The Lakeland Christmas Parade
A Night at the North Pole

The 2017 Lakeland Christmas Parade: A Night at the North Pole, sponsored by the Junior League of Greater Lakeland, takes place on Thursday, December 7th, 2017 in Downtown Lakeland. 

The parade will leave the RP Funding Center 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...Santa & Mrs. Claus!

A fireworks display will take place at 7 PM over Lake Mirror.

• Parade Map & Restroom Locations

  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.  

  Restrooms

  The small squares on the map are the locations of portajons. 

  

• Parking & Street Closures

  Street Closures

  Incremental roads closures will begin as early as 4 PM on 12/7 due to enhanced safety measures. You should plan on all parade route-affiliated roads being closed by 6 PM. 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 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.

  Downtown Lakeland Parking Map (PDF)

  ---

  ADA Parking

  Accessible parking will be available in the Rose St. parking lot for vehicles with a disabled parking permit. 

• Chairs Along Parade Route

  You may place chairs along the parade route no earlier than December 6th, 2017. 

  ---

  Placement

  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.

• ADA Accessibility

  ADA Seating

  Wheelchair accessible seating will be in the Rose Street parking lot, next to the Fire Station off of S Lake Avenue. 

  ADA Parking

  Accessible parking will be available in the Rose Street parking lot for vehicles with a disabled parking permit.

  ADA Restrooms

  An accessible porta-toilet will be available at the Rose Street parking lot. 

  Availability

  Just as with the rest of the parade route, the wheelchair accessible seating area and parking will be first come- first served.

  ---

  See the Parade Map & Restroom Locations tab for more information.

• Snapchat & Facebook Geofilters

  

  This year, we will have special Lakeland Christmas Parade Snapchat and Facebook Geofilters for the parade!

  Snapchat

  Our Snapchat geofilter will go live around the parade route from 4 - 10 PM.

  Add the City of Lakeland on Snapchat

  Facebook

  To use the Facebook event filter, visit the official Lakeland Christmas Parade: A Night at the North Pole Event Page on the Facebook app and click "Use Camera Effect". 

  ---

  Share Your Photos!

  Be sure to send us your photos in a private message on Facebook or at communications@lakelandgov.net and use the hashtag #LKLDchristmasparade during the event!

• Floats

  The 2017 Lakeland Christmas Parade will feature approximately 91 floats!

• Duration

  The Lakeland Christmas Parade begins at 7 PM at the RP Funding Center and typically lasts 1.5 - 2 hours.  

• More Info/Questions

  Questions about the Christmas Parade?

  Email the Junior League of Greater Lakeland at christmasparade@jlgl.org or call 863.682.2112.

Kevin Cook & Julie Adams, 2016 Lakeland Christmas Parade

2017 Lakeland Christmas Parade Geofilter - Look for it on Snapchat and Facebook!