Light Up Trilith comes back on Saturday, November 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. In past years, everything happened in those four hours. This year that evening opens a season. The tree lighting itself is one night, but three attractions open with it and stay open into late December. Trilith LIVE held its first entertainment event in January, so this is its first holiday season with public shows on the calendar.
The season now runs about six weeks, from November 21 to December 31. Below are the dates, the prices that are published, and the handful of nights when Trilith and downtown Fayetteville schedule events at the same time.
What changed from last year's Light Up
Last year, Light Up Trilith ran on November 22, 2025, from 4 to 8 p.m. The lineup was food trucks, live music, a performance by Studio 27, the Joe Gransden Big Band, and a tree lighting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The 2024 edition, on November 23, 2024, was also a single evening. Trilith's 2026 event page says this year's celebration "will also launch several holiday experiences throughout the Town at Trilith."
| Light Up Trilith 2025 | Light Up Trilith 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, November 22 | Saturday, November 21 |
| Hours | 4 to 8 p.m. | 4 to 8 p.m. |
| Santa's Workshop ticket | $20 per child | $25 per child |
| Workshop activities | Train ride, face painting, balloon twisting, bracelet making, bounce houses, reindeer food making | Bounce houses, snow tube slide, obstacle course, ornament make-and-take, snow area, Minnie and Mickey, glitter tattoos, hair tinsel, train ride |
| Bloom drive | Full-size toiletries, cold-weather clothing, pajamas | Toys, shoes, pajamas for youth and teens |
| What happens after that night | Nothing else announced | Tree farm, pop-up bar, and holiday studio tours open the same day |
The Workshop costs $5 more than last year, and the activity list now includes a snow tube slide and a snow area. It's one ticket per child, sold through Eventeny. If you plan to donate to Bloom Fosters, the nonprofit Trilith is partnering with for families in foster care, drop off at the Bloom tent in front of Honeysuckle Gelato.
Three things that stay open after the lights come on
Each of these has its own dates, so this is where the extra weeks come from.
Miracle at Trilith Guesthouse, November 21 through December 31
For the season, Oliver's Twist at the Trilith Guesthouse becomes a Christmas pop-up bar with holiday decor, themed glassware and seasonal cocktails. Marriott's listing for the 2026 run says you don't need a reservation and there's no charge to come in. You pay for your own food and drinks. It runs through New Year's Eve, as the holiday studio tours do.
Art's Christmas Tree Farm, November 21 through December 19
Art's Christmas Tree Farm sets up on the Plaza at Trilith Guesthouse and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can walk the rows and take a tree home. Those hours include weekday daytime, which none of the evening events cover. It closes December 19, so if you want a tree from here, plan for before that.
The holiday Movie Studio Tour, November 21 through December 31
The Trilith Foundation is giving its Movie Studio Tour a holiday version. You walk through decorated soundstages at Trilith Studios, see how filmmakers make snow for movies, and might run into Santa. The holiday tour is booked separately from the regular one, and the Foundation's page mentions early-bird tickets. The rates on that page are for the standard tour: $38 for adults, $33 for seniors and children, and free for ages 3 and under. Check the holiday booking page for the holiday price before you budget for a group.
Trilith LIVE's first holiday season with public shows
The venue is a big reason the Town at Trilith fills a whole season now. Trilith LIVE is a 530,000-square-foot entertainment complex built around a 2,200-seat theater. Its grand-opening entertainment season started January 15, 2026. The building was used in December 2025, including for a City of Fayetteville event on December 17. But last year's Light Up happened before the public show season had started.
This year, the Trilith LIVE schedule has holiday shows on both ends of the season:
- The Nutcracker Tea, November 14. Two seatings, at noon and 4 p.m., at 175 Trilith Parkway. It includes an interactive Nutcracker performance, food and a visit from Santa.
- Eddie B, November 21. Same night as Light Up.
- Shining Light Gala & Concert, December 17. Slippery When Wet, a Bon Jovi tribute band, plays in support of Harts of Teal.
- One Joyous Night with Hezekiah Walker, December 19, 7:30 p.m.
The non-holiday calendar is busy too. Rick Braun with Peachtree Jazz Edition plays November 6. Camp Southern Ground Presents Unsung Hero featuring Emily Ann Roberts is November 20.
The 3rd Annual Holiday Hustle 5K is Saturday morning, December 12, at the Town at Trilith. It starts at 8:30 a.m. and includes family activities and a vendor market. Proceeds go to Piedmont Cancer Wellness and oncology services at Piedmont Fayette.
Where Trilith and downtown land on the same days
Trilith's season now runs from late November through New Year's Eve, so it overlaps the City of Fayetteville's downtown events more than it used to. Downtown's events are at City Center Park, 210 Stonewall Avenue West, plus the shops around Main Street. Here are both calendars on one list:
| Date | Town at Trilith | Downtown Fayetteville |
|---|---|---|
| Fri., Nov. 20 | Unsung Hero with Emily Ann Roberts at Trilith LIVE | Movies in the Park: "Elf," after sunset |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Light Up Trilith, 4 to 8 p.m.; Eddie B at Trilith LIVE; tree farm, Miracle and studio tours open | |
| Fri., Nov. 27 | Tree farm and Miracle open | Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m., Light Up City Center Park 6 to 8 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Shop Small Saturday | Small Business Saturday |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Holiday Hustle 5K, 8:30 a.m. | Miracle on Main Street Market, 4 to 8 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Last day for Art's Christmas Tree Farm; Hezekiah Walker, 7:30 p.m. |
A few of these pair up easily. On December 12, the 5K wraps up in the morning and the Miracle on Main Street Market doesn't open until 4 p.m., so you can do both in one day. The city says more details on the market are coming. November 20 is harder: "Elf" at City Center Park and the Emily Ann Roberts show at Trilith LIVE are on the same Friday night. The city lists Hog Pit BBQ, Ms. Pizza and Scoops for food at the movie.
The night after Thanksgiving belongs to downtown. The Christmas Parade & Light Up City Center Park runs the same route as last year, with the parade at 5:30 p.m. and the park lighting from 6 to 8. The city's own tip is that you can watch the whole parade from the park. There will be live music, cookie decorating, face painting and food trucks. Floats from nonprofits, churches, schools and bands enter free, and citizens and businesses pay $25.
The next morning, both places hold their shop-small day. Main Street Fayetteville's Small Business Saturday list includes Junk Mama's General Store at 125 Fisher Ave., Uniquely Gifted at 105B Stonewall Ave. E., and City Cafe and Bakery at 215 Glynn St. S. Trilith has Shop Small Saturday on its calendar for the same date but hasn't posted program details yet. Art's Christmas Tree Farm will already be open that weekend, so you could pick up a tree the same day.
If you want the extra weeks without the crowd, Trilith's longer season gives you room. The tree farm is open daily through December 19, the Miracle pop-up through December 31, and the studio tours through December 31. You can go on any of those days instead of the one Saturday when the lights come on.
I love helping people find their footing in Fayetteville, whether that means a weekend plan or a longer-term one. If you'd like a hand fitting Trilith and downtown into your calendar this season, or you just want to talk about what's new around town, I'm always happy to compare notes. Tina Bantin is a text or call away. Let's connect.
