Battle Creek Christmas Parade 2024 in Michigan

The Battle Creek Christmas (or Holiday, as locals call it) Parade is an annual event held since 1979. The event is both an appetizer before the International Festival of Lights and a terrific occasion on its own. Local businesses, school bands, and community organizations all come together to create a one-of-a-kind spectacle, which spreads cheer throughout the entire neighborhood of Battle Creek.

Parade Attractions & Program

During the Parade, you’ll witness Christmas-decorated vehicles, including numerous holiday floats, fire trucks, police cars, and even thematically dressed horses. All this fun will be accompanied by colorful balloons and live music performed by various marching bands. Waving to spectators, Santa Claus is a welcome addition at the parade. Some participants might even hand out candy, while passing by the crowds. Every year, there's a unique parade theme, which is usually announced in September. This year's theme is Songs of Christmas, so be prepared to hear your favorite holiday tunes.

Schedule & Route

The event begins at 5:40 pm in downtown Battle Creek. Festively dressed participants set off on a one-mile march through Battle Creek, starting from the Federal Center on Washington Avenue. The procession then continues down Washington Avenue, continues along Michigan Avenue, and finally stops at Ermisch Travel of Battle Creek. The staging area opens slightly earlier, at 3 pm, but all the entries must line up by 5:15 pm. 1.

Admission

Admission to the parade is free, but you certainly want to book your accommodation in advance as Battle Creek gets busy this time of year. The only thing you might want to budget for is shopping at nearby stores or dinner at one of the restaurants in the area.

Location

The picturesque city of Battle Creek is situated in Calhoun County, Michigan, and is primarily known for being home to the headquarters of WK Kellogg Co, a cereal manufacturer. The city is located approximately 27 miles (43 km) away from Kalamazoo and 51 mile (82 km) from Lansing, the capital city of Michigan.