Small Town Christmas
Celebrate the season in downtown Durant
There’s something special about Christmas in a small town—the lights, the familiar faces, and the traditions that bring us together. Join Durant Main Street for a season of holiday fun, with festive evenings, carriage rides, sweet treats, and a visit from Santa himself.
Beginning November 21, each celebration offers another reason to gather with family and friends and enjoy the magic of the season.
Find your favorite festivities below!
Join Durant Main Street for a season of holiday fun!
Nov. 21: Santas Mailbox | Dec. 1: Holiday Open House | Dec 4-5: Carriage Rides; Night Shift; Magnolia Mistletoe Market | Dec. 12: Breakfast with Santa
Gingerbread House Competition & Display
A little sugar, a little imagination, and a whole lot of holiday spirit!
Durant Main Street and Three Valley Museum invite you to help create our Gingerbread Village 2026! Individuals, families, businesses, schools, and organizations are welcome to enter a creation for display at Three Valley Museum.
Build a cozy cottage, a festive storefront, a Christmas scene, or your own version of a favorite Durant landmark. Businesses and organizations may proudly incorporate their names and logos into their designs!
Entry Fees & Categories
Individual entries: $5 per entry
Little Bakers: Ages 6 and under
Junior Bakers: Ages 7–12
Teen Bakers: Ages 13–17
Adult Bakers: Ages 18 and older
Group entries: $10 per entry
Team Division: Families, businesses, schools, and organizations
Ages are determined as of November 20, 2026. One entry is permitted per individual or group. A parent or guardian must complete the application for participants under 18.
What Can You Create?
Both kit-built and scratch-built creations are welcome!
Entries must be secured to a sturdy base no larger than 24 × 24 inches.
Maximum total height is 24 inches, including the base.
Visible structures and decorations should be primarily edible.
Hidden internal supports are allowed and must be disclosed on the application.
No electricity, open flames, or ingredients requiring refrigeration.
All creations must be family-friendly and able to remain on display at room temperature.
Adults may help children with safety, assembly, and stability. Children entering an individual youth division should complete most of the decorating.
Creations are for display only and will not be served or eaten.
Important Dates
Application deadline: Friday, November 20, 2026
Entry delivery: Monday, November 30, from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. at Three Valley Museum
Display opening: Tuesday, December 1, during the Holiday Open House
Breakfast with Santa: Saturday, December 12—another opportunity to enjoy the display
Final full day of public viewing: Wednesday, December 16
Awards and final evening viewing: Thursday, December 17, at 5:30 p.m.
Entry pickup: December 17, immediately following the awards program
Entries must arrive fully assembled and ready for display and remain through the conclusion of the awards program.
Judging & Awards
Three independent judges will score entries on:
Creativity and originality: 30 points
Connection to the Gingerbread Village theme: 25 points
Craftsmanship and construction: 20 points
Overall appearance: 15 points
Use of edible materials: 10 points
Youth entries will be evaluated with age-appropriate expectations. Kits and scratch-built entries compete within their selected division.
One winner will be selected in each division, with additional special awards for Grand Champion, People’s Choice, Best Durant Landmark, Most Creative, and Best Christmas Spirit.
Visit & Vote
Come enjoy the creativity of our community and vote for your favorite creation for the People’s Choice Award! Public viewing hours, voting dates, and voting instructions will be announced before the display opens.
Ready to Enter?
Complete the competition application by November 20 and review the full rules before you begin building.
Application Link:https://forms.gle/TwgcjhwPLGfM2JxQ7
We can’t wait to see what you bring to Gingerbread Village!
November 21
Tree Lighting
A City of Durant event
Durant Main Street is adding a little Christmas magic to the City’s Tree Lighting celebration with the opening of Santa’s Mailbox outside Three Valley Museum! Stop by our letter writing station to write your Christmas wishes —we’ll collect your letters and deliver them to the mailbox—then create an ornament to take home. Both activities are free to the community during the Christmas Lighting ceremony at Market Square from 5pm-8pm.
Santa’s Mailbox will continue accepting letters through December 15. Include a return mailing address and drop off your letter by December 15 to receive a letter back from Santa!
Date: November 21 | Time: 5pm-8pm | Location: Historic Market Square
Holiday Open House
Hosted by Durant Main Street & Three Valley Museum
Before the Christmas parade, stop by for a little holiday cheer! The museum is dressed for the holidays, and Three Valley Museum and Durant Main Street invite you to enjoy carolers and the first viewing of our Gingerbread House Competition display, plus cookies and punch—refreshments are on us!
This free gathering welcomes our historic district merchants and community to mingle, meet both organizations’ board members, and celebrate the season together before heading out to enjoy the parade.
Date: December 1 | Time: 3pm-7pm | Location: Three Valley Museum
December 4-5
Night Shift- Ugly Sweater Cookie Crawl
Cookies, Christmas cheer, and gloriously ugly sweaters—what more could you want? Pull on your tackiest holiday knit and join us for the Ugly Sweater Cookie Crawl in downtown Durant! Purchase your cookie crawl ticket, then stroll through participating businesses collecting sweet treats and enjoying the festive fun.
Ready to give that sweater its moment in the spotlight? Be at Three Valley Museum at 7 p.m. to enter the Ugly Sweater Contest! Whether yours jingles, sparkles, or looks like Christmas exploded on it, we want to see it. Grab your tickets, gather your friends, and make some sweet holiday memories!
Date: December 4-5 | Time: 5pm-8pm | Location: Three Valley Museum & Historic Downtown Durant
December 12
A Merry Morning with Santa & Mrs Claus
Join us for a morning of holiday fun! Enjoy breakfast with Santa, settle in for a Christmas story with Mrs. Claus, and capture a special photo with Santa. Meet animals dressed in their holiday best for more festive photo opportunities, and enjoy a final look at our Gingerbread House Competition display.
Make an ornament to take home for an additional fee—a little keepsake from a merry morning together!
Ticket prices and reservation details are coming soon.
Date: December 12 | Time: 9am-12pm | Location: Three Valley Museum
December 4-5
Carriage Rides & Christmas Cheer
Make an evening of it in downtown Durant! Enjoy a carriage ride beneath the holiday lights, browse Magnolia Mistletoe Market, and sip spiked cider or cocoa as you soak up the Christmas cheer. Our Santa letter writing station will also be set up for little ones to share their Christmas wishes.
Pull on your most festive ugly sweater and get ready for our Ugly Sweater Cookie Crawl and contest! Cookie Crawl details and advance ticket information are coming soon.
Carriage rides: $5 per person, with tickets sold on-site.
Date: December 4-5 | Time: 5pm-9pm | Location: Three Valley Museum & Historic Downtown Durant
