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.

For 2025 the Grand Marshall will be the 1750 Isle of Wight Courthouse (celebrating their 275th anniversary). The parade theme is "Joy to the World".

Relay to Parents - All group leaders, please share the info listed on this page with parents. All children should be accompanied by an adult.

Group Leaders - please give your folks in the parade with you a specific time to drop off children. A group leader must be on site. When dropping off a minor, they may either park off site and walk child to the lineup or pull into the DROP OFF line, park briefly, walk their child to their group then move their vehicle.

There is no parking permitted at the staging lot. Please be careful as this is a busy lot with vehicles and floats 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 to determine 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 to line up. Safety is our number ONE concern.                                                                                                                                                           

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 entry per business. 

Fire/Rescue Departments - One vehicle entry per department.

ALL motorized vehicles - must have driver 18 + with a valid drivers license and liability insurance to participate. Please include copy of insurance card. No creating smoke, squealing tires, burnouts or excessively loud music.                                                                                                                                    

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.

Parade Route -  300 block of Main to left on N. Mason (by Perfectly Natural Soap) then left on Grace Street. Parade will continue down Grace and head back 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, stuffed animals, 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.

PARADE END - The parade will disband and end at the lot by the Schoolhouse Museum (across from Main Street Baptist Church) where line up was). 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 ish)

Applications - available under the files tab above or by stopping by the Visitor Center at 319 Main Street beginning October 15 until filled. 

Admission
Free