Schedule:

The holiday festivities of saint charles christmas traditions® are so legendary, that some of the most iconic figures of holiday history, literature, and folklore have traveled from their fanciful realms in order to celebrate with you and your family.

Whether they’ve hitched a ride from a flying reindeer, sprung forth from the pages of a charles dickens classic, or danced all the way from the land of the sweets, these quirky personalities are eager not only to share their histories, but to bring you into their story. You never know what you might see while exploring main street. Be recruited to join the nutcracker prince’s legion of toy soldiers as he seeks to defeat the odious mouse king, help jacob marley attempt to change the heart of the miserly ebenezer scrooge, play a festive prank with our resident clown-about-town the master of revels, or learn the finer points of window frosting from jack frost and susie snowflake.

As you walk down historic main street, you’ll also be traveling to the four corners of the earth (no passport required) as you encounter nearly a dozen international santas and global gift givers who will share the stories, music, and customs of their home countries’ holiday celebrations. Meet saint nicholas and learn how he earned the title of being “the first santa claus,” get an introduction to the many symbols of kwanzaa with mtoa hadithi, marvel at local history with frontier santa, learn how to play dreidel with judah maccabee, swap recipes with the cheerful italian christmas witch, la befana, and more

Friday, november 29, 2024

Opening day ceremony

Santa parade - noon

Parade route: 100 block of north main to the 400 block of south main, to the katy depot in frontier park)

Ring in the opening of the 50th season of saint charles christmas traditions® as all of the legends of holiday folklore join together to welcome victorian santa claus back to historic main street. Follow behind your favorite christmas traditions® characters as they come together for an entrance procession to frontier park where santa and mrs. Claus will cut the ceremonial ribbon, marking the official start of the holiday season. Note: the opening day procession route will go from the 100 block of north main to the 400 block of south main before turning into frontier park and proceeding to the katy depot for the opening day ceremony.

Tree lighting ceremony - 5 pm

Location: berthold square (200 block of south main)

Join christmas traditions’® iconic victorian caroling quartet, the cobblestone wassailiers as they lead the countdown to illuminate the official saint charles city christmas tree (decorated in golden splendor for the festival’s 50th anniversary)

Santa’s cottage - north pole distribution outpost #636 - 12:45 pm to 7:00 pm

Location: the historic katy depot in frontier park

The historic katy train depot in frontier park has been a saint charles landmark since it opened in 1893. But not many people know that during the holiday season, santa uses it as a special workshop outpost as he counts down to christmas eve. Mr. Claus wants to let you in on the secret as he welcomes you to become an “honorary elf," as you explore the workshop, get a glimpse of his busy mailroom, and witness the majestic reindeer hall of fame, where you can learn some of the stories of santa’s lesser-known reindeer (you know…the ones that didn’t have a red nose).

Photos with victorian santa claus - 12:45 pm to 7:00 pm

Location: the historic katy depot in frontier park

Enjoy a private audience with victorian santa claus in his parlor where you can share a christmas wish list, take a photo, and make a special holiday memory.

Oh christmas tree: the evolution of an icon - 12:45 pm to 7:00 pm

Location: the historic katy depot in frontier park

Perhaps no image is as associated with the holiday season as the christmas tree. For centuries these festive evergreens have not only provided a fitting place for santa to deposit gifts but have stood as a global symbol for the hope and meaning of christmas.

Journey to the historic katy depot in frontier park to experience “oh, christmas tree: the evolution of an icon,” an exhibit that will lead visitors on a gentle winding path through history as a forest of tannenbaums illustrate how trends and fashions affected the stylings of trees over generations. From the first illumination introduced onto pine trees by martin luther, to the mid-century modern flair of aluminum trees in the 1950s and 1960s, discover interesting trivia as you view international variations of this holiday icon, while celebrating famous depictions in popular culture (from charlie brown’s sad sapling to seinfeld’s “festivus pole”).

Holiday food hall of fame - all festival hours

Location: old post office plaza (100 block of south main)

Get ready for an education that is simply delicious as you learn the fascinating history and surprising facts about some of the most iconic holiday sweets and treats. From eggnog and candy cants to gingerbread houses and the ever-controversial fruitcake, you'll never look at your favorite yuletide refreshments the same way again.

Old fashioned hot roasted chestnuts - 12:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Time: opening day & saturdays (12:45 pm - 7:45 pm), sundays (12:45 pm - 4:15 pm), wednesdays & fridays (6:00 pm - 7:45  pm)
Location: the daniel boone statue (between the 700 and 800 blocks of south main)

Jack frost nipping at your nose? Travel to the daniel boone statue to enjoy the warm and toasty treat of fresh chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Revel at the entertaining antics and witty banter of our victorian chestnut vendors as they demonstrate the fine art of roasting their favorite holiday snack. For a nominal fee, you can enjoy one yourself—either as a tasty treat or as an old-fashioned hand warmer.

