Visit Jackson, in collaboration with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) and Downtown Jackson Partners (DJP), is proud to announce the return of Capital City Lights on Friday, December 5, 2025, from 4–8 p.m. The beloved holiday tradition will welcome residents and visitors alike for an evening of festive performances, curated holiday experiences, and community-centered programming throughout downtown Jackson.
The 2025 event marks an important evolution for the event as Capital City Lights transitions to Smith Park, offering a more flexible and spacious footprint to accommodate its continued growth. The move allows for an enhanced layout, expanded activations, and improved walkability for families and guests.
“Smith Park is a better fit for this celebration, and we hope it will become the hub for Capital City Lights, leaving room for the growing event to branch out from there,” said Kim Lewis, Destination Development Manager for Visit Jackson. “Thanks to our sponsors, Capital City Lights continues to grow each year, and we’re excited to create a memorable, festive evening that showcases the best of our city while supporting local organizations.”
As in previous years, Capital City Lights will once again align with MDAH’s Christmas by Candlelight Tours, a longstanding downtown tradition that attracts more than 1,200 visitors annually. Together, the evening creates a seamless, walkable holiday experience connecting museums, cultural institutions, public spaces, and partners across the district.
MDAH Director Katie Blount shared, “Each year, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History celebrates the holiday by welcoming hundreds of people to enjoy music, food and exhibits at our downtown museums. Partnering with Capital City Lights gives us an opportunity to expand the experience for visitors as we support the Jackson community and highlight all it has to offer.”
Event Highlights Include:
- Performances throughout the evening by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Mississippi, New Stage Theatre, and others.
- Local shopping featuring makers and small businesses such as Red Square, Levure, Sea and West, Buff City Soaps, Northshore Coffee, Just Vanilla Bakes, Campbell’s Bakery, and more.
- Busker-style activations across the park, including caricatures, face painting, live poetry, and character meet-and-greets from Frozen.
- Canopy Children’s Services toy drop-off, located near Soul Santa. Donations will be collected and delivered by the City With Soul Kia.
- Culinary and beverage partners including Mayflower Café, The Manship, Hal & Mal’s, Cathead Distillery, Fertile Ground Beer Co., Hickory Pit, and others.
This year’s expanded tour route will include new interactive stops at Smith Park and the Smith Robertson Museum, along with seasonal activities and open houses at partner locations throughout downtown.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Mississippi Department of Archives & History and Visit Jackson on our biggest and best Capital City Lights celebration yet,” said Downtown Jackson Partners’ President Liz Brister. “From City Hall to Smith Park, from our churches to our museums and Mississippi Governor’s Mansion, downtown Jackson will be transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland filled with the sounds, sights and magic of the holiday season.”
A detailed event map and full programming schedule will be released in the coming weeks. Festivities will continue into the weekend with the City of Jackson Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 6, 2025, extending the holiday spirit throughout downtown.
For more information, visit CapitalCityLightsJXN.com or follow @capitalcitylightsjxn on Instagram.
About Capital City Lights
The 5th annual holiday spectacular in downtown Jackson began in 2021 with one simple idea: bring the city together downtown to celebrate the season. What started as a spark has quickly grown into Jackson’s premier holiday tradition.
Every December, thousands of families and friends gather under the city lights for an evening of live music, local shopping, festive food, and experiences that feel both timeless and new. This year, the celebration shines even brighter in the newly refreshed Smith Park, perfectly connected to the Governor’s Mansion and the Christmas by Candlelight Tours.
