Santa's Parade of Lights

Please be advised that as of November 12, 2024 float registration is full.

Should you wish to still participate in our Parade of Lights, we are always looking for volunteers to help along the parade route. Please see "Event Contact and Volunteering" below for more information. 

Please be advised that as of October 21, 2024 registration will open for the Santa's Parade of Lights. 

On December 1, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., citizens are welcome to attend Santa's Parade of Lights in Stratford.

This year's parade will take a scenic route along the shoreline of the Avon River. At 5 p.m., the parade will start at Hillcrest Drive and William Street, moving east along William Street to Lakeside Drive North, across the Festival bridge, heading west along Lakeside Drive past the Stratford Festival and ending at the Tom Patterson Theatre. Fifty floats are expected to participate, and Santa Claus will be in the final one, expected to arrive at the Tom Patterson Theatre in and around 6 p.m.

The entire parade route will be closed to local traffic starting at 3pm. 

• To ensure the health and safety measures are met, parade floats will not hand out any items to attendees along the parade route and walking into the route, by the public, is strictly prohibited. 
• Hockey patrons attending the William Allman Arena will be permitted to access the arena parking lot off North Street and special arrangements for additional parking at the Tom Patterson Theatre off Waterloo Street/Water Street, Lower Queens lot off Queen Street/Lakeside Drive, and Upper Queens Park on Richard Monette Way will be made available on a first-come, first serve basis. More details.
• On Sundays, Stratford Transit provides an On Demand service. On December 1, the hours of Stratford Transit On Demand will be extended until 7:30pm.  Learn more on using transit to attend the parade.

This event is coordinated by the Stratford and District Saddle Club, Bethel Pentecostal Church and the City of Stratford. 

Route Map, Road Closures, Parking, Washrooms

Road closures and barricades installed in the area on December 1 from 3-7pm will limit access to certain areas of the city. To review the parade route, parking areas and the location of washrooms, see map. 

General Health and Safety while at Event

To ensure the health and safety measures are met, event organizers remind those attending the event that:

1. Parade floats will not hand out any items to attendees along the parade route.
2. Walking into the route, by the public, is strictly prohibited. 

• William Allman Arena parking lot will be made available to hockey patrons only, and between the hours of 3-7pm, access to the lot must be made off North Street. 
• Additional parking at the Tom Patterson Theatre off Waterloo Street/Water Street, Lower Queens lot off Queen Street/Lakeside Drive, and Upper Queens Park on Richard Monette Way will be made available on a first-come, first serve basis.

See map

• Public washrooms are available inside the William Allman Arena.

On Sundays, Stratford Transit provides an On Demand service allowing transit to meet the needs of customers while routing vehicles only to requested stops. Customers will be able to schedule a ride based on their own timeframes and route desired stop, allowing passengers to get anywhere in the city. 

Learn more

This event is hosted by the Stratford and District Saddle Club, and they would like to invite people who wish to help out to apply as a volunteer. 

Volunteer roles and responsibilities include:

• Assisting the marshaling floats into starting positions along the parade route
• Attending barricades at road closures along the parade route
• Walking alongside the parade as it moves to ensure members of the public do not enter the route. 

Become a Volunteer!

Apply to Host a Float

1. The event will be held, rain, snow or shine.
2. Floats will start at Hillcrest Drive and William Street, moving east along William Street to Lakeside Drive North, across the Festival bridge, heading west along Lakeside Drive past the Stratford Festival and ending at the Tom Patterson Theatre. 
3. Float hosts are expected to fully decorate their float in the spirit of the holidays. As this is a family event, please be aware that small children will attend the event. The experience MUST NOT be disturbing in any way.
4. Floats are invited to setup in arriving two groups. On the day of the event, float Numbers 1-27 are invited to start setting up at 3:00pm and float numbers 28-53 will be invited to start setting up at 3:30pm. Floats must be completed no later than 4:30pm. The parade marshalling zone will be from William Street at Waterloo Street (last float in the parade), heading east to Hillcrest Drive and William Street (first float in the parade). Organizers will be on-site to assist you into your marshalling position.
   
5. To enter the float marshalling area along William Street please use Waterloo Street. Additional load-in details may be released closer to the date.
6. The front of the parade will start moving at 4:45 p.m.
7. Santa Claus should not be riding on any float except the final Santa float.
8. Parade floats are not to hand out any items to attendees along the parade route, and walking into the route, by the public, is strictly prohibited. 
9. This parade may be broadcast on various media, and parade float entries may be interviewed.
10. When the parade ends in and around the Tom Patterson Theatre at Lakeside Drive and Waterloo Street, floats may disperse via Veteran's Drive to Erie Street or Huron Street, or via Waterloo Street. 

Floats fees are $50 for a community group and $100 for a corporate group. 

Float registration will open October 21, 2024, and close on November 22, 2024. 

2024 Corporate Community Donors

A special thank you to the following 2024 Corporate Community Donors who have helped make this years Santa's Parade of Lights possible.