November in Madison: a Bob Jones playoff Friday, the free Gather Madison meal Sunday, Veterans Day Nov. 11, Galaxy of Lights and the Dec. 4 tree lighting.

Last checked Nov. 6, 2026. Rebuilt each month. Sources: the City of Madison calendar and Special Events page, Madison Visionary Partners, the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Alabama High School Athletic Association, Veterans Day Parade and Events of North Alabama, the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the Madison City Farmers Market.

November in Madison runs from a home playoff game tonight to the start of the Christmas season: Veterans Day on Wednesday, Galaxy of Lights from Nov. 13, Thanksgiving on Nov. 26 and, now confirmed, the downtown tree lighting on Friday, Dec. 4, and the Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 12. Times are local (Central). Prices are as the organizer publishes them. For the coming Friday to Sunday, see things to do this weekend. Concerts, films and other arts listings are on our arts and exhibitions page.

Questions about city events

  • City of Madison Parks and Recreation special events: 256-772-9300, SpecialEvents@madisonal.gov
  • Main Street Madison (downtown events): 256-203-6340, 14 Short St.
  • Police non-emergency: 256-772-7190

This week

Playoff football, Friday, Nov. 6. Bob Jones (5-5) hosts Hoover (4-6) in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs at 7 p.m. at Madison City Stadium, 211 Celtic Drive, according to the AHSAA and the city’s calendar. More on our football page.

Family Fall Night, Saturday, Nov. 7. A free evening for families of all abilities at the Madison Community Center, 1329 Browns Ferry Road, 5 to 8 p.m., the city says.

Gather Madison, Sunday, Nov. 8. A free community meal with live music and children’s activities, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Home Place Park downtown, hosted by the nonprofit Madison Visionary Partners. No ticket or RSVP is needed; free parking is at Madison City Stadium, and it goes ahead rain or shine, the organizer says.

Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. City offices and Madison City Schools are closed, and Madison’s Thursday garbage moves to Friday, Nov. 13; see our trash guide. The Veterans Day Parade runs through downtown Huntsville from 11 a.m., after a 10 a.m. pre-parade show at 200 Monroe St., its organizer says. More on our Veterans Day page.

Movie night: Knives Out, Thursday, Nov. 12. The library’s MAD Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama shows the 2019 mystery at 6 p.m. at the Madison Public Library, 142 Plaza Blvd., on the library calendar.

Next week

Galaxy of Lights opens, Friday, Nov. 13. The Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Ave. SW, runs its light show to Dec. 31, closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, the garden says. Walking and driving nights and prices are on our holiday lights page.

James Clemens playoff game, Friday, Nov. 13. The Region 4 champion Jets are not in the first round; their next game’s opponent and site depend on the first-round results. See our football page.

Sensory Swim, Sunday, Nov. 15. A calmer, sensory-friendly swim at Dublin Park, 8324 Madison Pike, 10 a.m. to noon, on the city calendar.

Kids Read to a Therapy Dog, Sunday, Nov. 15. 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Madison Public Library, on the library calendar.

Local history night, Tuesday, Nov. 17. The Madison History Association’s program at the Madison Public Library, 6 to 7 p.m., on the library calendar.

Books and Ballet, Wednesday, Nov. 18. Storytime with the Huntsville Ballet at the Madison Public Library, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., on the library calendar.

Crafts and Laughs Movies, Thursday, Nov. 19. My Big Fat Greek Wedding at the Madison Public Library, 6:30 to 8 p.m., on the library calendar.

Later in November

  • Monday, Nov. 23: Christmas on Main trees can be decorated from today; entries are $200 for businesses and $100 for nonprofits, the city says.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 24: Speed Friending and Game On! Mashup at the Madison Public Library, 6 to 8 p.m., on the library calendar.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 25: Christmas parade float registration closes at 5 p.m., with no late entries, the city says. The library closes at 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving. The Crisis Services of North Alabama Turkey Trot 5K starts at 8 a.m. at Spragins Hall on the UAH campus, the charity says. City offices close Nov. 26-27. Closures and trash changes are on our Thanksgiving page.
  • Nov. 27 and 28: Black Friday and Small Business Saturday; see our holiday shopping page.

