8th Annual Capital City Christmas Celebration
Holiday Light Up
Light up the night, launch the season.
Saturday, November 28, 2026Bismarck Event Center and Peace Park$15 tickets, 2 and under free
Tickets on sale now
The Tree Lighting Ceremony is free. Everyone is welcome.
One Saturday. Three ways to start the season.
Start the morning with Santa, spend the afternoon voting on Bismarck's best slice, then gather at Peace Park to light the tree. Tickets for Breakfast with Santa and the Holiday Pizza Bash are on sale now.
9 am to 12 pm, breakfast served 9 to 11 am
Breakfast with Santa
$15 per person, 2 and under free
- Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus (bring your camera)
- Santa's Workshop and Elves Village
- Face painting
- Inflatables
Bismarck Event Center, all halls. Every guest needs a ticket, and children must be with an adult 18 or older. Strollers and infant car seats are welcome.
Breakfast with Santa tickets4 to 6 pm
Holiday Pizza Bash
$15 per person, 2 and under free
- Sample pizza from six local restaurants and vote for the best slice
- Horse-drawn sleigh rides
- Holiday games
- Silent auction
Bismarck Event Center, all halls. Every guest needs a ticket.
Holiday Pizza Bash tickets6 to 6:30 pm
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Free no ticket needed
- Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive
- CDCC Carolers
- The tree lights up
- Fireworks to follow
Peace Park, 400 East Front Ave, Bismarck. Dress for the weather.
See Tree Lighting details
Six local pizzerias. One best slice.
Every slice at the Holiday Pizza Bash is donated by these restaurants. Taste them all, vote for your favorite, then pay them a visit and order a whole pie.
The CraftCade
Downtown retro arcade bar and pizzeria pouring craft beer from a self-serve tap wall alongside New York-style pies.
Bruno's Pizza
Locally owned pizzeria on East Front Ave serving hand-tossed pizza, pasta, and wings for dine-in, carryout, and delivery.
Stonehome Brewing Company
Brewery and restaurant pairing stone-oven pizza with beer brewed right on site.
Tiff's Pub & Grub
Downtown pub on Main Ave serving pizza and pub favorites, with a full bar.
Pizza Ranch
Family buffet on East LaSalle Drive with pizza, chicken, a salad bar, and a FunZone arcade for the kids.
New York To Go
North Bismarck pizzeria selling New York-style pies and slices, plus gyros, wings, and calzones.
A first look at the 2026 raffle
Seven prizes, all donated by local businesses. Raffle ticket details are coming soon.
Medora Package
2 tickets to the Medora Musical, 2 tickets to the Pitchfork Steak Fondue, 2 tickets to the Medora Gospel Brunch, 2 passes to Bully Pulpit Golf Course, and a 2-night stay at the Rough Rider Hotel.
Donated by Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation
2 Ct. Lab-Grown Diamond Earrings
Donated by Walkers n' Daughters Jewelers
$1,000 Scheels Gift Card
Donated by Scheels
Henry Golden Boy .22 LR
Donated by Scheels
Helix 10 CHIRP Depth Finder
Donated by Moritz Sport and Marine
Homestretch Rocking Recliner
Donated by Boxdrop Mattress and Furniture
Certificate for a Set of Tires
Donated by Dvorak Motors
Every ticket funds arts and community projects in Bismarck-Mandan.
Capital City Christmas is put on by a committee of volunteers. The money raised at Breakfast with Santa, the Holiday Pizza Bash, the raffle, and the silent auction comes back to the community as grants for arts, culture, and community programs in Bismarck and Mandan.
The funds are held by our fiscal sponsor, Dakota West Arts Council. DWAC is the nonprofit arts council for North Dakota's capital city. It awards 20 to 30 grants a year to local artists and arts nonprofits, runs the community arts calendar, and looks after public art like Art Alley 5.5 and the Heritage Art Tunnel. Having DWAC as fiscal sponsor means every dollar raised here is managed by an established local nonprofit and goes where it is meant to go.
2025 grant recipients
Funded by the 2025 celebration and awarded in 2026.
- Arts for All
Brings the arts to people of every ability level, at no cost.
- Central Dakota Children's Choir
Helps kids find their voice through choral music. You'll hear them caroling at the Tree Lighting.
- Rebuilding Together Greater Bismarck/Mandan Area
Repairs homes so low-income neighbors can live warm, safe, and independent.
- Sleepy Hollow Theatre & Arts Park
Musical theatre, arts education, and summer shows under the stars.
- Theo Art School
Art classes for all ages and abilities in Bismarck since 1992.
- Downtown Bismarck Community Foundation
Funds projects and programs that keep downtown Bismarck growing.
- Bismarck Art & Galleries Association (BAGA)
Supports and grows the visual arts in Bismarck.
Know before you go
Anything else? Send us a message.
Where do I buy tickets?
Tickets are on sale now, online through Etix. Get Breakfast with Santa tickets or Holiday Pizza Bash tickets. The Tree Lighting is free, and no ticket is needed.
Where do I park?
There are four parking lots around the Event Center. The lots south of Bowen Ave are free, and Lot B is $5. The Event Center is at 315 South 5th Street, Bismarck, ND 58504. The Tree Lighting is at Peace Park, 400 East Front Ave.
Does my toddler need a ticket?
Children 2 and under are free at Breakfast with Santa and the Holiday Pizza Bash. Everyone else needs a ticket. At Breakfast with Santa, children must be with an adult 18 or older.
Can I bring a stroller?
Yes. Strollers and infant car seats are welcome at Breakfast with Santa.
What comes with a Breakfast with Santa ticket?
Breakfast and every activity, including your visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Bring your own camera for photos.
Can I go to more than one event?
Yes. Breakfast with Santa and the Holiday Pizza Bash are ticketed separately, and the Tree Lighting is free and open to everyone.
Do ticket prices include fees?
No. Ticket prices do not include processing fees.
What if the weather is bad for the Tree Lighting?
The Tree Lighting is outdoors at Peace Park, so dress warm. Any weather updates will be posted on our Facebook page.
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors
Thank you to the local businesses who make Capital City Christmas possible.
Tree Lighting Sponsor
Find your family in last year's photos
Browse and download the 2025 photos, courtesy of Taryn Malmedal Photography.
Open the 2025 photo galleryStay in the loop
Raffle details, auction items, and day-of updates go out on Facebook first.
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