Summerville Announces Theme And Date For 2026 Christmas Parade

The City of Summerville has announced plans for its 2026 Christmas Parade, including this year’s theme and the dates for parade entry registration.

The annual parade will be held Monday, December 7, at 7 PM in downtown Summerville.

This year’s theme is “A Hard Candy Christmas.”

The city says float and entry registration will open November 1 and continue through December 1. Those wishing to participate will be able to register through the Summerville Recreation Department or through the city’s website.

The city will also award trophies and prize money to the top three floats participating in the parade.

The Summerville Christmas Parade is one of the community’s traditional holiday events, bringing decorated floats, organizations, businesses and other participants through downtown as the Christmas season gets underway.

Additional information about registration and parade participation is expected to be available through the City of Summerville.

Summerville Mini Renaissance Festival Returns To Dowdy Park October 10

Chivalry, costumes, entertainment and a little bit of medieval fun will return to Summerville next Saturday with the 2026 Summerville Mini Renaissance Festival.

The festival will be held Saturday, October 10, from 11 AM until 5 PM at Dowdy Park and is being presented by the City of Summerville.

Organizers describe the event as offering “chivalry, romance, and a rollicking good time,” with activities designed for visitors of all ages.

The festival will feature live entertainment, shopping, art, games and food, along with characters and costumes that bring a Renaissance atmosphere to downtown Summerville. Admission to the festival is free, and visitors are encouraged to come dressed in character if they would like to take part in the fun.

Another attraction during the day will be the arrival of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum steam engine. The train’s visit will include activity at the Summerville Turntable at 1 PM, adding another attraction for visitors attending the festival.

The annual event is centered around the Summerville Depot and Dowdy Park area and combines the city’s railroad heritage with a day of Renaissance-themed activities.

The 2026 Summerville Mini Renaissance Festival gets underway at 11 AM Saturday, October 10, and continues until 5 PM.

Sum Nelly Still On For Saturday; Summerville Adds November Harvest Festival For Vendors

The 52nd Annual Sum Nelly Festival will still go on as planned this Saturday, but the City of Summerville is now offering vendors an additional fall festival opportunity in November.

Summerville Parks and Recreation Director Adam Wilson announced Thursday that the city is organizing a new Summerville Harvest Festival for Saturday, November 7, from 9 AM until 5 PM at Dowdy Park.

Wilson said vendors who are already registered for this weekend’s Sum Nelly Festival will be able to participate in the November event free of charge.

That means vendors who have already paid for a Sum Nelly space can set up for both events — this Saturday’s Sum Nelly Festival and the November 7 Summerville Harvest Festival — without paying another vendor registration fee for the November event.

Registration for the Summerville Harvest Festival will open Monday, October 5, at www.summervillerec.org.

Meanwhile, the city says Sum Nelly will still be held this Saturday, October 3, from 9 AM until 3 PM on East Washington Street in downtown Summerville.

The festival was moved from Dowdy Park and its hours shortened because of weather concerns.

Wilson also said the Sum Nelly vendor map will be released Thursday.

The announcement comes as some Sum Nelly vendors have been circulating a petition asking that this weekend’s festival be postponed because of concerns about rain, possible flooding, attendance and the financial investment vendors have already made in the event.

For now, the city is keeping Sum Nelly on Saturday’s schedule while also giving registered vendors a second opportunity to participate in a fall festival at Dowdy Park next month.

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