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Important details about Sunday’s Parade of Lights

November 18,2021

See full City of Fort Worth article here.

Planning on attending the GM Financial Parade of Lights this weekend? Here’s what you need to know before heading downtown.

Start time: The parade begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. The parade takes approximately 10 minutes to move five blocks. It will take approximately 40 minutes to travel the entire route.

Route: From the intersection of Weatherford and Throckmorton streets, the parade proceeds east along Weatherford Street, turns south on Commerce Street and goes to Ninth Street. The parade turns west, proceeds past the Fort Worth Convention Center to Houston Street, then turns north on Houston Street to Second Street. The final turns for the parade are west on Second Street to Throckmorton Street, and south to Third Street where the parade will end. View the route map. 

Theme: Making Spirits Bright.

Grand marshal: Fort Worth activist Opal Lee.

Parking: There’s plenty of parking throughout downtown. Some downtown garages offer free parking, and there are many low-cost parking lots available throughout downtown. View a list of street closures. 

Seating: Paid seating is available via online purchase. 

Christmas tree: The Sundance Plaza Christmas tree will be decorated and lit. It will remain standing through Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2022.

Santa Claus: Saint Nick will greet viewers from a specially designed float toward the end of Sunday’s parade. Due to COVID-19 concerns, Santa will not meet with visitors at Sundance Plaza this year.

History: First staged in 1983 to help Fort Worth celebrate family and togetherness in a spirited way, the parade has grown to become one of the top illuminated parades in the country. The parade is produced annually by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives Inc., whose mission is to make downtown Fort Worth a vibrant place to live, work and play.