The holidays are officially here, and it’s time to spread some holiday cheer all of this beautiful island of ours! This time of year is always a bit pricey, so to make sure that you had plenty of fun this season and didn’t have to worry about a cover charge we rounded up some of the best FREE Big Island holiday events for you and your ‘ohana. Enjoy!
Looking for places to do your holiday shopping? Check out our list of Big Island Craft Shows and Art Fairs!
Hilo’s Holiday Tree Lighting Festival
Friday, November 29 | from 4 to 8 p.m. | Kalakaua Park, 136 Kalakaua Street, Hilo
Join us for Downtown Hilo’s Holiday Tree Lighting Festival on Friday November 29th 4-8pm. Brought to you by the folks at Hilo Downtown Improvement Association. Free family event with games & prizes, live entertainment, art and food. Bring your mats & blankets and we hope you enjoy the festivities. Happy holidays!
Black Friday Movie Night on the Lawn-Home Alone
Friday, November 29 | from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Grand Naniloa Resort, 93 Banyan Drive, Hilo
You’ve shopped ’till you’ve dropped—now it’s time to enjoy a nice family movie night on the Grand Naniloa Lawn! Admission is FREE and all are welcome. We’ll be showing one of our favorite holiday classics, Home Alone, starting at 6:30pm on Friday, November 29th. This will be a SPECIAL BLACK FRIDAY EDITION of Movie Night on the Lawn so we’ll be featuring some of your favorite Holiday costumed characters for the keiki—come down for photos and fun! BBQ, light refreshments, and popcorn will be available for purchase. We look forward to seeing you all there.
Kailua Kalikimaka Tree Lighting
Friday, November 29 | from 5:45 to 7 p.m. | Kailua Village Business Improvement District, 75-5751 Kuakini Highway, Kona
Kailua Village Business Improvement District begins the festivities on Friday, November 29, the day after Thanksgiving, with the lighting of the Christmas tree at Emma’s Square (located across from Hulihee Palace). This tree lighting tradition gets started at 5:45 pm. Special musical guest Darlene Ahuna performs classic holiday favorites with dancers from Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka La performing hula. Plan for a festive selfie spot with Miss Kona Coffee and Miss Aloha Hawaii as the tree lights up and signals the start of the holiday season, welcoming everyone to Historic Kailua Village with a reminder to shop, dine and buy local.
Free Grinch Photo
Saturdays Nov 30, Dec 7, 14, 21 | from 1 to 3 p.m. | Kona Stories, 78-6831 Ali’i Dr, Kona
Bring the whole family and have your Holiday photo taken with the Grinch. Each Saturday between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 1 – 3PM at Kona Stories Book Store in Keauhou Shopping Center.
Blue Zones Project Holiday Celebration
Tuesday, December 3 | from 5 to 7:30 p.m. | Aunt Sally’s, 799 Piilani Street, Hilo
FREE food sampling from local restaurants featuring Blue Zones Project inspired pupus & a wine sample. Enjoy lots of fun keiki activities, cooking demos, FREE tasty samples, FREE plant giveaways, gardening demos, live entertainment, hula performances, health & well-being activities, Zumba, Ping Pong, FREE Holiday Photo Booth, FREE GIVEAWAYS & much more! Wear your favorite holiday attire or Blue Zones Project t-shirt if you wish.
We look forward to celebrating the health & wellness movement in East Hawaii with an evening filled with food, fun & laughter to kick-off the holidays! RSVP online: info.bluezonesproject.com/eh/celebrate. Share with your friends, family, co-workers & neighbors! We hope to see you there! Sign-up to Volunteer at this event: info.bluezonesproject.com/eh/volunteer
Parker Ranch Christmas Tree Lighting Event
Friday, December 6 | from 5 to 8 p.m. | Parker Ranch, 66-1304 Mamalahoa Highway 19, Waimea
Our annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event at the Parker Ranch Historic Homes at Puuopelu. Great entertainment by the HPA Handbell Choir, pūnana leo and the Parker School Choir. Free Cookies and Hot Cocoa. Plenty of Parking and free admission.
