Most of Daviess County's 2026 holiday events land on two weekends. The first begins November 5 at the 4-H Fairgrounds. The second is December 5, when Washington, Odon and the YMCA all hold events on the same day. A few smaller events fill the weeks between, and Christmas in the Park closes the season on December 17.
That makes planning easier, but those two dates call for more care. Here's how the season lays out as of this week, with what each event costs and where it happens.
Weekend one: November 5 to 7, the fairgrounds and Main Street
Chandelier Country Christmas
The season starts with Chandelier Country Christmas at the Daviess County 4-H Fairgrounds, 4-H Way, in Washington. The Chandelier Barn Market describes it as makers, vintage collectors and small businesses selling gifts, holiday décor, handmade items and seasonal treats. There's also live music, free demonstrations and Santa.
The ticket price drops each day, so when you go is partly a question of budget:
| Day | Hours | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Nov. 5 | 5 to 8 p.m. early bird | $20 per person |
| Friday, Nov. 6 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | $10 per person |
| Saturday, Nov. 7 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | $5 per person |
Children 12 and under get in free all three days. The $20 Thursday ticket also includes re-entry on Friday and Saturday, so a Thursday ticket is really a pass for the whole weekend.
Some details that are easy to miss:
- Tickets are sold only at the gate. The organizer takes cash, Venmo and season passes for admission. Tickets aren't sold online.
- Bring cash for shopping too. Most vendors take cards, but not all of them.
- Santa visits are daytime only. He'll be there Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and photos are free with a wristband. Thursday night has live music from 5:30 to 8:30 but no Santa.
- Small dogs on leashes are allowed. Restrooms are indoors in the barn. Handicap parking is available but not guaranteed.
The shuttle that connects it to downtown
The fairgrounds show doesn't stand alone. On Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7, Discover Downtown Washington holds its merchant Christmas open houses, listed as Christmas Open House Hop and Shop and promoted as Jingle All the Way Downtown. A free holiday shuttle runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. According to the downtown listing, it loops from The Commons to Myers Flower Shop, down to Chandelier Country Christmas, and back to Main Street. That listing places the Chandelier stop at Eastside Park, while the market's own page gives the 4-H Fairgrounds as the show's location, so confirm where the shuttle stops before you count on it.
The Visit Daviess County listing names the participating stops:
- The Chamber
- A Touch of Heaven
- The Indiana Theater
- The Stitching Post
- A Wonderful Life
- Daily Design & Furniture Gallery
- Top Notch
- Arts Unleashed Presents: The Gallery
- Annabelle's Boutique
- The Chandelier Barn
- Myers Flower Shop
- Cherry Ghost Coffeehouse
Store hours vary. The shuttle runs from 10 to 4, the same hours as the Chandelier show's general admission on Friday and Saturday. The Chandelier organizer advertises its own free shuttle and suggests pairing the show with downtown shops and local restaurants.
The quieter stretch: late November and early December
After the first weekend, the calendar spreads out. These are smaller events, and each one is easy to fit around a normal week.
Shop Small Business Saturday, November 28. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in historic downtown Washington, you get one raffle ticket for every $10 spent at participating downtown shops. The first 50 people to turn in a ticket get a free limited-edition shirt. If you already plan to shop downtown that weekend, this is the day to do it.
A Storybook Christmas, Sunday, November 29. This children's event at 201 E Main St. includes story time, holiday activities and a free gnome Advent calendar for each child. It costs $20 per child, and registration is required. The listings give different end times, so check the event page before you go. The name matches this year's parade theme, which comes back on December 5.
Christmas in the Park, Wednesday, December 2. The City of Washington lists Christmas in the Park at Eastside Park on December 2 and December 17. According to the city, the Parks Department strings about 75,000 Christmas lights through the trees at Eastside Park each year. The city hasn't posted 2026 times or details yet. In 2024, WAMW reported that the event was free from 6 to 9 p.m. and asked visitors to bring nonperishable food donations. That was the 2024 format, so treat it as a likely guide, not a promise.
Weekend two: December 5, when everything happens at once
Saturday, December 5 is the busiest day of the season. Four separate events overlap, and they're in two different towns.
| Event | Where | Listed time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas on Main | The Commons, 301 E Main St., Washington | 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on one listing, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on another | No general admission listed; igloos extra |
| Odon Christmas Village | Odon | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | No admission price listed |
| Swim With Santa | Daviess County Family YMCA, 405 NE 3rd St., Washington | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | Free for members, $10 for nonmembers |
| Christmas Parade of Lights and tree lighting | Main Street, Washington | Evening parade, tree lighting at 7 p.m. | No cost listed |
Christmas on Main
Discover Downtown Washington lists a baking contest, a Vendor Village, horse-drawn carriage rides, photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, live music, the parade and the tree lighting for Christmas on Main. You can also reserve a heated igloo for 1 hour and 15 minutes. A small igloo for 2 to 4 people costs $50 plus a $1.25 service fee. A large igloo for 4 to 6 costs $75 plus a $1.88 fee. If you're planning to stay downtown through the evening parade, an igloo gives your group a warm place to wait.
The two listings disagree on hours, so check with Discover Downtown Washington before you set a schedule around the start or end of the day.
The parade
MyWabashValley reported on October 5 that this year's Downtown Washington Christmas Parade is a Parade of Lights with the theme "A Storybook Christmas." Because it's held in the evening, entries are asked to use plenty of lights, and music is encouraged. Any individual or group in Daviess County can enter. Prizes are $200 for best overall, $150 for best business entry and $100 for best nonprofit entry. Downtown storefronts are competing too: the best lighted window display on Main Street wins $100 and a trophy.
Spectators are encouraged to dress as their favorite book characters. After the parade, Santa visits with children at The Commons at Main and 3rd Streets, and the tree lighting there begins at 7 p.m. To enter the parade, use the Discover Downtown Washington registration form or call 812-254-1500.
Odon Christmas Village
North of Washington, the Odon Business Alliance's Christmas Village runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It has a decorated village with lights, local vendors selling gifts and seasonal treats, Santa's Workshop, visits with Santa, and a North Pole Post Office where kids can write letters to Santa. The event listing names Odon but no specific street or venue, so check it again closer to the date. If you're in Odon anyway, you can also stop by Odon Locker at 606 W Elnora St. The business dates to 1970, and WAMW reported its grand opening for an expanded store on September 24.
Swim With Santa
The Daviess County Family YMCA at 405 NE 3rd St. hosts Swim With Santa from 12:30 to 2 p.m. with open swim, pool games, cocoa, treats and carols. It's free for YMCA members and $10 for nonmembers, and registration is required.
How the day fits together
Odon's village opens at 11 and closes at 6. The YMCA swim fills the early afternoon in Washington. Christmas on Main runs all day, and the parade, Santa at The Commons and the 7 p.m. tree lighting come at the end. A family could see Odon in the late morning, head to Washington for the swim or the Main Street vendors, and stay downtown for the parade. Only the swim and the igloos need to be booked ahead, so reserve those first.
The last stop: December 17
Christmas in the Park returns to Eastside Park on Thursday, December 17, the second of the two dates on the city's listing. It's the last event on this year's calendar, and as with December 2, watch the city's parks page for times.
Holidays are when family visits, and those visits often lead to talk about the year ahead, maybe a smaller place or a parent moving closer. If that comes up at your table between the parade and the tree lighting, I'm glad to help you sort out the timing and next steps at whatever pace suits you. Reach out through 812 Houses and let's connect.