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Start your holiday cheer at the Santa Claus Parade in Downtown Niagara Falls! The parade will feature bands, floats, characters, performers, and Santa Claus!
Santa Claus Parade 2025
When: Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 4 pm (rain or shine)
Where: Starting on Victoria Avenue at Armoury Street and ending on Queen Street at City Hall
Project SHARE will kick off the parade by collecting food and monetary donations to support residents in need this holiday season.
Check back here for all the fun details as we get closer to the event.
Parade entries
2025 entries are now open!
- Complete the Santa Claus Parade entry application
- You will need to include a City of Niagara Falls Standard Certificate of Insurance form
Official parade rules
2025 City of Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 15, 4 pm to 5:30 pm
Completed Entry Forms and Permission Forms must be received by October 17, 2025
- No Santa Claus replica may be part of any entry other than the Official Santa Claus at the end of the parade
- All entries must be based upon a holiday theme and entertaining to a family audience, primarily of children
- All entries must be seasonally decorated, including lights
- The minimum age for participants marching/walking is 7 years. Younger participants must be safely seated on a vehicle/float
- Float height restriction is 3.35 metres (11 feet) from the ground to the top of the display
- All parade entries MUST provide proof of liability insurance for $2 million. The Certificate format should name “The Corporation of the City of Niagara Falls” as an Also/Additional Insured. You MUST use the City’s standard form
- Each Mascot MUST have at least one handler and must remain with their float/entry
- All entries using floats in their display must be moved into their designated location without any passengers on the float and must have safety railings (minimum three feet in height) around the perimeter
- All entries using a combustible fuel-powered generator or any other possible fire hazard MUST supply an appropriate fire extinguisher on their vehicle
- Demonstrations or performances are to stay within their performance area (around their float) and abide by all regulations. All entries MUST maintain a spacing of no less than 2 metres or 6 feet apart
- Any entrant considered to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be removed from the parade, and all participants in the parade shall not consume or give the impression of consuming alcoholic beverages
- All parade participants shall refrain from smoking and/or vaping during their participation in the parade
- For safety reasons, no items are to be distributed during the Parade
- A detailed drawing or photograph must accompany all floats/entries
- An entry may be refused up to the start of the Parade should the entry not meet Parade guidelines or differ from its approved entry form
- All entries will be notified of their parade status in early November
The City of Niagara Falls and the Santa Claus Parade Staff are not responsible and will not be held liable for any costs incurred with the production of any Entry to the Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade.
Parade route, road closures and parking
Before the Santa Claus Parade, visit Queen Street to explore the various restaurants and shops and get a head start on your holiday shopping!
While Queen Street will be closed to vehicular traffic, ample side-street parking options and City-owned parking lots are available downtown.
The parade will start on Victoria Avenue at Armoury Street, heading northbound on Victoria to Valley Way. The route will then veer from Valley Way onto Queen Street, ending at Centennial Square in front of City Hall (4310 Queen Street).
Tree lighting | 5:15 pm
Immediately following the parade, the Niagara Health Foundation Tree Lighting will take place in Centennial Square at City Hall. Sponsored by Alectra, the tree lighting officially kicks off Niagara Health Foundation’s annual Celebration of Lights to raise funds for urgently needed equipment at our local hospitals.
Santa Claus meet & greet | 5:30 pm
After the tree lighting, at approximately 5:30 pm, residents are invited to remain in Centennial Square for a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, presented by Niagara Helicopters. The event will feature live entertainment, hot chocolate, food trucks and more!
Holiday Cookie Giveaway, presented by Hodgson Custom Rolling Inc.! Free cookies will be handed out while quantities last.
Want to volunteer?
We’re looking for volunteers to help make the Santa Claus parade amazing!
Volunteers are needed for various roles, including mascot handler, costumed characters, banner carriers, volunteer orientation and more!
When: Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Register: Complete the online volunteer application form
Students can earn community service hours! Bring your school’s Volunteer worksheet to be signed at the event, or email us after the event to request confirmation.
Deck the Halls Holiday Market | Call for vendors
We're excited to be bringing back our extremely successful holiday market, 'Deck the Halls', for a second year on Sunday, November 16, 2025!
This year, the event will be expanding due to high demand and attendance, all thanks to all of you who showed up and supported it last year! Vendor spaces will be available at the Niagara Falls Exchange (5943 Sylvia Place) and the Niagara Falls History Museum (5810 Ferry Street). Both buildings share a parking lot located just steps from each other. In addition to vendor spaces, both buildings will feature crafts and programming for families to participate in all day.
The festive event will be packed with endless family fun, including a Polar Express train, kids' crafts, s'mores stations, and, of course, Santa Claus!
We are looking for vendors who can sell unique Christmas-themed decorative items and holiday gifts, perfect for marketgoers wishing to complete their Christmas shopping lists heading into the holidays!
We would love for you to be part of making this year's Deck the Halls event a success! To be considered a 'Deck the Halls' market vendor, complete applications must be submitted online here by 4 pm on October 5, 2025. Successful vendor applicants will be informed no later than October 10 at 4 pm. A vendor fee of $75 for an 8'x10' space will apply.
Visit nfexchange.ca to learn more about Deck the Halls.
Thank you to our 2024 parade sponsors
(2025 sponsors coming soon)
