Two years ago, Humboldt's Christmas on Main was a weeknight event. The Chamber's 2024 listing set it for Thursday, December 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Downtown Green Space and Mini Park, 49 N. Central Ave. It included a tree lighting, hot chocolate, popcorn, letters to Santa and photos with Santa.
In 2025 the Humboldt Chamber moved everything to a Saturday. Its 2025 listing announced "some fun new changes," explaining that "all activities will take place on Saturday to give everyone a chance to come out and take part." This year's Christmas on Main 2026 keeps that setup. It runs Saturday, December 5, at Main and S. Central, between Magnolia Manor and Huntington Bank, which the Chamber calls the same spot as last year.
The move to daytime also changed how the event works. The old version was a two-hour evening in one place. The new one has three overlapping parts: free movies in the morning, Santa's Village at midday and free movies again in the early afternoon. Free movie tickets go first come, first served, so the order you do things in matters more than it used to.
The Day, Hour by Hour
Here is the full schedule from the Chamber's 2026 listing, put in order.
| Time | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00, 10:15, 10:30 a.m. | Humboldt Plaza 3, 1408 E Main St. | Free morning showings |
| 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Main and S. Central | Santa's Village: photos with Santa, hot chocolate bar, letters to Santa, reindeer food station |
| Late morning to midday | Main Street | Lunch and shopping |
| 12:45, 1:00, 1:15 p.m. | Humboldt Plaza 3 | Free afternoon showings |
The morning showings start before Santa's Village opens, and the afternoon showings start before it closes. The two movie blocks overlap the Santa hours on both ends. Whether you do the movie or Santa first decides the rest of your day.
The Morning Shows Are for Kids, and the Afternoon Shows Are Mostly for Adults
The Chamber doesn't post the 2026 movie titles on the event listing. Its sponsor descriptions do show who each block is for. The morning sponsorship covers "three free morning showings of a holiday favorite" for "children and the adults accompanying them." The afternoon sponsorship covers "three free afternoon showings enjoyed primarily by adults."
Last year's lineup followed the same pattern. The 2025 listing put The Grinch at 10:00, 10:15 and 10:30 a.m. and Christmas Vacation at 12:45, 1:00 and 1:15 p.m. The Plaza 3 Coming Soon page, updated October 28, lists It's a Wonderful Life and White Christmas among its upcoming titles.
All movies are free. Tickets aren't available in advance, so you get them first come, first served at the ticket window. Three start times, 15 minutes apart, give some flexibility. If your group wants a particular showing, getting to the window early is the only way to secure a seat. The theater's movie line is 731-784-7469.
What Santa's Village Includes at Main and S. Central
Santa's Village runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Chamber lists these activities:
- Photos with Santa
- A hot chocolate bar
- Letters to Santa
- A reindeer food station
The sponsor descriptions add more detail. There's a Christmas photo booth with props. The hot cocoa bar also serves cookies. Children mix and bag reindeer food to take home. Letters to Santa go into Santa's mailbox, and the Chamber buys all the supplies.
The Chamber also notes that "this is not a vendor event with sales booths. It is a free event for children." Since there are no booths, any shopping that day happens in the storefronts along Main. The Chamber's own suggestion for the day is to "enjoy our Santa's Village, have lunch on Main and do some shopping."
Familiar faces will be working the event. The Chamber says local nonprofit representatives and the West TN Strawberry Festival royalty serve cookies, help at the booths and welcome families.
Lunch and Shopping Fill the Gap Between Shows
Without vendor booths, the time between the two movie blocks is when downtown businesses come in. Most of the Main Street addresses below are in the 1300 to 1500 blocks, close to Plaza 3 at 1408 E Main.
Lunch
- Mi Casita Jimenez Mexican Restaurant, 1402 E. Main St., opens Saturdays at 11 a.m. and stays open until 9:30 p.m., according to its website. It opens at the same time as Santa's Village.
- Tennyson Smokehouse & Grill, listed in the Chamber directory at 500 W. Main St., sits farther west on Main.
Shops in the Chamber directory
| Business | Address |
|---|---|
| Creative Accents | 1316 Main St. |
| The Kandy Bank, vintage candy and ice cream | 1317 Main St. |
| City Gift Company | 1321 E. Main St. |
| Main Boutique | 1401 Main St. |
| Moore Interiors, LLC | 1413 Main St. |
| Strawberry on Main, vendor mall | 1511 E. Main |
Saturday hours vary from shop to shop, so call ahead before planning a stop around any one of them. The Kandy Bank works well as a final stop if the kids still have room after the hot chocolate bar.
Two Ways to Run the Morning
- Movie first, then Santa. Get to Plaza 3 before 10 a.m. for one of the morning showings. Afterward, walk over to Main and S. Central while Santa's Village is still open, then have lunch at Mi Casita or another spot on Main. This works best for families with young children who want the kids' movie.
- Santa first, then the afternoon movie. Arrive at Santa's Village when it opens at 11, take care of the photos and letters, have lunch on Main, and head to the Plaza 3 window before the 12:45, 1:00 or 1:15 showings. This works best when adults or older kids want the afternoon movie.
Both plans get you to Santa between 11 and 1. In either one, the free movie tickets are the part you have to be on time for.
For Local Businesses, the Sponsor Slots Are Small and Specific
The event is free because sponsors pay for it, and the Chamber says sponsors don't have to be members. In its words, the sponsorships mean "every child enjoys the same experience, regardless of a family's ability to pay." Each sponsorship covers one activity:
| Sponsorship | Amount | Openings listed |
|---|---|---|
| Candy Cane Cinema Morning | $500 | Two |
| Candy Cane Cinema Afternoon | $500 | Two |
| Hot Cocoa & Cookie Bar | $350 | Two |
| Christmas Photo Booth | $500 | One |
| Letters to Santa | $300 | One |
| Reindeer Food | $250 | One |
| Santa's Helpers | $100 | Multiple |
Sponsors are recognized on event materials, get signs at the activity they sponsor and receive a thank-you on social media. Volunteering at the event is optional. The event contact is Amanda Love at the Humboldt Chamber, (731) 784-1842.
Downtown Has a Ribbon Cutting Before Then
The holiday calendar on Central Avenue starts sooner than December 5. On Friday, November 20, the Humboldt Chamber has a grand-opening ribbon cutting for Nameste Aesthetics and Wellness from 5:30 to 6 p.m. at 102 N. Central Ave. The listing mentions facials, massage, myofascial release, skin analysis and lash and brow services. It says to use the north or west doors. A spa service could make a good stocking stuffer for someone on your list.
Christmas on Main is about putting on a downtown that looks its best, and so is getting a house ready for the market. Amy McLemore brings the same eye for presentation to every listing in Humboldt and nearby Gibson County towns. If you're curious what your home on or near Main Street would sell for this winter, Amy McLemore can put together a free home valuation in time for your holiday plans.
