Downtown Smithfield Annual Christmas Parade

Don't miss this old-fashioned community event scheduled for the second Saturday in December along Main, North Mason and Grace Street in downtown Smithfield beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Applications for the parade are full. (11/18)

The theme for 2024 is "A Country Christmas" with Darden's Country Store as the official Grand Marshall. 

Relay to Parents - All group leaders, please share the info listed on this page with parents. All children should be accompanied by an adult. If Dropping off a minor, they may either park off site and walk child to the lineup with their group or pull into the DROP OFF line, park briefly, walk their child to their group them move their vehicle.

There is no parking permitted at the staging lot. Please be careful as this is a busy lot with entries entering for line up.

A group leader must be on site for children to be dropped off, we do not have staff to watch children during set up. Contact you group leader t odeterine when they will be on site to drop your child off with them.   

Groups with children - please keep your group together and for their safety, do not allow children to wander or run around staging area as vehicles will be entering the site to line up. Safety is our number ONE concern.                                                                                                                                                                    

No vehicles permitted into line up area if they are NOT in the parade. Please relay to your entire group.

Decorations - Please bring any decorations and other items you need with you when you line up, otherwise if someone is dropping off people or items, they will need to park elsewhere and walk the items into the lineup location.  

Commercial entries - One vehicle per business. 

Fire/Rescue Departments - One vehicle entry per department.

ALL motorized vehicles - must have driver 18 + and liability insurance to participate. Please include copy of insurance card. No creating smoke, squealing tires, burnouts  etc.                                                                                                                                    

Lineup - begins at 8:30 a.m. at the lot at 518 Main Street (next to the Schoolhouse Museum). Please do not block line up area. All entries must be in line by 10 a.m. Please do not arrive before staff are on site at 8:30 a.m. You will be lined up in the  order you arrive. If part of a car/motorcycle group, please arrive together to remain lined up as a group in the parade.

Footnotes & Southside Ballet will line up at the Christian Outreach building on Grace Street. Please check with your group leader to see what time they will be there to drop your children off with them.

Scouts in the group of Rob Bebermeyer and the Carrollton Elem. Chorus will line up at Hallwood Enterprises on Grace Street (next to Cofer Auto). No public parking permitted except Mr. Hall (owner).

Parade Route -  300 block of Main to left on N. Mason, left on Grace Street and parade will continue to the starting location by the Schoolhouse Museum where it will disband.

Throwing candy - or any items is prohibited. By participating in this event you and your entire group understand that you may NOT throw candy, paper, confetti, or any item. You may hand out items. *Throwing candy causes children to run out into the street causing a safety hazard. *Please relay to your ENTIRE group, failure to comply will result in omission from future events.        

Music - No Foul music/language permitted; please ensure any music you plan to play is deemed family appropriate.                            

Sorry, no horses. 

No Santa impersonators - we already have Santa in the parade. Santa hats are allowed.                                                                                                                                                          
Performing for Judges - 90 second time limit. Judges will be staged in front of the former Fire Dept. on Grace Street.  

Pre-arrange - a location to meet your party after parade.

NEW - The parade will disband and end at the lot by the Schoolhouse Museum (across from Main Street Baptist Church). Please ask parents to pick up children at that location.                                                      

Awards - After the parade, judges will meet to determine winners and convene at the stage by the Smithfield Times to announce winners. Awards will be awarded to first place in each category. (Approx. 12:45 to 1 p.m.)

Admission
Free