The 39^th Annual Lakeland Christmas Parade
The Joy of Giving

The Christmas Parade is enjoyed by the whole community.  Please remember to keep sidewalks clear for individuals with wheelchairs, walkers and scooters.

2019 Winners

• Best Youth/Educational Float: Cleveland Court
• Best Community Float: Medulla Baptist Church
• Best Business Float: Agnini Family Dental
• Best Themed Float: Mine & Mill
• Judges' Choice Award: Medulla Elementary
• Best Pro Float: Smith, Feddeler & Smith
• Best Band: Lakeland High School
• Most Original Float: Aerospace Center for Excellence

About

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...Santa & Mrs. Claus!

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.”

More Info

Email ChristmasParade@jlgl.org or visit the Junior League of Greater Lakeland. 

• 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.*  To request a PDF copy of the map, please email communications@lakelandgov.net.
  *Note: Map will not open in Internet Explorer. Please use an alternate browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.).

  Restrooms

  The blue rectangles on the map are the locations of portalets.

  

   

   

• *NEW* Bike Valet

  We are pleased to be partnering with Two Wheel Valet for the very first bike valet at the Lakeland Christmas Parade! Here's what you need to know:

  1. The main festivities occur from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., but the Bike Valet staffed service will operate from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to accommodate  early revelers!
     
     
  2. Bikes (NOT cars) can be check in in the Munn Park parking lot (see map). They paved paradise, and put in a bike valet lot!!
     
     
  3. Bicyclists will not generally be stopped at the barricade locations (see red bars on map).  Just in case, all bicyclists can advise the “barricade” monitor that they are destined for the Bike Valet in Munn Park lot.
     
     
  4. Crossing of the parade route (green line) will generally not be permitted after 6:00 p.m. 
• Parking & Street Closures

   

  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.

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  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

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  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.

• Chairs Along Parade Route

  *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.

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  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.

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  Theft & Lost Chairs

  The City of Lakeland is not responsible for any lost, misplaced, or stolen chairs.

   

• ADA Accessibility

   

  The Christmas Parade is enjoyed by the whole community.  Please remember to keep sidewalks clear for individuals with wheelchairs, walkers and scooters.

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  Wheelchair Accessible Viewing Areas

  Two wheelchair accessible viewing areas will be located at the intersection of Rose Street and Main Street, next to the Fire Station off S Lake Avenue and across the street, in front of the Rose Street parking lot.

  See Map

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  ADA Parking

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

  Interactive Downtown Lakeland Parking Map

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  ADA Restrooms

  Two accessible porta-toilets will be available, one on each side of Main Street at the Rose Street/Main Street intersection.

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  Availability

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

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

• Food

  2019 Parade info will be updated as the parade date gets closer. Please check back!

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  Food vendors will be stationed throughout Downtown Lakeland. Here are their locations:

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  Munn Park (SE corner)

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  Parking Lot M
  Corner Massachusetts Ave. & Cedar/Lake Mirror

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  Future Dog Park
  Vacant lot just East of the old Lakeland Brewery building on Lake Mirror Drive

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  Small Pavers Area
  Corner of Lake Mirror Drive and Lake Avenue - west side, adjacent to the Lakeland Fire Department

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  Lake Mirror Center Parking Lot
  Lake Avenue

• Watch from Home

  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)
• Floats

  As is custom, the parade lineup (which is top secret!) is not revealed to the public.

  Please contact the Junior League of Greater Lakeland for more information.

• 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.

• Parade Applications - Due September 14th

  Lakeland Christmas Parade applications are closed for 2019.
  See the 2019 application packet

   

Kevin Cook & Julie Adams, 2017 Lakeland Christmas Parade