requests for a reasonable accommodation through its ADA accommodation request form.
Road closures for the Leesburg Christmas parade
For the 2025 parade, the town closed King Street to traffic at 5:15 p.m., from Battlefield Parkway to Catoctin Circle, and reopened it once its Public Works Department finished cleanup, according to the town’s 2025 parade news release. Expect a similar closure on Dec. 12; we will update this page when the town announces the 2026 times.
Parking on parade night
The town’s parade release lists four places to park: the Town Hall garage, the Pennington garage, the Loudoun County Government Center garage and the Liberty Street lot. King Street is closed for the parade, so the town publishes detour directions from the Town Hall garage to two of the others:
- Loudoun County garage, 1 Harrison St. SE: from West Market Street, go west, turn left onto Catoctin Circle, left onto Harrison Street, left onto East Loudoun Street and right into the garage.
- Pennington Lot and garage, 210 Church St. NE: from West Market Street, go west, left onto Catoctin Circle, left onto Edwards Ferry Road, right onto Harrison Street, left onto North Street and right onto Church Street. The town says the Pennington Lot is more likely to have space.
More on downtown parking is in our getting around guide.
Holiday Fine Arts and Crafts Show, Dec. 5-6
The town’s holiday show fills the basketball courts, aerobics room, main hallway and lower level of Ida Lee Park Recreation Center with local and regional artisans: candles, stained glass, carved wood, jewelry, table linens and more. Everything must be handmade by the artist selling it, and no wholesale or resale goods are allowed. Admission and parking are free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Artists apply through the town’s online application on Eventeny.
What this means for you
Mark Dec. 5 for the craft show and the 6 p.m. tree lighting on the Town Green, and Dec. 12 for the 6 p.m. parade, with Dec. 13 as the backup. On parade night, park in the Pennington Lot or the county garage and walk to King Street. We will add any changes the town announces. For light displays, Santa visits and other December events, see holiday lights and Christmas events. For the rest of the season, see things to do this month, and check our trash and recycling guide for holiday pickup changes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Leesburg Christmas parade in 2026?
6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. The parade starts at Ida Lee Park, goes down King Street through historic downtown and ends at the Safeway parking lot on King Street. The rain date is 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.
What roads close for the Leesburg Christmas parade?
King Street. For the 2025 parade the town closed King Street to traffic at 5:15 p.m. from Battlefield Parkway to Catoctin Circle and reopened it after Public Works finished cleanup. The town confirms each year’s closures in a news release before the parade.
Where do I park for the Leesburg Christmas parade?
The town points spectators to the Town Hall garage, the Pennington garage at 210 Church St. NE, the Loudoun County Government Center garage at 1 Harrison St. SE and the Liberty Street lot.
When is the Leesburg tree lighting?
6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, on the Town Green at 25 W. Market St., with live music and holiday characters, according to the Town of Leesburg.
How do I enter a float in the Leesburg holiday parade?
Entry is free and open to the public. The town posts its 2026 Holiday Parade entry form on its Holidays in Leesburg page; questions go to Ida Lee Park Recreation Center, 703-777-1368.
When is the Leesburg holiday craft show?
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Ida Lee Park Recreation Center. Admission and parking are free.
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