Broadway Holiday Parade and tree lighting Friday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. in Uptown; the city's Christmas Parade is 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Details come from Uptown Columbus and the Columbus Parks and Recreation events list.

Columbus has two holiday parades this year. Uptown Columbus opens the season with the Broadway Holiday Parade on Friday, Nov. 20, stepping off at 6:30 p.m., followed by the mayor lighting the city Christmas tree at 7 p.m. Columbus Parks and Recreation’s Christmas Parade follows at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, from Dillingham Street to 9th Street. Uptown Columbus: 706-596-0111.

The short version

  • Friday, Nov. 20: Broadway Holiday Parade, 6:30 p.m.; tree lighting, 7 p.m.; then carolers, Santa and hot chocolate
  • Saturday, Nov. 28: Holly Jolly Market on Broadway for Small Business Saturday
  • Saturday, Dec. 5: city Christmas Parade, 10 a.m., Dillingham Street to 9th Street
  • Questions: Uptown Columbus, 706-596-0111, info@uptowncolumbusga.com

Broadway Holiday Parade and tree lighting

Uptown Columbus runs the evening on Broadway from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20:

  • 6 p.m.: parade entries assemble
  • 6:30 p.m.: the parade begins
  • 7 p.m.: the mayor lights the city Christmas tree
  • After the lighting: Christmas carolers, Santa Claus and hot chocolate

The route: floats line up at TSYS Way and Downtown Elementary School, start at 14th Street and TSYS Way, come down 13th Street to the 1300 block of Broadway and continue down Broadway to the 900 block. Uptown Columbus takes parade entries through an application on the same page, and says all applications depend on space.

The city Christmas Parade

Columbus Parks and Recreation lists the 2026 Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, running from Dillingham Street to 9th Street. Groups can register an entry through the form linked on the department’s events list. The same route carries the city’s Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.

Santa and the rest of the season

  • Holly Jolly Market: Uptown’s one-day holiday market for Small Business Saturday, Saturday, Nov. 28, on Broadway, with local vendors, handmade goods and seasonal treats (Holly Jolly Market page).
  • Christmas Made in the South: the holiday crafts show at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center, Oct. 30 to Nov. 1. See things to do this month.
  • Lights, Santa breakfasts and church concerts: our holiday lights and Christmas events guide has the full December list.

Parking and road closures

Expect Broadway to be closed along the parade route. Park in the Uptown decks and on side streets and walk in; Uptown Columbus keeps a parking guide. The city’s RiverCenter Garage, 919 Broadway, is free except for reserved spaces, and the first floor of the Front Avenue Garage, 1028 Front Ave., is free, according to METRA’s parking page. On Broadway itself, cars may stay no more than two hours a day on one block; see our getting around Columbus guide. We list the closures on our road construction and closures page when the city announces them.

What this means for you

  • Plan for Broadway on the evening of Friday, Nov. 20, if you want to see the tree lit.
  • The city parade on Dec. 5 is a morning event; Breakfast with Santa is nearby the same morning.
  • Want to march or ride? Apply early; Uptown says entries depend on space.

More: Thanksgiving in Columbus and New Year’s Eve.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Columbus Christmas parade in 2026?

There are two. Uptown Columbus holds the Broadway Holiday Parade at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and Columbus Parks and Recreation holds the city’s Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

When is the Columbus Christmas tree lighting?

The mayor lights the city Christmas tree at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, right after the Broadway Holiday Parade in Uptown, according to Uptown Columbus.

What is the route of the Broadway Holiday Parade?

Floats line up at TSYS Way and Downtown Elementary School, start at 14th Street and TSYS Way, and come down 13th Street to the 1300 block of Broadway and on to the 900 block.

How do I enter a float in the Columbus Christmas parade?

Apply on the Uptown Columbus parade page for the Broadway Holiday Parade, or use the registration form on the Columbus Parks and Recreation events list for the Dec. 5 Christmas Parade.