The Hamilton Downtown Association (HDA) and Hamilton Downtown Foundation (HDF) are once again hosting the Christmas Stroll and Community Tree Lighting on Small Business Saturday, November 29, celebrating a full day of local shopping, holiday traditions and festive community fun.
After moving the celebration to Saturday last year, seeing a strong turnout and meaningful support for local shops, the HDA is thrilled to continue the tradition. Downtown businesses will be open all day, offering shoppers the perfect opportunity to support locals before the festivities begin. The Christmas Stroll activities will run from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., giving families and visitors the chance to enjoy holiday entertainment, street vendors and community traditions after spending the day exploring Main Street.
Starting at 4 p.m., guests can experience beloved Hamilton holiday activities including Christmas carolers, Christmas Market craft vendors, food vendors, burn barrels, warm seasonal treats, live entertainment and the annual Christmas Market. Indoors, the community can visit the Bitterroot Discovery Children’s Museum Gingerbread House Competition, hosted at the Masonic Lodge on South 3rd Street.
Food vendors and community groups will be stationed along Main Street with hot dogs, brats, soups, cocoa and other winter favorites, while Explore the Arts will once again supply ingredients for crowd-favorite s’mores at the burn barrels.
This year, the HDA is also expanding the beloved Pickle Pursuit, a downtown-wide scavenger hunt running November 29 through December 15, where shoppers search for festive holiday pickles hidden in participating businesses for a chance to win Lost Trail Ski Resort Season Passes, with the winner announced December 17. Full instructions and rules are available on the HDA website.
“This is one of the most joyful days of the year downtown,” said Matthew Zwicker, Executive Director of the HDA and HDF. “Supporting local businesses on Small Business Saturday while bringing families together to celebrate the season is exactly what our downtown is all about. We’re thrilled to offer a full day of holiday magic again this year.”
The evening entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage under the Bell McCall Auto Center awning, featuring local performers including Groovz Dance Studio and the Bitterroot Valley Chorus, while the Tuba Santas and A Capella Society wander the streets nearby.
At 6 p.m., the community is invited to gather together for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, followed by the Living Nativity on South 3rd Street and extended shopping hours at participating businesses.
“For downtown businesses, this event is a highlight of the season,” said Tara Child, HDA Board Director and downtown business owner. “The energy, the lights, the families filling Main Street serve as a beautiful reminder of how special our community truly is. We love welcoming shoppers into our stores all day long.”
Ryan Williams, HDA Board President, echoed the sentiment, “The Christmas Stroll is only possible because of widespread community support from sponsors to city partners to volunteers. This event is a gift our whole community helps create, and it continues to grow in excitement and impact each year.”
Supporters can help keep the Christmas Stroll a free community tradition by purchasing a 2025 Commemorative Christmas Ornament at participating retailers or on the HDA website.
While portions of Main Street close for event setup in the afternoon, the HDA encourages the community to park on nearby side streets and continue shopping downtown throughout the day, as all businesses will remain open and ready to welcome customers. During the festivities, the HDA will also reserve a section of South 2nd Street for handicapped parking to ensure accessible access to the event. Visitors are also reminded of the free City Parking Lot across from the Post Office on North 4th Street.
For event details, Pickle Pursuit rules, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.visithamiltonmt.org or contact the Hamilton Downtown Association at explore@visithamiltonmt.org.
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