December

  • Friday, Dec. 4: Polar Express Christmas on Main tree lighting, 6 p.m. on Main Street, free, with Santa, a glow-stick parade, carols, hot chocolate and a reading of The Polar Express, the city says. The trees stay up through Jan. 1.
  • Saturday, Dec. 5: Madison Studio Open House at the Madison Public Library, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the library calendar.
  • Thursday, Dec. 10: Scrooged movie night at the Madison Public Library, 6 p.m., on the library calendar.
  • Saturday, Dec. 12: Breakfast with Santa at Toyota Field, 500 Trash Panda Way; times and tickets to be announced by the Trash Pandas.
  • Saturday, Dec. 12: Rooted in Christmas, the Madison Christmas Parade, 5 p.m., on a new route from Life Way north on Garner Street, east on Shorter Street and south on Celtic Drive to Madison City Stadium, then festivities at Home Place Park, the city says. Details on our Christmas parade page.
  • Sunday, Dec. 13: Huntsville Concert Band holiday concert at the Madison Public Library, 3 to 4 p.m., on the library calendar.

City meetings open to the public

When Meeting Where
5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 City Council Human Resource Committee City Hall, 100 Hughes Road
6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9 Madison City Council City Hall, 100 Hughes Road
6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 Beautification and Tree Board 1282 Hughes Road
5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 City Council work session City Hall, 100 Hughes Road
5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23 City Council Finance Committee City Hall, 100 Hughes Road
6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23 Madison City Council City Hall, 100 Hughes Road
6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24 Police Citizens Advisory Committee 142 Plaza Blvd.
6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 Madison City Council City Hall, 100 Hughes Road
6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 Beautification and Tree Board 1282 Hughes Road

Dates are from the city’s calendar.

Regular events

  • Madison City Farmers Market: Saturday mornings at Trinity Baptist Church, 1088 Hughes Road, sales from 8 a.m., rain or shine, its FAQ says. It had not posted a 2026 closing date as of Nov. 6. More in our farmers markets guide.
  • Open Studio: Monday to Thursday mornings from 9:30 a.m. in The Studio at the Madison Public Library, on the library calendar.
  • Madison City Chess League: Mondays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Madison Public Library, on the library calendar.

Send us your event

Running something in Madison before mid-December? Email the date, time, venue, price and a photo to hello@madisonnewstoday.com. Listings are free, and they go on this page and in the site’s events diary.

What this means for you

  • This weekend’s three Madison events, the playoff game, Family Fall Night and Gather Madison, are close together downtown and around Celtic Drive.
  • Veterans Day and Thanksgiving both move Thursday garbage to Friday.
  • Float entries for the Dec. 12 Christmas parade close Wednesday, Nov. 25.

Frequently asked questions

What is happening in Madison this weekend?

Bob Jones hosts Hoover in the first round of the Class 6A football playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at Madison City Stadium. The city’s free Family Fall Night is 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Madison Community Center, and Gather Madison, a free community meal, is 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Home Place Park.

When is the Madison Christmas parade in 2026?

The parade is at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, on a new route from Life Way to Madison City Stadium, with festivities at Home Place Park afterward. The Christmas on Main tree lighting is at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, the City of Madison says.

What is closed in Madison on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving?

City offices close Wednesday, Nov. 11, and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26-27, according to the city calendar. Madison City Schools close Nov. 11 and Nov. 25-27. Thursday garbage moves to Friday both weeks.

Is the Madison City Farmers Market still open in November?

The producer-only market meets Saturday mornings at Trinity Baptist Church, 1088 Hughes Road, from 8 a.m., rain or shine. It had not posted a 2026 closing date as of Nov. 6.