Christmas Traditions: A Month-Long Holiday Festival in Historic St. Charles
Historic Main Street in St. Charles is one of our favorite shopping districts in the St. Louis area. With its quaint cobblestone streets, rich history, vibrant retail, and solid dining, the area just along the Missouri River is a great place to spend part of a day.
Better still, the space transforms during various times of the year to host epic festivals. You’ve got Festival of the Little Hills in August, Oktoberfest in late September, and Legends and Lanterns in October, all of which draw eager crowds in and around the district.
Arguably the flagship event on Historic Main Street is Christmas Traditions, an event whose history stretches back more than 50 years now. Just after Thanksgiving, St. Charles turns into a winter wonderland complete with classic Christmas characters befitting Historic Main Street.
Getting There
Christmas Traditions takes place in and around Historic Main Street St. Charles (Google Maps link). You can get to the area by way of I-70 to 5th Street North from the south, or MO-370 to 3rd Street South from the north. Keep in mind that, as of late 2025, there is some road construction north of Main Street, so you might have to take detours to get to the historic district.
Most of the events take place on Main Street between Jefferson Street and Boone’s Lick Road. Some events also take place over on Katy Depot adjacent to the Katy Trail in Frontier Park.
Parking
There is parking all around Main Street St. Charles. Along the south, you can find a large lot next to the Lewis and Clark Boat House and Museum (Google Maps link). Along the east, you can find both parking lots and street parking along and next to Riverside Drive. There are scattered lots and street parking to the north and west. Most parking is free.
Christmas Traditions tends to be a very busy event, one of the busiest for Main Street, so traffic can be slow and parking can fill up especially during peak times. In addition, a large swath of Main Street is closed off to both car traffic and parking during the festivities. Be patient, and you’ll get there. We’ve found the northern side of the area tends to be less congested than the southern side.
Costs and Considerations
Christmas Traditions runs from late November to Christmas Eve. Here are the 2025 hours:
- Opening Day, November 28, 2025: 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays (“A Christmas Carol Stroll): 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Fridays: 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Saturdays: 12 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Sundays: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
You can find more information about times on the St. Charles website.
Christmas Traditions is free to attend, and some activities, such as collecting trading cards, are likewise free. There are also paid experiences, including photographs with Santa and vendors up and down Main Street. Of course, you can also shop and dine in the local stores.
There are restrooms in various spots, including Kister Park and the visitor’s center. During busy times, there can be a line.
Things to Do
There is a lot going on during the festival. Many days feature a procession of some sort, including a parade on Opening Day. You can also find various characters scattered about the area that you can talk to. Each character is a little different, with their own personalities and interactions. A number of them also sing, and the sound of a capella Christmas music is a common part of the experience.
Each character also has trading cards that they give out to passers-by for free.
If you’re looking for souvenirs, there are a couple of places along the way where you can get Traditions-specific merch, including shirts, pins, and other collectables. If you want a binder for your trading cards, you can get one of those, too. For a nominal cost, you can even purchase roasted chestnuts and wassail at different spots.
There are also horse-drawn carriage rides available for a cost. As of 2025, the ride costs $55 for two people and $5 for each additional person.
Along the way, you may find other things to do, or things you don’t expect.
Our Thoughts
Christmas Traditions is a delightful event to attend. With Main Street closed to traffic, you can wander up and down the street, meeting with characters, shopping, and otherwise just reveling in the festivities. It’s one of the most atmospheric events you’ll find in the area.
It does get busy. Parking can fill up, and during the peak times there are a lot of people in the area. Certain stores and coffee shops can be shoulder-to-shoulder. Restroom lines can get long. Trash cans can fill up.
Still, it’s a terrific experience, both for young kids but also for adults. Walking the cobblestone streets makes for a magical experience, and the characters are brilliant in their different ways. There is plenty to do, both during the day and into the evenings.
If you’re able, drop by at least once.
