On Saturday, December 12, 2026, the Indian Land Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony move to CrossRidge Center. The Indian Land Christmas Parade organizers say the new venue "will bring the day's festivities together in one central location." That covers the YMCA's Elf on the Run 5K, the Christmas Village, the parade and the tree lighting. CrossRidge will also have Indian Land's new 50-foot Christmas tree.
This changes how the day works. Before, the parts of the day were spread around the school campus off River Road. Now they all happen at one mixed-use center that also has restaurants, a cafe, an event hall and the YMCA. A family can show up for the morning race and stay until the tree is lit without moving the car.
Where the Parade Ran Before
In earlier years, Carolina Gateway described a 1.5-mile parade route. It started on River Road, turned onto the service road behind Indian Land Middle and Intermediate schools, and ended behind Indian Land Elementary. The tree lighting followed at 5:30 p.m. at Indian Land Intermediate.
The 2025 parade on Saturday, December 13, kept that full-day format. Its theme was "Inside Santa's Workshop," and the Lancaster News preview listed a 5K run, visits with Santa, an arts and crafts station and a closing tree lighting. The event was free to the public.
The schedule was already a full day. What changes in 2026 is the setting. The organizers say the move comes "thanks to the incredible growth and support of our community," and call it "an exciting new chapter for our beloved holiday tradition." This year's theme is "Candy Canes & Christmas Carols!"
December 12, Hour by Hour
Here is the day as the organizers and the CrossRidge event calendar have published it.
| Time | Event | Host or Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 a.m. | Elf on the Run 5K | Indian Land YMCA |
| 8:45 a.m. | 1-Mile Elf Dash | Indian Land YMCA |
| 9:30 a.m. | Race awards | Indian Land YMCA |
| 10:00 a.m. | Christmas Village opens | Indian Land PTOs |
| 2:00 p.m. | The Jersey Tenors Holiday Show | CrossRidge Event Center |
| 3:00 p.m. | Parade lineup | Indian Land Christmas Parade Organization |
| 4:00 p.m. | Christmas Parade | Indian Land Christmas Parade Organization |
| 5:30 p.m. | Awards ceremony and tree lighting | CrossRidge Center |
| 6:00 p.m. | The Jersey Tenors Holiday Show | CrossRidge Event Center |
The Morning Belongs to the Runners
The Elf on the Run 5K and 1 Mile Elf Dash is in its second year. The race page describes a course "through the beautiful CrossRidge campus." After the race there's a DJ, food trucks, awards and giveaways. Registration opened October 14 and closes December 5. The listed fee is $50.14, which includes mandatory charges. Runners get a 2026 long-sleeve hoodie and a medal.
The race page also calls the run the kickoff to "a full day of festivities including the Indian Land Christmas Parade, Christmas Village, and Tree Lighting Ceremony." Now that everything is in one place, that kickoff actually leads straight into the rest of the day.
Midday Moves Indoors
The Christmas Village opens at 10 a.m. and is hosted by the Indian Land PTOs. The organizers' Village page lists indoor craft vendors and local artists, plus food trucks and vendors along the parade route. There are about six hours between the end of the race awards and the parade lineup. The Village fills those hours, and on a cold December day, indoor vendors make that wait much easier.
For an afternoon with a ticket, The Jersey Tenors Holiday Show plays CrossRidge Event Center at 2001 Parkway Drive at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The matinee starts an hour before parade lineup. The evening show starts half an hour after the tree lighting. Either one fits around the parade on the same campus.
Late Afternoon Is the Parade and the Tree
Parade entries line up at 3 p.m., and the parade steps off at 4 p.m. The awards ceremony and tree lighting start at 5:30 p.m. That's the same start time as the lighting at Indian Land Intermediate in earlier years. This time it happens under the new 50-foot tree at CrossRidge. The organizers' route page asks participants to "Stay tuned for the new parade route!" They also say more details about the venue and event logistics "will be shared as plans are finalized."
Why CrossRidge Can Hold a Whole Day
CrossRidge is a 190-acre mixed-use development in Indian Land built by CrossRidge Development. The early plans called for CrossRidge One, a 120,000-square-foot Class A office building, along with a 32,000-square-foot conference and event center and a YMCA. The center now describes itself as a place for shopping, dining, fitness, offices and community events.
That mix is why the parade fits there. The race starts at the YMCA, the indoor show runs in the event center, and the parade and tree lighting share the grounds. A single walkable campus can hold all of it from 8 a.m. to after dark.
Where to Eat Between Events
Because the day runs from breakfast to dinner on one campus, the CrossRidge directory doubles as a meal plan. These spots are listed:
- Metro Diner, listed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., which covers both a post-race breakfast and an early dinner after the tree lighting
- Paris Baguette, marked "New" on the center's directory
- CrossRidge Cafe, which also hosts November's Holiday Sip & Shop
- Whataburger
- Taste Buds Kitchen
- Target, useful for last-minute supplies like hand warmers
Paris Baguette took a while to arrive. A CrossRidge post from June 1, 2026 said it would debut in August. The Charlotte Observer had first forecast the bakery for late summer 2025.
The CrossRidge store directory lists several more names marked as coming soon: 521 Noodles, Haraz Coffee, Ilios Crafted Greek, King of Fire, MilkShake Factory and The Gilded Vault.
November Warms Up at the Same Address
CrossRidge's December role builds on November events. The Holiday Sip & Shop at CrossRidge Cafe runs Friday, November 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It features more than 50 local vendors selling handmade goods, seasonal décor, fashion and treats.
A few miles away, Sun City Carolina Lakes lists a Holiday Marketplace for Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Weekend Before, Just Across the County Line
December 12 is the main event, but the weekend before has two good holiday outings in York County:
- Rock Hill Christmas Parade, Friday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. The City of Rock Hill says the 2026 parade lineup is full.
- Fort Mill Tree Fest, Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. John's United Methodist Church, 130 Tom Hall Street. The Fort Mill Sun reports that admission is free.
Then the next Saturday, everything Indian Land does for the holidays happens at CrossRidge, starting with the 8 a.m. 5K and ending with the 5:30 p.m. tree lighting.
At Your Property People, we keep track of how Indian Land's calendar changes as CrossRidge fills in. If you'd like to know how a growing town center like this one affects daily life on your street, we're glad to talk it through. Work With Us.
