Last year you could see the whole Candlelight Walk finale from one stretch of Main Street, between Rio Grande and Curtice. In 2025 the parade finished in front of the Melting Pot, the main stage was there, and roughly 200 drones flew behind the building at 7 p.m.

That changes on Friday, Nov. 27, 2026. The parade now runs the other way. The stage and the tree lighting have moved to the east end of Main Street, and the drone show is still at the west end. Everything that used to meet at one corner is now split between the two ends of downtown, and where you stand at 6:30 p.m. decides which half of the finale you see up close.

Last Year's Layout and This Year's

The City of Littleton's 2025 event map put the main stage at the Melting Pot and the parade's finish line in front of it, with the drone show right after. This year, Visit Littleton's parade route page lists three changes under the heading "NEW in 2026."

The parade starts at Alamo Avenue and Rapp Street and heads east on Main toward Bega Park. The drone show stayed where it was, so the parade now carries Santa away from the drones instead of toward them. The festivities cover all of Main Street, from Bega Park on the east to the Melting Pot on the west.

Two Finales at Opposite Ends of Main Street

The evening, from Visit Littleton's Know Before You Go guide:

• 5 p.m. Roaming entertainment and performances on the stage. Oak Street Interiors designed the stage, with support from St. Nick's.
• 6:30 p.m. The parade leaves Alamo and Rapp, heading east.
• 7 p.m. The parade ends, and the drone show starts over the Melting Pot at the west end.
• 7:15 to 8 p.m. Santa photos start again in Bega Park.
• 8 p.m. The event ends.

The route page adds that after the parade, Santa and his helpers light the trees in Bega Park. Count on the drone show around 7 p.m., when the parade wraps up. The tree lighting and the drones happen at about the same time at opposite ends of the street.

This leaves you three realistic plans for the evening.

Stay at the east end. Bega Park and the stage block are where the parade ends, the trees get lit and Santa photos run until 8 p.m. If you have kids who want to see Santa arrive and then get in line for a photo, this end puts it all within a few steps. The drones will be in the sky to the west, just farther away than last year.

Stay at the west end. The parade starts here, so you'll see the floats at the beginning of the route, and the drones fly right overhead. Last year the city's tip was to watch from Main Street between Rio Grande and Curtice for the best view behind the Melting Pot. The drones are flying over the same building this year.

Walk with the parade. Start near Alamo and Rapp at 6:30 and move east along with it. You'll get to Bega Park for the tree lighting and the Santa photos that start at 7:15. The trade-off is that the drone show will be behind you.

Choose Your End Before You Park

Since the two ends now host different parts of the night, where you park matters more than it used to. Visit Littleton lists two free lots:

• Littleton Center, 2255 W. Berry Avenue.
• Arapahoe Community College, on Church Avenue between Nevada and Sumner streets. An accessible courtesy shuttle leaves from Lot A and drops off at Nevada Street and Alamo Avenue. It runs every 15 minutes from 5 to 8 p.m.

The shuttle drops you on Alamo, the same avenue where the parade starts, which suits the west-end and walk-along plans.

Street closures start earlier than most people expect, and they go in this order:

1. Noon. Main Street closes between Prince Street and Rio Grande.
2. 3 p.m. All north-south streets from Powers Avenue to Alamo Avenue close, with barricades on streets and alleys.
3. 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Rapp Street from Alamo Avenue to Church Avenue closes for parade staging. No cars can enter or leave.
4. 6 to 7 p.m. Eastbound Bowles Avenue traffic is sent north or south at Santa Fe, and Alamo Avenue closes between Santa Fe and Rapp.
5. About 11 p.m. Main Street and the north-south streets from Powers to Alamo reopen.

Cars left on closed streets will be towed to the City Center at 2255 W. Berry Ave. If you usually park on a side street for a downtown errand on Friday afternoon, the 3 p.m. barricades are the deadline that matters.

If you're coming by light rail, use the C Line. RTD suspended D Line service starting June 7, 2026, and its Littleton/Downtown Station page lists the C Line as the station's rail service. Check the C Line schedule before you go.

The walk goes ahead in most weather. It can be canceled for extreme temperatures or dangerous conditions, and any cancellations or delays will be posted on the City of Littleton and Visit Littleton Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Hudson Holidays Opens the Same Night

At 8 p.m., when Main Street wraps up, Hudson Gardens still has an hour of lights left. Hudson Holidays runs Nov. 27, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027, with a lighted maze, themed exhibits, Santa and theme nights. The show runs 5 to 9 p.m. and closes at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24. Tickets aren't timed, so you can arrive any time during show hours on your ticket date.

That untimed entry makes it possible to do both events on opening night. Ticket prices, now that the presale has ended:

If you know your date, the dated ticket costs less. Tickets are sold online and at the door. Parking is free at Hudson Gardens and in the overflow lot at Arapahoe Community College. ACC is also one of the free Candlelight Walk lots, so on Nov. 27 that campus will handle crowds for both events.

Two Newer Stops Before the Parade

You have until 6:30 p.m., and two downtown businesses that opened this year fit into that time.

Leaves on Main, at 2699 Main St., had its grand opening on Sept. 5, 2026. It sells houseplants, handcrafted pottery, gifts and home décor, according to the Downtown Littleton DDA. The Littleton Independent places the shop at the end of Main Street, just before the Melting Pot, which puts it at the drone-show end. It reported the hours as Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. By those hours, you'll need to shop before 6 on Friday.

Tonic Zero Proof Bar, at 5767 S. Rapp St., serves mocktails, kava, nonalcoholic drinks and coffee. The Downtown Littleton DDA lists it as open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight, so it'll still be open after the walk ends. It's on Rapp, the street where the parade starts. Keep in mind that the block from Alamo to Church closes to cars from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. for staging.

What Comes After Nov. 27

Two Littleton Museum dates come up quickly after the walk. The new exhibit, Cover to Cover: The History and Craft of Books, opens with a reception on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m. No RSVP is needed. The exhibit runs from Dec. 4, 2026, to July 9, 2028.

Holiday's Evening is on Sunday, Dec. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the museum's living-history farms. It includes a wagon ride, costumed interpreters, Santa, music, cider, cornbread and cookies. General admission goes on sale Friday, Nov. 13, at 9 a.m.: $15 for adults, $7 for children ages 2 to 16, and free under 2. Friends of the museum pay $10 for adults and $5 for children, and their sales opened Nov. 6.

If you're planning around the Candlelight Walk, Nov. 13 is the next ticket date to put on your calendar.

Many downtown Littleton homeowners count the Candlelight Walk as part of what makes the neighborhood special, and that's worth factoring into any decision about your home. If you're wondering what your home near Main Street might be worth this winter, Dolby Haas can give you a clear, data-driven answer. Get a Free Home Valuation.