Brentwood lights its Christmas tree at the library at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7. Morning with Santa is Dec. 5; luminaries Dec. 12. Franklin's parade is Dec. 5.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. This page is updated each year. Dates come from the city’s events listing and Holiday Events page; details marked 2025 are from last year’s program and will be updated when the city posts this year’s.
Brentwood’s holiday season centers on the John P. Holt Brentwood Library, not a parade route. The city lights its tree there on Monday, Dec. 7, hosts Morning with Santa there two days earlier, and asks neighborhoods to light luminaries on Saturday, Dec. 12. The city’s holiday events list no Christmas parade; Franklin’s, about seven miles south, rolls at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.
Who to call
- Holiday events and tickets: John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, 615-371-0090
- City events: Brentwood Community Relations, 615-371-2259
- Christmas tree pickup: Brush Program, 615-507-2763
The 2026 dates at a glance
| Event | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Christmas Parade | 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 | Main Street, downtown Franklin |
| Morning with Santa | 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 | Brentwood library |
| Christmas Tree Lighting | 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 | Brentwood library |
| Neighborhood luminaries | Dusk to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 | Your subdivision |
Christmas Tree Lighting, Dec. 7
The Brentwood City Commission invites everyone to the tree lighting at the library at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7. Before it, a reading of “The Polar Express” begins at 4:45 p.m. Tickets for the reading are limited and available starting in early November at the library’s Children’s Service Desk. The Friends of the Brentwood Library serve hot chocolate on the way out to the tree, and a choir leads singing before the countdown.
In 2025 the city held two readings, at 3:45 and 4:45 p.m.; this year’s event page lists 4:45.
Morning with Santa, Dec. 5
On the first Saturday in December, 9 to 11 a.m. Dec. 5, children can meet Santa Claus and hand him their wish lists at the library, according to the city’s event page. In 2025 the morning also had treats, prize drawings, letters to Santa, crafts and three shows by magician Scott Humston. Admission was free, but the magic shows needed free tickets from the Children’s Service Desk, handed out from early November. Questions: 615-371-0090, ext. 8380, or the library calendar.
Neighborhood luminaries, Dec. 12
On the second Saturday of December, the city encourages every neighborhood to line its streets with luminaries from dusk until 9 p.m. The city sets the date, and each homeowners association plans the details, the event page says. If it rains, the fallback is the second Sunday, Dec. 13, but each neighborhood makes its own call. The city suggests glow sticks or flameless candles.
Ravenswood Mansion at Christmas
The city-owned Ravenswood Mansion, 1825 Wilson Pike, is lit for the holidays from the first week of December. The city suggests it for outdoor photos; bookings for small gatherings go through the mansion’s website.
The Franklin Christmas Parade, Dec. 5
For a parade, head to Franklin. The Downtown Franklin Rotary Club’s parade starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, on Main Street, with floats, music and Santa, according to the Rotary Club.
Christmas tree recycling
Leave your tree at the curb for the city’s brush crews, who pick up Christmas trees from the day after Christmas until mid-January, according to the Brush Program. More in our trash and recycling guide.
Related guides: things to do this month, history and landmarks and parks and trails.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Brentwood Christmas tree lighting in 2026?
Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library, 8109 Concord Road, with a ‘Polar Express’ reading beforehand.
Does Brentwood have a Christmas parade?
The city’s holiday events list no parade. The nearest is the Franklin Christmas Parade at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, on Main Street in downtown Franklin, about seven miles south.
When is Morning with Santa in Brentwood?
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Brentwood library. Admission is free; the magic shows have needed free tickets from the Children’s Service Desk.
When are the Brentwood luminaries?
From dusk to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026. Each neighborhood, usually through its HOA, plans its own display and decides on any rain delay to Sunday, Dec. 13.
Will Brentwood pick up my Christmas tree?
Yes. City brush crews collect Christmas trees from the day after Christmas until mid-January.
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