Waikoloa 2nd Annual Frosty Festival
Friday, December 6 | from 5 to 10 p.m. | Waikoloa Community Church, 68-3621 Paniolo Avenue, Waikoloa Village
Join us at the Frosty Fest! Get your Christmas shopping done at the night market featuring local vendors, artisans, pop up shops, pictures with Santa (bring your own camera), pop up local restaurants, and more! Fun for the entire family.
Pictures with Santa
December 6, 7, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21 | from 6 to 8 p.m. | Queens’ Marketplace, 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa
Ho Ho Ho! Santa Claus is coming back to Queens’ MarketPlace this holiday season. Meet Santa and his elves this December at the Clock Tower (between Island Gourmet Markets and Romano’s Macaroni Grill) to take family photos and for some holiday cheer. BRING YOUR OWN CAMERA. Meet Santa from 6 PM – 8 PM on the following dates:
Friday, December 6th
Saturday, December 7th
Wednesday, December 11th
Friday, December 13th
Wednesday, December 18th
Thursday, December 19th
Friday, December 20th
Saturday, December 21st
and Sunday, December 8th from 3 PM – 5 PM
Goin’ Nuts for the Holidays Festival
Saturday, December 7 | from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Hale Halawai Beach Park, 75-5760 Ali’i Drive, Kona
Free Community Event – Fun for the entire family.
22nd Annual Holualoa Music & Light Festival
Saturday, December 7 | from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Malama i ka Ola Holistic Health Center, 76-5914 Mamalaohoa Highway, Holualoa
Every December, Holualoa Village rolls out the holiday red carpet, inviting visitors and residents to ring in the holidays, Hawaiian style. Holualoa lights up the night with the annual lighting of the town Christmas tree, plus an appearance by Santa, lots of live music, gallery gatherings, art openings, food, drink and more!
Gallery owners open their doors to kick off the holiday shopping season, while at the same time bringing the local community together for a night of socializing, mingling and fun. Shops serve up complimentary pupus and beverages, holiday treats and of course, 100-percent Kona coffee. It’s a chance for attendees to catch up with old friends, make new friends, or put names to familiar faces. This is truly an all ages event for one and all. This year’s festival is Saturday, December 7th, from 5:30–8:30pm.
Sacred Heart Church Christmas Fair 2019
Saturday, December 7 | from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Sacred Heart Church Pahoa, 15-3003 Pahoa Village Road
Don’t miss out on fun day filled with food, crafts and rummage sale. We will have baked goods and both a hawaiian local plate and steak plate for sale. Food plate tickets are now for sale after every mass at the portico. ***PIE CONTEST ALERT*** Do you love to bake? Show off your skills and enter our first ever pie contest. Visit our website for rules, categories and prizes. ****CALLING ALL BAKERS!**** Baked goods donations needed! We need the following: Brownies, Cookies, Cakes, Cupcakes and any other baked goods. Mahalo in advance for your donation!
Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 7 | from 4 to 7:30 p.m. | Firehouse Gallery and Waimea Arts Council, 67-1201 Mamalahoa Highway, Kamuela
Any Kine Wontons will be returning to the Firehouse Gallery & Waimea Arts Council on Saturday Dec. 7th in celebration of the 59th Annual Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade! Look for our pop up location across from the Bank of Hawaii from 4-7:30pm and grab yourself some hot pupus before and during the parade. This year we’ll also have Wonton Soup available to warm you up while you enjoy one of the most beloved Christmas Parade on the Big Island of Hawaii. See you then.
Aloha Santa
Saturdays, December 7, 14, 21 & Sunday, December 8 | times vary | Parker Ranch Center, Mamalahoa Highway, Waimea
Get a Free Photo with Santa! Bring your keiki to Santa’s holiday hangout at the Fireside Food Court for a FREE Photo with Santa. Plus FREE goody bags for the keiki, while supplies last.
Saturday, December 7 – 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, December 8 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, December 14 – Noon to 3 p.m.
Saturday, December 21 – Noon to 3 p.m.