Sounds of the season: a celebration of caroling history - 2:30 pm

Time: opening day, saturdays, and sundays at 2:30 pm
Location: the grand staircase of the old post office (119 south main)

It is said that the best way to spread christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear  join the esteemed saint charles christmas traditions® carolers as they combine their voices for a special concert that will take audience members on a musical journey through holiday music history. Throughout the program (which will feature a lineup of cherished melodies), the carolers will provide narration that highlights the little known history and backstory of each song, leaving you with an even deeper appreciation for these holiday classics.

Battle for the land of the sweets - 1:30 pm

Time: opening day, saturdays, and sundays at 1:30 pm
Location: old post office plaza (119 south main)

It nothing to snicker at - your favorite characters from the land of the sweets once again find themselves under the oppressive paw of the odius mouse king. After having recently attempted to invade the gumdrop mountains and the enchanted candy cane forest, reconnaissance information suggests that he has tracked the sugarplum fairy and the nutcracker prince to saint charles where he now attempts to bring the battle to main street  finding themselves far from their cotton candy kingdom (and without their battalions of toy soldiers), our sugary companions search for new recruits for the reese-istance and find christmas traditions® festival guests to be the perfect additions to the move-mint  to prepare the new recruits, this whimsical trio will put them through their paces with a quirky boot camp... Before it's too late.

8 maids wassail tavern - 12:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Time: opening day & saturdays (12:45 pm - 7:45 pm), sundays (12:45 pm - 4:15 pm), wednesdays & fridays (6:00 pm - 7:45 pm)
Location: berthold square (200 block of south main)

Famous for their role in the never-ending “12 days of christmas” tune, these merry milkmaids have stepped away from their milking stools to open up a traveling tavern specializing in the traditional spiced cider known as wassail. Their tavern also serves as a mini-museum of holiday artifacts. Gaze upon their displayed curios and you may see some familiar items (such as drumsticks from the 12 drummers drumming…or a pear from the partridge’s infamous pear tree)

Piccadilly peddlers - purveyors of merry merchandise (festival souvenirs*) - 12:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Time: opening day & saturdays (12:45 pm - 7:45 pm), sundays (12:45 pm - 4:15 pm), wednesdays & fridays (6:00 pm - 7:45  pm)
Location: berthold square (200 block of south main)
*festival souvenirs also available at the tourism center (230 south main)

Looking for that special stocking stuffer or memento to help commemorate your visit to saint charles christmas traditions®? The festival offers a wide array of unique souvenirs and apparel that will help keep the christmas spirit going all year long  t-shirts, full decks of christmas traditions® character cards, festive pins and buttons, the piccadilly peddlers can help you select the perfect trinket for everyone on your shopping list.

Where christmas past comes to life - all festival hours

Location: tourism center, lower level (230 south main)

Celebrate a half-century of christmas traditions® history with an exhibit featuring costumes and artifacts from festival history. Watch a behind-the-scenes documentary of how the magic is created, and see a display of every character trading card ever produced.

Holiday history trail - all festival hours

Location: kister park gazebo (400 block of south main)

Travel the meandering path that lead around the iconic main street gazebo and learn the origins of some of your favorite christmas traditions. Additionally, you can take in a small exhibition that highlights some cherished holiday customs from around the world.

The santa parade

Time: saturdays & sundays at noon
Parade route: 100 block of north main to boone's lick and south main*

Weekends during the festival kick off with a special holiday treat as saint charles christmas traditions’® renowned santa parade brings pomp and pageantry to the historic district. Marvel at the spectacle as all of your favorite legends of christmas march right down the middle of main street. While you delight in the antics of your favorite holiday figures, the carolers will provide the soundtrack as they take you on a musical journey of festive tunes that span from classic victorian carols to holiday standards of the 1940s and 1950s. You won’t want to miss the parade’s grand finale, where an international delegation of global gift givers (each carrying the flag of their native country) herald the arrival of the guests of honor: santa and mrs. Claus (who arrive via a horse-drawn carriage).

