Holiday Parades in Sacramento

Parades are SUCH a fun way to get into the holiday spirit and feel part of your community! Here are some fantastic holiday parades happening in the greater Sacramento area.

Downtown Roseville

61st Annual Sylvia Besana Parade

When: Saturday, November 19, 2022; 9am – 12pm
Where: 311 Vernon Street, Roseville
What: Bring your family and be part of Roseville’s longest running tradition!
Enjoy:- Parade with dance teams, horses, floats and more. Family Friendly Fun, Craft Booths, Food, Santa, and much more! Booths will open at 9 AM and Parade will start at 10:30 AM.
Cost: FREE
More info: Visit website

Auburn

Festival of Lights Parade

When: Saturday, December 3, 2022; 5:30pm
Where: Lincoln Way, Auburn
What: Enjoy a magical holiday experience at the Auburn Festival of Lights Parade. Marvel at the festive floats, paired with vibrant music, brilliant lights displays, and colorful costumes! The parade route runs from Cherry Avenue and Lincoln Way and ends at the Upper Parking Lot at the Fairgrounds.
Cost: FREE
More info: Visit website

Elk Grove

Annual Holiday of Lights Parade

When: December 3, 2022; 6pm
Where: Elk Grove
What: This year, the parade is part of the Illumination Holiday Festival! Activities start at 3pm, the parade is at 6pm, and the tree lighting follows the parade. Parade will start on Laguna Springs Drive and travel north to Civic Center Drive, left on Civic Center Drive to its completion around District56
Cost: FREE
More info: Visit website

Downtown Sacramento

Sacramento Lighted Boat Parade

When: Saturday, December 3, 2022; 5:30pm
Where: Old Sacramento Waterfront
What: Capital City Yacht Club once again is getting ready for the annual lighted boat parade! Make dinner reservations and enjoy the view, or head over to the Promenade and watch from the docks.
Cost: FREE
More info: Visit website

Santa Parade

When: Saturday, December 10, 2022; 10am (rain or shine)
Where: 9th & I to 7th & K, Sacramento
What: The Santa Parade has a spirit of its own, embodied by the many wonderful parade entrants–from tuneful marching bands to high-stepping horses, colorful clowns to vintage vehicles, skillful twirlers to dazzling floats.
Cost: FREE
More info: Visit website

Downtown Sacramento Santa Parade

For more fun things to do for the holidays in Sacramento, check out our 2022 Winter Guide

Subscribe to our Weekend Top 10!

Each Thursday you’ll receive our favorite picks for Sacramento weekend fun – for families with babies, toddlers, school-age kids and teens!

Keilah Woodard

My love for exploring and creating experiences with my three kids led to the founding of SacramentoSidetracks.com in 2009. I realized that Sacramento has so much to offer and I was excited to share my findings with other parents. Besides simply having fun, these are the other positive side effects of taking my kids on outings that I’ve discovered: we have quality time together away from the distractions at home, we cultivate our curiosity, learn new things, conversations are triggered by what we see and do, we connect and bond as a family, and we create new memories. Ready to get sidetracked, too? Let me be your guide!