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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
Entries have closed for the 2024 Santa Parade. Check back here for 2025 entries.
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: The registration form will be available here closer to the event.
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
