LEXINGTON CHRISTMAS PARADE

Friday, December 6  •  6:00 PM​
“Parade of Lights”
Applications for the 2024 Lexington Christmas Parade are now closed. We look forward to seeing everyone downtown on Friday!

Interested in helping out during the Parade? Please click the button below to complete our Google Form, which includes more information about specific volunteer opportunities.
Please contact us with any questions. You can reach us by email at [email protected] or by phone at 540-319-4181.
Rules and Regulations
  1. All parade applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, November 29. A discount fee for Early Registration (on or before Friday, November 22) is available. See application for details.
  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 2024 parade theme: Parade of Lights. This includes vehicle entries such as antique cars or trucks.
  4. Please indicate on the 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 two (2) minute timed stop. Stop to perform in front of Hess & Co. 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 Equestrian, and Best Representation of the Theme.
  5. Here 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. Please consult the End Route map below for more details.
  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, December 3.  PLEASE ENSURE 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 2:00 PM on the day of the parade on 3WZ 96.7, mainstreetlexington.org, and the MSL Facebook page. The parade will only be canceled in the case of extreme weather!
Parade Route Map
End Route (return to MRMS)
Please use this route if you need to return your entry to the Maury River Middle School parking lot.