If you’ve ever wondered which Carlinville holiday event is which, this year’s answer is simple: all of them. The first weekend of December, a tradition for more than three decades, now runs under one name, Christmas in Carlinville, December 4–6, 2026.
Different venues have used different names and identities for years. “If there was one thing we heard repeatedly, it’s that all of the different identities were confusing for the folks coming to town,” said Doug Downey, chairman of the Carlinville Tourism Committee.
Carlinville unifies its three-decade holiday festivals
The weekend spreads across town so that businesses in every corner get a share of the crowds.
Stops include:
The historic Downtown Square, with tents of craft vendors; the Macoupin County Fairgrounds, with a long lineup of indoor vendors; the Carlinville Elks Lodge; Country Gypsy; The Well on Main; the Macoupin County Historical Society, with merchants on site; and the Macoupin County Courthouse, which will offer tours of its holiday decorations. Boutiques and other businesses around town will take part too.
Mayor Sarah Oswald said the merger made sense because so many established festivals already fell on the same weekend. “Everyone putting differences aside for the long-term benefit of the community,” she said. Brian Zilm, executive director of the Carlinville Chamber of Commerce, called the event “just the latest example of progress.”
Getting around Carlinville
A free ride between sites will run Friday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Two options are available:
Trolley: The Carlinville Tourism Committee sponsors a trolley that will circle the community’s market stops.
Transit buses: The Carlinville Christmas Market sponsors two transit buses to handle the expected crowds.
If you’re unsure where to park, head for the fairgrounds and catch a ride from there to the rest of the stops.
More details are on the event’s Facebook page.
