Santa Claus Parade & Tree Light-up

A poster promoting the Santa Claus Parade and Tree Light Up on December 6.
  • Saturday, December 6, 2025, 5:00 - 8:00pm
    • Type
    Community Events

    Join us for a delightful evening packed with festive fun! Enjoy a lively parade, warm up with hot chocolate and hot dogs, marvel at the Christmas Tree Light Up, and meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus! And the best part? It’s all absolutely free!

    Event Details

    The festivities begin at 5 pm! Gather along 100 Street to watch Santa’s parade glide south from 108 Ave to Centennial Park. Once there, keep the holiday cheer going with an evening full of seasonal delights.

    4 pm | Parade Marshalling Begins
    5 pm | Parade Begins at 108 Avenue and 102 Street - view the parade route [PDF/436KB]
    6 pm | Opening Remarks & Tree Light-up at Centennial Park
    6:30 pm | Activities in Centennial Park & Festival Plaza
    Visit Mr. and Mrs. Claus in the Festival Plaza with free hot chocolate provided by R360. Complementary hot dogs served by the Sunrise Rotary Club.

    Parade Application Form

    Santa Claus is coming to town, and the City of Fort St. John staff invites you to help us celebrate this festive season! Show off your holiday spirit and sign up to participate in the 2025 Santa Claus Parade!

    Marshalling starts at 4 pm along 98 Street between 108 Avenue and 110 Avenue.

    At 5 pm, the parade will head west onto 108 Avenue and turn south down 100 Street. It will officially end at 96 Avenue, and vehicles will demarshal and unload on 95 and 94 Avenue (between 100 and 102 Street). View the parade route [PDF/436KB].

    The parade's success depends entirely on volunteer participation! If your business or organization is interested in entering a float, please submit your application no later than Monday, December 1, at 9 am. Please note that the application is required to ensure a record of all participants and is used to distribute important parade information.

    Parade Rules

    • All entries must be decorated.
    • The City of Fort St. John has the right to refuse entries that depict controversial and inappropriate material.
    • Your organization/business name must be visible to spectators.
    • There is a height restriction of 14 feet from ground level.
    • Giveaways, including treats, MUST BE HANDED OUT by walkers (must be 16 years of age to be a walker in the parade).
    • Please do not distribute brochures, flyers or other written or printed material.
    • Float passengers riding on a trailer may only ride during the designated parade route. ALL passengers riding on a trailer must unload in the demarshalling area.
    • We all know there is only one Santa Claus. He has confirmed he will ride on the final float of our Parade and then visit the celebrations afterwards. Please do not put people in costume as Santa on your float, as it could become confusing for the young and the young at heart!
    Organization Type
    Float Category
    Do you have passengers?
    Do you have Walkers? Walkers must be 16 years of age or older
    Do you have animals?
    Please note that emergency vehicles may sound their sirens and spook animals.
    Does your entry have music?
    Terms of Parade Participation

    BY REGISTERING FOR AND PARTICIPATING IN THE PARADE, YOU WILL WAIVE CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE. 

    Please read the following waiver closely before agreeing to these terms.

    In the event of an incident or accident during the event, I DO HEREBY RELEASE the City of Fort St. John and its employees from all liability and DO HEREBY WAIVE all recourses, proceedings, claims, and causes of action of any kind. 

    I HEREBY AGREE THAT: 

    I am of eighteen years or older and am signing off on the behalf of my business/organization and its workers/volunteers. 

    I ACKNOWLEDGE that parades can be a high risk and/or dangerous activity. 

    I vow to follow the rules of the road throughout my participation and understand that if I neglect to these rules (as well as the rules laid out by City staff, volunteers, and contractors) that I am subjecting myself and fellow parade participants to a higher risk of accident/injury.

    I freely and voluntarily assume all the aforesaid and unforeseen risks and hazards associated with the event, and that, accordingly, my organization/business shall participate in the parade entirely at our own risk.

    The City of Fort St. John is committed to protecting your privacy. Any personal information you provide to us is collected pursuant to 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of administering City services.

    Should you have any questions about the collection of this personal information please contact the Corporate Officer.

    Location
    Centennial Park