Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade 2024

The Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade, celebrating its 41st year, is a can’t-miss holiday event that brings festive joy to downtown Pensacola. Attracting over 50,000 visitors annually, the parade has expanded to feature more than 100 entries, including over 50 floats and marching bands from Santa Rosa and Escambia counties, as well as from New Orleans.

Schedule & Route

The Cox Pensacola Christmas Parade begins at the intersection of Garden Street and Spring Street and concludes at South Palafox Street and Government Street. Prior to the parade, families can participate in the 1.2-mile Christmas Parade Dash. This cherished holiday tradition allows participants to run or walk a one-mile course before joining the festivities. The parade kicks off at 5:30 pm, weaving through the downtown area amid a vibrant atmosphere filled with cheering crowds. The course culminates at Plaza Ferdinand, where finishers receive a giant candy cane as a sweet reward for their participation.

Highlights

High schools across Escambia County, along with Pace and Milton High Schools in Santa Rosa County, bring their bands to add to the festive sounds of the season. A highlight of the parade is the appearance of the famed Blue Angels flight team, alongside numerous local and regional organizations, making this parade a hallmark of holiday celebrations in the area. A portion of the profits from the parade goes directly to support local high school band booster organizations, making it a community-focused event.