Get your family and friends ready to officially welcome Santa and his adorable helpers, loaded with gifts and joy, as they make their grand entrance through the city! This holiday season, December turns red and green to kick off the arrival of the much-awaited Christmas in the most impressive way possible. These are the best Christmas parades you can attend this year!
1. Christmas Fantasy Parade
Watch beloved Disney characters join Santa Claus in a festive musical celebration along Main Street. The parade features bouncy reindeer, marching toy soldiers, dancing gingerbread cookies, and much more, bringing the holiday season to life at Disneyland Park. To enjoy the parade, make sure to get a ticket for park admission.
📍Location: Daily until Monday, January 6, 2025. 2:30PM-5:30PM
📅 Dates: Anaheim, California 92802
🎅 Ticket info
2. Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, now in its 116th edition, is a festive spectacle that draws crowds from all over. Featuring beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes, this annual event lights up the harbor with stunning holiday displays. The parade route passes by Marina Park, the largest public viewing spot, making it easy for visitors to enjoy the show.
📍Location: 1600 W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663
📅 Dates: Sunday, December 18-22, 2024. 6:30PM, each night
🎅 Parade info
3. Rose Parade
The legendary and highly anticipated 136th annual Rose Parade is a highlight of the holiday season in Los Angeles. This spectacular event features floral floats, marching bands from across the country, and high-stepping equestrian units. The 2025 Grand Marshal, sports icon and champion for equality, Billie Jean King, perfectly embodies this year’s theme, Best Day Ever!
📍Location: Parade starts at the corner of Green Street and Orange Grove Blvd, Pasadena
📅 Dates: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. 8AM
🎅 Parade info
Past events
4. L.A. Harbor Holiday Boat Parade
The 63rd annual Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Boat Parade marks the start of the holiday season for boaters and communities in Wilmington, San Pedro, and the South Bay. This festive Christmas boat parade in Los Angeles features a mile-long procession of beautifully decorated boats that light up the harbor.
With public viewing spots at iconic locations like the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the SS Lane Victory, spectators can enjoy this magical event from the L.A. Waterfront.
📍Location: East Basin ChannelLos Ángeles, California 90744
5. Belmont Shore Christmas Parade
Get ready to experience the magic of the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in Long Beach! This annual event showcases local businesses, schools, and community groups, drawing tens of thousands of residents and visitors each year. Celebrating its 40th annual edition, this year’s parade theme is A Holiday Tradition, honoring four decades of festive cheer.
📍Location: 208 Yacht Club Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
6. Hollywood Christmas Parade
The 92nd annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, held on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, is a cherished tradition that ushers in the holiday season in Tinseltown. Santa Claus arrives in style, accompanied by festive floats, celebrities, movie cars, marching bands, and equestrian units.
📍Location: 2035 N. Highland Ave. Los Angeles CA 90068
7. San Pedro Spirit of the Holidays Parade
Every year, thousands line the streets of Downtown San Pedro to watch bands, drill teams, schools, nonprofit organizations, and elected officials, march in the San Pedro Spirit of the Holidays Parade. This festive event brings the community together with lively performances and plenty of holiday cheer.
📍Location: 13th St & Pacific Ave, San Pedro, CA 90731
8. Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade
The Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade is a festive celebration with this year’s theme, A Margaritaville Holiday. Boats will be adorned with festive lights and decorations, accompanied by costumes, dancing, singing, and live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Some of the best viewing spots for this Christmas boat parade include Burton Chace Park, Fisherman’s Village, and other waterfront restaurants and bars.
📍Location: Saturday, December 14, 2024. 6PM-8PM
9. Uptown Whittier Christmas Parade
The Whittier Christmas Parade is a festive tradition that brings thousands to the streets each year. Local schools, marching bands, community groups, and decorated floats fill the route with holiday cheer!
📍Location: 6705 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier, CA 90601, USA
📅 Dates: Saturday, December 14, 2024. 10AM
🎅 Parade info
10. King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade
The King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade has been a beloved tradition for over 25 years in this iconic surf mecca. The parade features festively decorated boats adorned with sparkling, colored lights and seasonal decorations, all inspired by the 2024 theme, A Tropical Holiday.
Some of the best spots to catch this Christmas boat parade are King Harbor Marina, Moonstone Park, Portofino Hotel, and the Seaside Lagoon Seawall, where you can capture stunning photos of the dazzling boats gliding through the water.
📍Location: 208 Yacht Club Way, Redondo Beach, CA 90277