Hayden's Holiday Season Now Runs Down Government Way

"After several wonderful years hosting our Outdoor European Christmas Market, we have decided to bring our winter celebration indoors." That line comes from the Hayden Chamber of Commerce, and it means this year's first weekend of December won't include mulled wine, warming fires or Father Christmas at an outdoor market. The Chamber says "weather challenges and volunteer availability" led to the decision.

Hayden's December isn't any thinner for it. The events still on the 2026 calendar have something in common. The market used three different addresses in five years. The parade, the tree lighting and the nursery events that never moved are all on one road. This year the holiday season in Hayden runs along Government Way, from New Leaf Nursery at 12655 N. Government Way south to McIntire Family Park at 8930 N. Government Way.

Five Decembers, three addresses

The market had a good run. It never settled in one place, though. According to Coeur d'Alene Press coverage and the Chamber's own event pages, it moved like this:

• 2021: The first market was held at McIntire Park, Friday 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets cost $7 for both days or $5 for Saturday only.
• 2022: It stayed at McIntire Family Park.
• 2023: It moved to Finucane Park on Friday, Dec. 1, and Saturday, Dec. 2.
• 2024 and 2025: It moved again, to the Coeur d'Alene Elks Lodge #1254 RV Campground at 1170 W. Prairie Ave., on the Hayden and Coeur d'Alene border.

The market grew while it moved. The Coeur d'Alene Press counted 55 vendors in 2021. By 2024 and 2025, the Chamber was advertising more than 90 vendors, along with bratwurst, roasted nuts, lefse, gingerbread and wreath-making. The last one ran Dec. 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 2025. Admission was $5 a day and free for kids 10 and under.

The first year shows what's changing. In its November 2021 preview, the Coeur d'Alene Press reported that the market coincided with the Hayden Lights Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting that Saturday, so the Chamber's event and the City's event shared one weekend. In 2026, the City's half of that weekend is still on the calendar. The Chamber's half has moved to a different date and a different city.

Where the Chamber's event went

The new event is Winter Glamour with Heart: A Fashion Show for a Cause, on Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. Tickets are $90 and include dinner.

It's a very different evening from a walk-through market. The Chamber lists a winter fashion show with community members as models, a designer purse sale with newer and gently used purses, dinner and entertainment, a live auction, a wine tree, raffle prizes and a paddle raise. Proceeds go to St. Vincent de Paul's Winter Warming Center.

The old market was a $5 stroll with kids in tow. The new event is a ticketed, seated dinner a little over two weeks earlier. Neighbors who went to the market in past years and the guests at Winter Glamour may well be different groups, and the Chamber's announcement calls the event "a new Hayden Chamber tradition."

Saturday, Dec. 5, on one street

On Dec. 5 the outdoor schedule sits between two points on Government Way. New Leaf Nursery is running Holiday Happenings on Friday, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, from noon to 6 p.m. Sleigh rides are free. On Dec. 5 the nursery will have Santa and photo booth pictures, with a free selfie option. At 5 p.m. that Saturday, the City of Hayden starts Hayden Lights. The parade leaves Hayden Avenue and travels south in the northbound lane of Government Way to Honeysuckle Avenue. The tree lighting follows at McIntire Family Park with Santa, plus games and giveaways from P1FCU.

New Leaf runs until 6 p.m., so the nursery and the parade overlap for the last hour. That makes it possible to go to both on the same day. The City's 2026 parade materials don't publish road closure times. The 2021 plan closed Government Way between Hayden and Dakota avenues from about 4 to 5:15 p.m., but that was a prior year's schedule, so check the City's special community events page closer to the date.

The Coeur d'Alene Press described hundreds of spectators along the route in 2022, and its 2019 parade report did the same.

If your business, church or truck wants a spot in the lineup

Entries for 2026 are due Monday, Nov. 30, at 5 p.m., according to the City's Hayden Lights Parade Application & Rules. Check-in and ID pickup start at 4 p.m. on City property between Hayden Bible Fellowship Church and American Mower and Saw.

The application lists these divisions:

• Commercial or political
• Groups, including marching, musical, church and school
• Antique or classic autos, trucks or machinery
• Individuals
• Equestrian groups or singles
• Nonprofit
• Military, police, fire or rescue

The awards are Holiday Extraordinaire, Judges' Choice and Best in Parade. Questions go to Hayden Recreation & Community Events at 208-209-1080.

November leads up to the parade

The weeks before Dec. 5 are also centered on the nursery, the park and the library. In date order:

1. Wed., Nov. 4, 1 to 2:30 p.m.: Hayden Library hosts "Know Your Place: North Idaho's Early Sawmill Era" in its meeting room.
2. Tue., Nov. 10, 10 to 11:30 a.m.: The library's Coffee & Classics meets at The Village Bakery, 190 E. Hayden Ave. in the Super 1 shopping plaza, to talk about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
3. Wed., Nov. 11, 11 a.m.: The City's Veterans Day and 2026 Distinguished Veteran ceremony is on the McIntire Family Park stage behind Hayden City Hall.
4. Sat., Nov. 14: The Kootenai County Farmers' Market Association holds its Autumn Indoor Market at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way in Coeur d'Alene. The same day, New Leaf's $75 Fresh Holiday Wreath class is already sold out.
5. Thu., Nov. 19, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: New Leaf teaches a Tabletop Down-Swept Christmas Tree class for $50.
6. Fri., Nov. 20, 5:30 to 9 p.m.: Winter Glamour with Heart at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn.
7. Sat., Nov. 21: New Leaf's Jingle & Mingle runs noon to 6 p.m., with free sleigh rides and Santa from 3 to 6 p.m. Hayden Library has a Royal Icing Demonstration from 2 to 4 p.m. That evening, the City's group night at Spokane Arena takes on the Spokane Chiefs versus the Penticton Vees, with lower-level seats listed at $20 for adults and $14 for children 4 to 12.
8. Tue., Nov. 24: The library's Santa and a Story is at New Leaf Nursery from 10 to 11 a.m., and New Leaf's calendar lists Story Time with Santa from 11 a.m. to noon.
9. Fri. and Sat., Nov. 27 and 28, noon to 6 p.m.: New Leaf's Merry & Bright Community Nights, with free sleigh rides.

After the parade, the library's Jólabókaflóð holiday-books program runs at the information desk from Dec. 1 through Dec. 19, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. New Leaf has one more Story Time with Santa on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 11 a.m. to noon. The City's 9th Annual Hayden Women's 4's Christmas Volleyball Tournament is Sunday, Dec. 13.

The park at the south end

McIntire Family Park hosts the Veterans Day ceremony and the tree lighting, so it's part of the season from start to finish. It's also in line for changes. The City says Phase 1 design is underway, and its 2026 master plan proposes phased upgrades that include paths, play areas, a stage and better parking. For now, the 2026 tree lighting will take place in the park as it is today, at 8930 N. Government Way.

If December plans include hosting family in Hayden, or you're thinking about a move closer to the Government Way corridor before next year's parade, Chris Briner can tell you how homes near McIntire Family Park and New Leaf Nursery are valued right now. Get your instant home valuation, then let's talk about your plans for next year.