Downey Christmas Parade
Downey, CA
Floats, marching bands, classic cars, dance troupes — and Santa himself — light up Downtown Downey in one of the city’s longest-running holiday traditions, free for the whole family.
Floats, marching bands, classic cars, dance troupes — and Santa himself — light up Downtown Downey in one of the city’s longest-running holiday traditions, free for the whole family.
The Downey Christmas Parade is a beloved annual procession through Downtown Downey, dating back more than seventy years. Marching bands from local schools, decorated floats from community organizations, classic and custom cars, dance troupes, equestrian units, and civic groups all make their way down the route — capped off by Santa Claus himself.
The parade route begins at Downey Avenue and Florence Avenue and ends at the Downey Civic Center (11111 Brookshire Avenue).
Families line the streets along the route for an old-fashioned hometown parade experience. The parade is often paired with the city’s separate Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Civic Center. Confirm this season’s confirmed parade date at downtowndowney.org.
Arrive 30 to 60 minutes before parade start to claim a sidewalk spot — the route fills quickly, especially near Downtown Downey businesses. Bring foldable chairs, blankets, and warm layers. Street parking around downtown is free but limited; arrive early or use a Civic Center lot. The parade is fully stroller-accessible. The Tree Lighting Ceremony (typically the same weekend) at the Civic Center includes a snow play area, kids’ crafts, photos with Santa, and is also free — worth pairing if your schedule allows.
Yes — the parade is free to attend, with no tickets required. Find a sidewalk spot anywhere along the Downey Avenue / Brookshire Avenue route.
The parade begins at Downey Avenue and Florence Avenue and proceeds through Downtown Downey, ending at the Downey Civic Center at 11111 Brookshire Avenue.
The Downey Christmas Parade is held annually in early December — the exact date is announced each fall on the Downtown Downey website. Many years it’s paired with the city’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Civic Center.
Free street parking is available throughout Downtown Downey, but spots fill quickly. The Civic Center parking lots near 11111 Brookshire Avenue are typically open for parade-goers, and side streets off the route work well if you arrive early.
Very — it’s a classic small-town parade experience with marching bands, Santa, and a slow, family-paced procession. Strollers welcome, restrooms available at the Civic Center.
Downtown Downey is the historic civic core of the City of Downey, centered along Downey Avenue and Firestone Boulevard. The city traces its origins to former California governor John Gately Downey, who in 1865 began subdividing his 17,000-acre Rancho Santa Gertrudes into farms along the San Gabriel River. Downey is also widely recognized for its aerospace heritage: the North American Aviation facility here served as the birthplace of the systems built for the Apollo space program, a legacy preserved today at the Columbia Memorial Space Center.
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Have a date in mind? Tell us when and where, and we’ll let you know whether Santa is open. House of Kringle brings a real-bearded Santa Claus to Live Visits and Group Experiences across Southern California, and December fills quickly, so the sooner you check, the better your odds of locking in your first choice.
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