Downtown Lexington Christmas Parade
Friday, December 1  •  6:00 PM​
“Home for the Holidays”  
Thanks to Merryn Williams Design for this year's parade logo!
Parade Route Map
Rules and Regulations
  1. All parade applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 24. 
  2. For safety reasons, all instructions of both the parade marshals and the Lexington Police Department must be obeyed.
  3. REMEMBER: All entries MUST make some effort to decorate to the theme of the 2023 parade: Home for the Holidays. This includes vehicle entries such as antique cars or trucks.
  4. Please indicate on your Application if your group wants to be judged, if an appropriate category exists. Direct your performance accordingly. All performance groups and marching bands are limited to a three (3) minute timed stop. Stop to perform in front of Hess Jewelers – the building after The Gin Hotel. Those who don’t adhere to the time limit will not be judged and will be asked to move on. It is important to keep the parade moving in a timely manner. Categories are Best Band, Best Float, Best Vehicle, Best Performance, Best Representation of the Theme and Best Equestrian.
  5. Following are the safety requirements for all floats that will carry children. 
    1. Floats with children 12 and under will be required to have supervision by an adult.
    2. Floats with children 5-12 years of age need 1 adult for every 5 children.
    3. Floats with children under the age of 5 need 1 adult for every 2 children.
  6. Stand and sit on elevated elements of your float at your own risk.
  7. NO candy may be thrown from the floats. Candy may be distributed by walkers.
  8. Please work with your group for post-parade pickup! All entries must go to the end of the parade route before they let people on or off, disband, or get into other vehicles. No "on and off" is allowed during the parade, and all entries must remove their vehicle from Main Street before dismantling any decorations. Do NOT attempt to loop your vehicle onto Jefferson Street while the parade is ongoing.
  9. Street parking for participant pickup is available along North Main Street (around Foster Stadium at VMI). For floats, we recommend that you turn onto Diamond Street and disembark by Lylburn Downing Middle School. You may also return to Maury River Middle School.
  10. THE SANTA ‘CLAUSE’: It is very confusing to small children to see multiple Santa and Mrs. Clauses riding on floats. Our Santa rides on his float at the end of the parade. Please do not put Santa on your float, in the cab, or anywhere else.
  11. ALL animal groups are responsible for their own animal waste cleanup.
  12. Information on lineup, parking, children drop-off and other parade preparations will be sent to you via email on Tuesday, November 28.  PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR APPLICATION CONTAINS AN ACCURATE EMAIL ADDRESS.
  13. Inclement Weather Policy: In case of very inclement weather, the parade will be canceled. Look for announcements after 2 pm on the day of the parade on 3WZ 96.7 and/or our website (www.mainstreetlexington.org). It will only be canceled in the case of extreme weather!
End Route (return to MRMS)
Please use this route if you need to return your entry to the Maury River Middle School parking lot.