Most of Downey's 2026 holiday calendar sits on three dates. On Sunday, Dec. 6, the Winter Wonderland Market, the Christmas Parade and an evening mariachi festival happen on the same day. The City of Downey's own events, the Tree Lighting and Santa's Holiday Caravan, both fall on Monday evenings and both start at City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue.
That means you can't plan the season around weekends alone. Keep the first Sunday of December open all day, then block off the next two Monday nights. The rest of the month is shows you can book ahead and pick up as they fit.
Sunday, Dec. 6 Starts at 11 a.m. and Runs Past 8 p.m.
The Downey Chamber of Commerce is hosting its long-running Downey Christmas Parade on Dec. 6, starting at 1:00 p.m. at Downey Avenue and Florence Avenue. According to The Downey Patriot's events calendar, the parade heads south on Downey Avenue, ends at City Hall and runs from 1 to 5 p.m.
The parade is only the middle of the day. Here's the order:
- 11 a.m., Winter Wonderland Market. The Chamber's market sets up on Downey Avenue at 3rd Street. The market's vendor application lists hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and vendor categories for retail, food and food trucks.
- 1 p.m., the parade steps off. It starts at Florence Avenue and heads south on Downey Avenue past the market toward City Hall.
- 4 p.m., the market closes. It closes an hour before the parade's listed 5 p.m. end, so shop earlier in the day.
- 7 p.m., Calvary Chapel Downey. Phil Wickham's Southern California Christmas Tour stops here, and the show is already listed as sold out.
- 8 p.m., Downey Theatre. Leyendas Del Mariachi brings its 2026 Christmas Mariachi Festival to 8435 Firestone Blvd.
Because of that order, where you watch the parade decides how much of the day you can catch. The market at 3rd Street is on the parade route, so if you claim a spot nearby, you can shop the stalls in the late morning and stay put for the parade. If you also have tickets for the mariachi festival, you have about three hours between the parade's listed end and the 8 p.m. curtain on Firestone. That's enough time to get home, eat dinner and come back out.
For a bilingual household, this Sunday covers a lot in one day: a downtown parade in the afternoon and a full mariachi Christmas program that evening, a short drive apart.
The City's Own Holiday Happens on Monday Nights
The city's special events listing has the Tree Lighting and the Holiday Caravan back to back, eight days after the parade weekend begins.
Monday, Dec. 7: Tree Lighting Ceremony. The City of Downey holds the ceremony at City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue, the day after the parade. The Downey Patriot lists it from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and describes live entertainment, arts and crafts, snow play, vendors, photos with Santa Claus, letters to Santa, food and refreshments. Since it's a school night and starts at 6, families with young kids could get the snow play and Santa photos done early and be home at a normal bedtime.
Monday, Dec. 14: Holiday Caravan. One week later, Santa leaves City Hall again, this time to ride around Downey on his sleigh, according to the Patriot's listing. The city's event page lists the caravan from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The parade stays downtown. On caravan night, Santa comes out to the neighborhoods.
So the city's two holiday events both start from 11111 Brookshire Avenue at 6 p.m., one week apart. If Monday is your busy night, rearrange now, before December fills up.
The city also has a Holiday Home Decorating Contest entry form on its Parks and Recreation pages, if your block likes to compete over lights.
The Shows That Fill the Rest of the Month
With the two Monday nights blocked off, the rest of December is mostly ticketed shows and one community morning. Most of them are at the Downey Theatre on Firestone Boulevard, plus one at the Columbia Memorial Space Center.
| Date | Event | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Dec. 3 | The Carpenters Songbook at Christmas | 8 p.m. | Downey Theatre, 8435 Firestone Blvd. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | Leyendas Del Mariachi, 2026 Christmas Mariachi Festival | 8 p.m. | Downey Theatre |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Apollo Lighting | 4 to 7 p.m. | Columbia Memorial Space Center, 12400 Columbia Way |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | World Ballet Company, The Nutcracker | 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. | Downey Theatre |
| Fri., Dec. 18 | Mariachi Divas, Swingin' Navidad | 7:30 p.m. | Downey Theatre |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Keep Downey Beautiful cleanup | 9 a.m. | Treasure Island Park, 9300 South Bluff Road |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Mariachi Divas, Swingin' Navidad | Noon and 7:30 p.m. | Downey Theatre |
The table follows the same pattern as the rest of the month. Each weekend has its own lighting or show, and the Mondays between them are still the city's nights.
The Carpenters Songbook at Christmas comes first, on Thursday, Dec. 3. The Patriot's listing describes a live band, storytelling and holiday favorites. It's a weeknight show three days before the parade, so it won't conflict with anything else.
Apollo Lighting at the Columbia Memorial Space Center is the space center's own holiday tradition. The center calls it a "beloved community tradition" with music and hands-on activities for all ages, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12. It falls between the city's two Mondays, so it works as the weekend lighting for families who missed the Dec. 7 ceremony.
World Ballet Company's The Nutcracker plays the next afternoon and evening. The Patriot's listing says the production has 40 dancers, more than 150 hand-sewn costumes and handcrafted sets. With 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. shows on Dec. 13, families can choose a matinee and still be home in time for Monday's caravan.
Mariachi Divas close the month at the theatre. The Patriot calendar lists three Swingin' Navidad performances, with VIP packages available. Saturday, Dec. 19 stacks up almost like parade day. The Keep Downey Beautiful volunteer cleanup meets at Treasure Island Park at 9 a.m. for one hour, and gloves, vests, litter sticks and bags are provided as long as you wear closed-toe shoes. Volunteers can finish at 10 a.m. and still make the noon Mariachi Divas show on Firestone.
What to Book Before December
The city and Chamber events and the ticketed theatre shows need different planning, and the theatre is where waiting can cost you. One Dec. 6 evening show in town is already sold out before the holidays start. The Downey Theatre has shows on five separate dates in December, and the Nutcracker and Mariachi Divas each run more than once, so check the theatre's site for the shows you want sooner rather than later.
For the city and Chamber events, the planning is about time:
- Sunday, Dec. 6: Arrive downtown in the late morning if you want the market and the parade, since the market closes at 4.
- Monday, Dec. 7: City Hall from 6 p.m. for the Tree Lighting.
- Monday, Dec. 14: The Holiday Caravan leaves City Hall at 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 19: Treasure Island Park at 9 a.m. if you're joining the cleanup.
Put the two Mondays on the family calendar this week, before practices, meetings and work events take those evenings.
If you're thinking about what your next chapter in Downey looks like, in English or en español, Team Sanchez would love to hear from you. Schedule your free consultation.
