Hamilton's Christmas has two fixtures that people drive in from all over Waikato to see: the parade through the central city and the lights at Temple View. Around them is a ring of small towns that each do their own parade.
Hamilton Christmas Parade
The First Credit Union Christmas Parade runs through central Hamilton on a Sunday afternoon in early December. In 2025 it was on Sunday 7 December at 2pm along Anglesea Street. It is one of the larger parades in the North Island, with dozens of floats.
- Bring chairs and shade. It is a hot stretch of road in the afternoon.
- Park on the edge of the central city and walk in.
- Check Hamilton City Council's events page for the 2026 date and route.
Temple View Christmas Lights
On the south-western edge of the city, the Temple View Christmas Lights fill Legacy Park and the temple grounds with close to 70,000 lights. In 2025 they were on from 6 December to Christmas night, starting at about 8.15pm. Entry is free.
- Go on a weeknight. The weekend before Christmas is very busy.
- Park where directed and walk the grounds. Prams manage well.
- It is a quiet, family setting. Children can run on the lawns.
The Christmas tree at Garden Place
Hamilton's Christmas tree stands in Garden Place in the central city and is lit each night through December. The lighting of the tree has opened the city's Christmas season in past years.
Light trails around Waikato
- Cambridge Christmas Light Trail: homes around Cambridge take part from 1 December to Christmas night, with a list published by the town's information centre.
- Neighbourhood lights in Hamilton are shared each year by local newsletters and community pages.
- Hamilton Gardens is lovely on a December evening and often runs summer events.
Small-town parades in Waikato
Thames, Morrinsville, Putāruru and Coromandel town have all held their own Christmas parades in recent years, most on the first two weekends of December. The Waikato Herald prints a list at the start of the month.
Other ideas
- "Trees at The Meteor": an exhibition of decorated trees at The Meteor Theatre has run in mid December.
- Christmas markets and fairs at local schools and churches.
- A picnic at Hamilton Lake with the playground and a paddle.
See what other cities have planned in our national guide to Christmas events.
Bring Santa home afterwards
Parades and lights are for crowds. The moment children remember is the one that is only for them. Santa can ring your phone, ask for your child by name and ask what they would like for Christmas. You choose the day and the minute, so it can ring as you get home from the parade or the lights.