Donations welcome to benefit Waimea Lions Club and North Hawaii Hospice.
The Big Island Giving Tree — Giving Joy to All
Sunday, December 8 | from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Parker Ranch Center, Mamalahoa Highway 19, Waimea
‘Tis the season to bring the family for jolly activities at Parker Ranch Center. Enjoy a day of festive entertainment and joyful giving to benefit The Big Island Giving Tree. Schedule of Performances:
11am – HPA Handbell
12pm – Honoka’a Strings
1pm – Kona Daifukuji Taiko Drummers
1:30pm – Parker School Choir
2pm – Te ‘E’a o Te Turama
The Big Island Giving Tree is a non-profit organization that offers support to Big Island Keiki and Kupuna. They accept donations in the form of gift cards or monetary contributions.
Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Winter Festival
Saturday, December 14 | from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, 16-492 Old Volcano Road, Keaau
On Saturday, December 14, 2019 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. we will be hosting a Winter Festival on the temple grounds. We will have craft vendors, food booths, door prizes, entertainment, children activities, and temple tours. At 5:45 p.m. that day it will be the Keaau Christmas Light parade that starts from the high school and will go to Shipman Gym.
Holidays in Kahuku
Saturday, December 14 | from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, 1 Crater Rim Drive, Volcano
The Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park invites everyone to the second annual Holidays in Kahuku, a free family-friendly event featuring local crafters selling jewelry, pottery, holiday decorations and more. Live music includes performances by rock ‘n rollers Shootz, the “queen of opera” D’Andrea Pelletier and a surprise guest performing Hawaiian music – something for everyone! Volcano House will provide ono (delicious) food for purchase, and Friends will sell shave ice, drinks, chips and logo merchandise. Books, native species plush toys and other park-related items will be available for sale in the Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store. All proceeds from this event support park projects and educational programs.
Kainaliu Kalikimaka
Saturday, December 14 | from 5 to 8:30 p.m. | downtown Kainaliu
3rd annual music, lights, and family fun stroll in historic Kainaliu town. Take a walk down Kainaliu main street and come enjoy the holiday season island style. Shops, galleries, restaurants, and vendors will be sparkling with lights and open late for all to enjoy. From Sandy’s drive-in to the Aloha theatre there will be holiday cheer and aloha. There will be entertainment for the whole family including visit with Santa, live music, carolers, close up magic, face painting, and more. Come with family and friends and enjoy the wonderful town of Kainaliu.
3rd Annual Christmas Kokua Cruise
Sunday, December 15 | at 10 a.m. | 471 Kalanianaole Avenue, Hilo
3rd Annual Christmas Kokua Cruise by Kama’aina Nissan and Hawaii Classic Cruizers. Benefits HOPE Services Hawaii. Cruise begins at HOME DEPOT HILO at 10:00am. Cruise will end at Kama’aina Nissan down Keaukaha were all the Donations will be collected.
Celebrating the Classic Songs of Henry Kapono and C&K
Thursday, December 19 | from 5 to 7 p.m. | Royal Kona Resort, 75-5852 Ali’i Drive, Kona
Happy Holidays from Henry & Honda. Celebrating the Classic Songs of Henry Kapono and C&K. Show at 5pm on December 19. This event is FREE to the public. Come early to ensure you get a good seat! Hawaii Honda Dealers Association and GRAMMY®-nominated Henry Kapono invite you to celebrate the Holidays with an evening full of Henry’s classic music! From Henry’s timeless “Merry Christmas to You” album to your favorite C&K classics like “Sailin,” “Friends,” “Highway in the Sun” and so many more, this is a once a year opportunity you don’t want to miss! Come one, come all! Come to listen, come to party! Bring your friends and family for a Holiday Party and share an unforgettable goodtimes together! Henry will also donate a portion of his proceeds to the Henry Kapono Foundation.
Be sure to bookmark this page — we’ll be adding more events as they are posted!
Did we miss a great FREE Big Island holiday event? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll be sure to add it!
Featured image by Jill Wellington via Pixabay, Creative Commons licensed.
