November 23, 2026
Bright the Night
Kick off the holiday season in the heart of Little Rock at Bright the Night, downtown’s annual holiday celebration at the Capitol Plaza on the corner of Capitol Ave. and Main Street!
Gather your family and friends for an evening filled with twinkling lights, live holiday music, festive entertainment, sweet treats and plenty of holiday cheer. Enjoy performances from Arkansas bluegrass band The Gravel Yard, fiddler Mike Walters and his fiddle-playing puppet, old-fashioned caroling, and appearances from Santa Claus, Elsa and other holiday characters.
Then, join the community for the evening’s biggest moment as we count down together and light downtown Little Rock’s Christmas tree at 6 p.m.
Bright the Night is free and open to everyone, so bundle up, come downtown and help us officially welcome the holiday season!
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Date & Time
November 23, 2026
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Address
Capitol Plaza on the corner of Capitol Ave. & Main Street
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Speaker
TBA
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Type
In Person
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Cost
FREE
What to Expect
Live Holiday Music: Enjoy performances from Arkansas bluegrass band The Gravel Yard, fiddler Mike Walters and his fiddle-playing puppet, and old-fashioned holiday caroling.
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting: Gather for the community countdown and lighting of downtown Little Rock's Christmas tree at 6 p.m.
Santa Claus & His Sleigh: Stop by Santa's sleigh for a festive holiday photo opportunity!
Holiday Characters: Meet Elsa, our emcee for the evening, along with other winter characters, Nutcracker characters from Ballet Arkansas and characters from the Arkansas Renaissance Festival.
Complimentary Holiday Treats: Enjoy cookies from Community Bakery and hot cocoa from Big Bad Breakfast, made with milk from Hiland Dairy.
Food & Refreshments: Food will be available for purchase from W&M Concessions.
Family Fun Zone: Enjoy and make plenty of opportunities to make holiday memories.
Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Contest: Celebrate the creativity of downtown businesses as we recognize this year's contest winners.
3rd Annual Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Contest
Think your storefront has what it takes to shine brightest?
Enter the 3rd Annual Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Contest and join businesses across SoMa, Main Street, East Village, River Market and Capitol Avenue in a little friendly holiday competition!
Bring your own holiday style and creativity for the chance to earn a holiday trophy, downtown-wide recognition and major bragging rights. One winner will be selected from each downtown district, plus one overall winner.
Register by November 16, have your window ready for judging on November 23, and join us at Bright the Night when this year’s winners are announced!
Know Before You Go!
Is Bright the Night free to attend?
Yes! Bright the Night is free and open to the public. No tickets or registration are required to attend.
When is Bright the Night?
Bright the Night takes place Monday, November 23, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The annual tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m.
Where is Bright the Night?
Bright the Night takes place at the Capitol Plaza on the corner of Capitol Ave. & Main Street!
What happens at Bright the Night?
Bright the Night is downtown Little Rock’s annual holiday celebration and tree lighting. Guests can enjoy live music + entertainment, Santa, cookies and hot cocoa, additional activites, and the lighting of downtown’s Christmas tree.
What time is the tree lighting?
The countdown and tree lighting will take place at 6 p.m. We recommend arriving early so you have time to find a spot and enjoy the festivities beforehand.
Will Santa be at Bright the Night?
Yes! Santa will join us for the celebration!
Is Bright the Night family-friendly?
Absolutely. Bright the Night is designed for the entire community, with holiday music, festive entertainment, Santa and activities that families can enjoy together.
How can my business participate in the Downtown Holiday Window Decorating Contest?
Downtown businesses can participate in Downtown Dressed for the Holidays, our annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest. Register by Monday, November 16! Winners will be recognized during Bright the Night.