What sells at a Christmas tree lighting when the vendors are between 5 and 17 years old? Milton finds out on Saturday, Dec. 5, when young sellers set up tables of things they baked, crafted or designed in front of an event the city says usually draws about 1,500 people.
The City of Milton has held Christmas in Crabapple for years. It's the town's traditional start to the season, and it ends with the lighting of the official city tree at Broadwell Pavilion. In 2026 the afternoon gets a Kids Market for young sellers ages 5 to 17. The city calls it a "great new addition" to the festivities. With the market added, the city's tree lighting also becomes a holiday shopping afternoon on Broadwell Road, and Milton's own kids are the ones selling.
The afternoon of Dec. 5, start to finish
Christmas in Crabapple runs from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at Broadwell Pavilion, 12615 Broadwell Road. Last year's event was on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the same pavilion and the same hours, so the date moved by one day and the Kids Market is the new piece.
Here's how the day runs:
- 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Young vendors check in and set up their tables.
- 2 p.m. The event opens. Expect face painting with snowflakes and candy canes, a balloon artist, ornament and cookie decorating, a letters-to-Santa table and holiday music from an on-site DJ and live singers, including members of the Milton High chorus.
- All afternoon. Santa takes requests and poses for photos. You don't need a reservation, and the city's professional photographer shares the pictures for free.
- Dusk. The tree is lit, with holiday singalongs led by local musicians.
- 6 p.m. The event ends.
Questions go to the city's Community Outreach Manager, Emily Salerno, listed on the event page.
Who's behind the Kids Market tables
Each young seller gets a table to show and, ideally, sell things they designed, baked, crafted or otherwise made. The city pitched it as a way for kids to earn some holiday money and learn about running a business. The market is run with the city by the same group that organizes the Kids Market at Crabapple Fest, so families who shopped those tables in the fall will know the format.
Registration opened in early September through Kids Markets, and vendor sign-up is now closed. Shoppers are welcome. If your child missed it this year, the Kids Markets Milton page is where future markets are posted.
Because sign-up is closed, a lot of the families walking Broadwell Road that afternoon will be there for a seller they know: a sibling, a classmate, a neighbor's kid at the end of the row. Bringing small bills is a practical idea, since you'll be buying from kids at their own tables.
A small footprint for a big crowd
Most of the Dec. 5 plan follows from one detail. The city says the event usually draws about 1,500 people, and it notes that the footprint along Broadwell Road is limited. With that many people on a short stretch of road, arriving at 2 p.m. and arriving just before dusk are different experiences. Early afternoon is the better time to shop the Kids Market tables and see Santa. The tree lighting draws the biggest crowd at the end.
That timing also shapes dinner. The tree lights at dusk and the event ends at 6, so the whole crowd heads for food at roughly the same time. Every place in the two short lists below took part in Milton's 2026 Restaurant Week in September.
On Crabapple Road
- B&B Tavern Crabapple, 12620 Crabapple Road, Suite 101
- Smoke on the Farm, 12635 Crabapple Road, Suite 210
- Tres Lunas, 12635 Crabapple Road, Suite 320
- Playa Bowls, 12660 Crabapple Road
On Heritage Walk
- Lily Sushi Bar, 1865 Heritage Walk
- L'Antoinette, 1935 Heritage Walk, Suite K-100
- Vice Steak Bar, 3000 Heritage Walk
The Crabapple Market dining directory also lists MilkShake Factory, which shares the 12660 Crabapple Road address with Playa Bowls, along with Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub at 12650 Crabapple Road, Peace Love and Pizza at 12640 Crabapple Road, The Nest Café at 1845 Heritage Walk and Six Bridges Brewing at 1850 Heritage Walk. For a larger group after the tree lighting, calling ahead is the safer plan.
If the Kids Market covers only part of your gift list, the Crabapple Market shopping directory lists Poe & Company Bookstore, Indigo Home & Design, The Twisted Thread, Ameline Shoppe, Whitetail Bicycles, Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming and Metamorphosis Fine Arts & Crafts Gallery at 1870 Heritage Walk.
The rest of December uses the same downtown
Most of Milton's December events happen in the same downtown Crabapple blocks as the tree lighting. The pancake breakfast is the one exception, at the Highway 9 fire station. Taken together, the month works as a run of reasons to come back:
| Date | Event | Where | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu., Dec. 3 | Wanderlust Food Truck Fest | Market District Crabapple, behind The Green | 4–8 p.m. | Rotating food trucks |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Christmas in Crabapple and Kids Market | Broadwell Pavilion, 12615 Broadwell Road | 2–6 p.m. | Tree lighting at dusk |
| Thu., Dec. 10 | Wanderlust Food Truck Fest | Market District Crabapple, behind The Green | 4–8 p.m. | Second December edition |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Pancake Breakfast with Santa | Fire Station 44, 13690 Highway 9 | 8–11 a.m. | No registration required |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | Crabapple Challenge Winter Games | The Green | Check-in 12:30 p.m., games 1–3:30 p.m. | Adult field day, tickets on Eventbrite |
| Mon., Dec. 21 | Tea Party with Mrs. Claus | City Hall Council Chambers, 2006 Heritage Walk | 9–10:30 a.m. | Free tickets required |
The two Wanderlust Food Truck Fest nights fall on the Thursdays before and after the tree lighting, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Market District Crabapple and the area behind The Green. It's a food truck night with rotating trucks. Crabapple Market lists the same two dates on its events calendar for The Green.
The Pancake Breakfast with Santa moves from downtown to Fire Station 44 on Highway 9 the next Saturday morning. The city lists breakfast, balloon animals, a raffle and a visit from the Grinch, and no registration is required. The 2025 breakfast ran the same 8 to 11 a.m. at the same station.
The next afternoon is for adults. The Crabapple Challenge Winter Games is an adult field day on The Green, with check-in at 12:30 p.m. and competition from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
The Tea Party with Mrs. Claus is the one December event that needs planning ahead. It's on Monday morning, Dec. 21, from 9 to 10:30 in the Council Chambers at City Hall on Heritage Walk. Tickets are free but required for every attendee, and children under 2 get in free. Registration opens Tuesday, Dec. 1, for Milton residents and Dec. 15 for non-residents. That leaves residents a two-week head start, and it begins four days before the tree lighting.
The city's own list of annual events ends there. Its 2026 holiday events are Christmas in Crabapple on Dec. 5, the pancake breakfast on Dec. 12 and the tea party on Dec. 21. Milton Parks and Recreation was recently named District 7 Agency of the Year by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association.
For the tree lighting, the simplest plan is to arrive at 2 p.m. for the Kids Market tables, see Santa before dusk, stay for the lighting and walk over to Crabapple Road or Heritage Walk for dinner afterward. If tea with Mrs. Claus is on your list, the next step is registering on Dec. 1.
Our family has been part of this market since 1948, and we're happy to share what we know about the blocks around Broadwell Pavilion. If you'd like to talk about Milton's downtown, or your own next chapter close to it, The Chatham Co. would be glad to meet with you. Schedule a Personal Consultation.