Krampus karnival: the bizarre, odd, and curious traditions of christmas

Time: friday evenings (excluding november 29) from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: the historic katy depot in frontier park

You’d better watch out  krampus is coming to town  on friday nights, be prepared to experience some of the wonderfully weird holiday customs from around the globe as krampus (the furry, punitive partner of saint nicholas in bavarian and austrian culture) has arrived in saint charles with his notorious batch of kooky (but friendly) ne’er-do-wells: gryla (the quirky icelandic ogress), mari lwyd (the whimsical singing skeletal horse from welsh culture), and those whacky mischievous greek trolls, the kallikantzaroi. They have transformed the deck of the katy depot into a turn-of-the-century carnival midway. Step right up as these madcap carnival barkers share their stories in the form of “krampus-fied” carnival games. Continue inside the depot where you will see that krampus himself has decided to re-decorate santa’s home-away-from-home. With eerie lighting and the sound of macabre christmas carols floating through the air, enter santa’s parlor that has been reimagined as krampus’ lair. Have a laugh at krampus’ comical antics, and don’t forget to snap a photo with him (guaranteeing you the most unique christmas cards on the block this year ). Create lasting memories as you discover the peculiar holiday traditions from around the world during this curious experience that is certainly more “merry” than “scary”.

A christmas carol stroll

Time: wednesdays, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

After enjoying all of your favorite saint charles christmas traditions® programming on fridays, saturdays, and sundays, we welcome you to join us on wednesday evenings for a new dickensian affair, a christmas carol stroll. Behold as our main street usa transforms into the foggy lanes of 1840s london where you are invited to enter the world of charles dickens’ enduring holiday classic, a christmas carol. Become a part of the story as memorable scenes and characters hop off the page and come to life before your very eyes. Walk in the footsteps of ebenezer scrooge as you experience his adventures with the ghosts of christmas past, present, and yet-to-come firsthand.

Holiday food hall of fame

Time: all festival hours
Location: old post office plaza (100 block of south main)

Get ready for an education that is simply delicious as you learn the fascinating history and surprising facts about some of the most iconic holiday sweets and treats. From eggnog and candy cants to gingerbread houses and the ever-controversial fruitcake, you'll never look at your favorite yuletide refreshments the same way again.

"T'was the night before christmas" readings at the first state capitol

Time: saturdays, & sundays (continuously between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm & 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm)
Location: historic first state capitol (200 south main street)

Journey to the site of missouri’s first state capitol (where legislators met from 1821-1826) and join clement clarke moore (author of the classic poem a visit from st. Nicholas…better known today as 'twas the night before christmas) as he reads this iconic work that has become one of the classics of holiday literature.

Covent garden - a victorian marketplace

Location: berthold square (200 block of south main)

To celebrate the by-gone era of 19th century english street vendors, berthold square has been transformed into “little london.” close your eyes and listen as the sound of sleigh bells and horse hooves mix with the playful banter of our cockney merchants. While here, enjoy a piping hot cup of traditional spiced cider, while shopping the unique array of sundries to commemorate your visit to christmas traditions® (whatever you don’t pick-up today, you can put on your wish list to father christmas…the traditional english gift giver )

Where christmas past comes to life

Time: all festival hours
Location: tourism center, lower level (230 south main)

Celebrate a half-century of christmas traditions® history with an exhibit featuring costumes and artifacts from festival history. Watch a behind-the-scenes documentary of how the magic is created, and see a display of every character trading card ever produced.

Time capsule activity

Time: saturdays & sundays (12:45 pm - 5:00 pm)
Location: tourism center, lower level (230 south main)

In celebration of saint charles christmas traditions’® 50th anniversary, join father time for the chance to write a message that may be placed in a time capsule that will be opened for christmas traditions’® 100th anniversary (in 2074 )

Candlelight procession

Time: wednesdays, fridays, and saturdays at 8:00 pm, sundays at 4:30 pm
Procession route: 900 block of south main street to the 100 block of south main street (old post office)

As each festival day comes to a close, join all of your favorite global gift givers, legends of christmas, and carolers as they journey to the iconic old post office for a musical finale where you are encouraged to sing along.

Gingerbread village

Time: fridays, saturdays, and sundays during festival hours
Location: main street church (116 north main)

Each year, talented individuals of all ages submit creative confectionary creations. Stop by main street church (116 north main) to see the dozens of entries that reflect this year's theme: "Game night." don't forget to vote for your favorite

Santa send-off

Time: sunday, december 24 (1:30 pm)
Location: kister park gazebo

As the 50th season of saint charles christmas traditions® comes to an end, join the legends of christmas one final time as they gather for a festive pep rally in preparation for sending victorian santa, mrs. Claus, and the elves back to the north pole to get ready for the big night. Join a merry procession to berthold square where a time capsule will be buried near the city christmas tree (where it will remain until november 23, 2074... The opening day of saint charles christmas traditions® 100th season  reminisce on a wonderful season of memories and magic as the legends of christmas join together in a verse of auld lang syne and bid farewell to historic main street…until next year  

Date: november 29-december 24, 2024

Location: various locations

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