The five confirmed events in this guide fall on December 5–6 and December 12. Each window lands in a different region. Pick your region before reserving dinner or committing to a long drive across the island.

December 5 offers a community parade in Waimea, a ticketed culinary fundraiser in Kona, and a free studio tour in Hawaiian Paradise Park. The studio tour continues on December 6, giving east-side visitors a cleaner day for it. On December 12, Hula Kahiko at Kīlauea can pair with the Kailua Village Christmas Parade, but park conditions can change the plan. Weather and a long drive can do the same.

The 66th Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade starts at 6 p.m. The 2026 theme is “Waimea . . . Small Town . . . Big Legacy,” honoring the family businesses that helped shape the town. The organizer asks spectators to remain on the sidewalk or grass. Keep open flames and barbecues away from the route. Watch keiki closely and carry out your trash.

Waimea is the better December 5 choice if you want a community parade and will already be based in North Hawaiʻi or along the Kohala Coast. Do not copy an old traffic window into the 2026 plan: the current page confirms the start time and safety rules, but its detailed road-closure language still describes earlier parades. Check the organizer again shortly before the event.

Farther south, the 34th Christmas with the Chefs runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa. The Kona Kohala Chefs Association describes tasting stations from island chefs and local food-and-drink producers. Proceeds support culinary education work, including scholarships and mentorship. Tickets are already offered through the official event page.

On the east side, the 20th annual Paradise Studio Tour runs December 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The free art show and sale is spread through Hawaiian Paradise Park in the Keaʻau area. The artist collective says 10% of event sales support local high-school art departments.

The organizer plans to publish the updated 2026 artist and studio lineup on October 1. Until then, do not build a route from the studios currently shown on its page; those are labeled 2025. Wait for current-year studio information, then group nearby stops instead of zigzagging through the subdivision.

This is a regional decision, not a three-stop challenge. Do not stack Waimea, Kona, and Hawaiian Paradise Park into one Saturday. If you are based near Hilo or Volcano, Sunday is the cleanest studio-tour choice because it removes the December 5 evening conflict.

Hula Kahiko at Kīlauea is listed for December 12 at the kahua hula near Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The performance is presented without electronic amplification. The program itself is free, but the official listing says national-park entrance fees still apply. Check the organizer for the final start time before travel.

This event carries the most uncertainty. The organizer warns that eruption activity or lava fountaining can force a last-minute cancellation. Arrive early and bring weather protection. Bring a sitting mat or chair. Construction and limited space near Kīlauea Visitor Center may mean walking from overflow parking. Check the current park conditions before leaving.

The Kailua Village Christmas Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. If Kona is your base, keep the day simple and check the organizer for current traffic guidance before choosing parking or dinner timing.

Combining Kīlauea and the Kona parade means a full island-crossing day. Give the drive real margin. Park conditions can disrupt the morning, and a late departure can turn the parade into a rushed finish.

Five events have current 2026 listings. The Paradise Studio Tour runs December 5–6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Waimea Twilight Christmas Parade is December 5 at 6 p.m., while Christmas with the Chefs runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. that evening. Hula Kahiko at Kīlauea is listed for December 12, and the Kailua Village Christmas Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. that day.

The Hōlualoa Music & Light Festival page says the 2025 festival is complete and invites people back in 2026, but it does not yet give a 2026 date. Treat it as a watch item, not an appointment. Treat any event that appears only on an old calendar the same way.

A recurring event is not confirmed until its organizer posts the current season. Anchor flights and lodging only to dates on a current official page. Add a long drive only after that.

If you are staying in Waimea or along the Kohala Coast, build December 5 around the Waimea parade and avoid a same-night Kona commitment.

If you are staying in Kailua-Kona or Keauhou, choose Christmas with the Chefs on December 5 or the Kailua Village parade on December 12. A Kona base keeps both nights from becoming cross-island drives.

If you are staying near Hilo or Volcano, use December 6 for the Paradise Studio Tour or build December 12 around Hula Kahiko and the park. Add Kona only if park conditions still support your plan. Leave a generous driving buffer.

Hawaiʻi Island punishes optimistic map-reading. Use our Big Island getting-around guide before placing events from different sides of the island into one itinerary. If you still need a rental car, compare flexible rates through Discount Hawaii Car Rental.

Before travel, confirm event status with each organizer. If Kīlauea is on your route, check park conditions before you drive. The Paradise Studio Tour's updated 2026 artist and studio lineup is due October 1. For statewide holiday planning, use our Hawaii Christmas vacation guide.