A Guide to the 76th Annual Christmas Parade

It’s no secret that a cherished holiday tradition for the city of Temple is seeing and participating in the Annual Christmas Parade. Holiday parades can be viewed as the unofficial starting point to Christmas because nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like a festive parade filled with seasonal favorites and Santa Claus with all his Christmas cheer. This event is a family favorite and one you truly must see. Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Christmas parade.

The City of Temple Annual Christmas Parade is a family-friendly holiday event that has brought locals and visitors joy since 1946. The theme changes every year, with this year’s theme being “It's a groovy Christmas.” It is tradition for the parade to take place on the first Monday in December. The parade features lit, unique displays from local business owners, organizations, student groups, and individuals.

The parade takes place on Monday, December 5th. A special tree lighting ceremony featuring the mayor will occur at 6:15 pm before the start of the parade. The parade starts at 6:30 pm and lasts approximately 90 minutes.

The City of Temple hosts the parade each year.

The parade route has a total distance of 1.4 miles. The parade starts at the intersection of E. Adams Avenue and N. 8^th St., then proceeds west along Adams Avenue. The parade then continues in front of the Municipal Building and heads to N. 23^rd St. Finally, the parade disbands at Temple High School.

Visitors and locals can head to the downtown district of Temple to watch the parade. Viewing for the parade is street-side; visitors can watch anywhere along the parade route. Seating is first-come, first-serve. To get the best view, plan to arrive early and bring necessities for comfortable seating throughout the duration of the event.

Can't make it to the parade in person? Locals and visitors will also be able to watch the parade virtually through kcentv.com.

Visitors can park on street-side parking. Parking will also be available in the City Hall parking lot and downtown areas, such as the Santa Fe Plaza. The Santa Fe Plaza will also have a tree lighting ceremony for the tree located in the heart of the plaza. Visitors can find many close parking spots in the Santa Fe Plaza area.

Bring lawn chairs, so you have a comfortable spot to sit for the parade. With the cold weather in store, stay cozy and bundle up for the event with blankets and jackets. Visitors should also make sure to bring extra cash. The downtown district is filled with plenty of restaurants and shopping. Visitors can shop around the local area while they wait for the parade to start.

Have more questions about the parade?  Find more information on the Temple Parks and Recreation website.