The Junior League of Greater Lakeland and the City of Lakeland are proud to host the 39th annual Lakeland Christmas Parade! The parade will take place in Downtown Lakeland on Thursday, December 5th, 2019. A fireworks display over Lake Mirror at 7 PM will start the festivities!
The parade will leave the RP Funding Center at 7 PM and make its way down Lemon Street twisting and turning through Downtown Lakeland. Be sure to keep an eye out for our very special guests…
The theme of this year’s parade is “The Joy of Giving.” This theme was inspired by the continuous generosity and love displayed within our community as touted by the nickname, “the Giving City.”
The Christmas Parade will kick off at the RP Funding Center, winding its way through Downtown Lakeland, around Lake Mirror, and down Lemon Street.
Click the map for a larger view of the parade route. To request a PDF copy of the map, please email [email protected].
Restrooms
The blue rectangles on the map are the locations of portalets.
Street Closures
Incremental road closures will begin as early as 3:30 PM on 12/5 due to enhanced safety measures. You should plan on all parade route-affiliated roads being closed by 6 PM (see parade route). Officers will be staged at locations along the route to assist with traffic. Closures will be clearly marked and directional signage will be in place.
Please allow extra time to arrive early or take alternate routes such as Bartow Highway (US 98) and Harden Boulevard if you are simply trying to get from one side of town to the other.
Public Parking
Public Parking is available in Downtown Lakeland on open, non-parade-route streets, in public lots and parking garages.
Interactive Downtown Lakeland Parking Map
ADA/Accessible Parking
Accessible parking will be available in the Rose St. parking lot for vehicles with a disabled parking permit. See the ADA Accessibility tab below for more info on the accessibile parade experience.
*NEW* in 2019: No Chairs Until the Day of the Event
Chairs may be placed along the parade route no earlier than December 5th, 2019. All chairs, tape, tables, etc. placed out before December 5th will be removed and taken to Joker Marchant Stadium.
Placement
On December 5th, if you choose to place your chairs along the parade route, please do not block sidewalks, entrances, or ADA ramps or place chairs in “Wheelchair Accessible” seating areas. Chairs placed in these areas will be moved out of the way. Please be respectful and do not place excessive amounts of chairs along the route.
Theft & Lost Chairs
The City of Lakeland is not responsible for any lost, misplaced, or stolen chairs.
Can’t make it to the parade in person? Watch live online and on cable. You will find the parade broadcast:
- LakelandGov TV
- Facebook Live
- Spectrum Channel 643
- FiOS Channel 43
- Comcast Channel 5 (PGTV)