Holiday Parade Information for Participants

Welcome to the 54th Annual Schenectady Holiday Parade presented by the City and County of Schenectady in partnership with out friends at MVP Health. We can't wait to see what your creative energy and holiday spirit will bring to the parade and how you will celebrate what you love about New York.

NEW THIS YEAR!
 Let's have a parking lot party. Schenectady County is throwing a parking lot party for you and all the parade participants from 2:30pm - 5:00pm. 

Know Where to Go!

We are happy to have you as a part of the Annual Holiday Parade, its a great Schenectady County tradition. Load in can be tough, but if you know your division color, arrive on time, and follow our course marshals you will get to where you need to be. 

Parade Participant Check-In & Staging

Before going to your assigned location, check in first. Volunteers will be on hand to direct you to your position. Parade participants and floats may ONLY enter the staging area from the Washington Ave entrance. If you are traveling westbound on I-890, do NOT use Exit 4C. Take Exit 5 for Broadway and access Washington Ave via State Street. For participants traveling from the west, use the Western Gateway Bridge.

• Once you enter the staging area,  follow the signs and the course marshals assigned to your division.

• Limited parking is available within the staging area FOR PARADE PARTICIPANTS ONLY. Parents and caregivers of parade participants must drop off their child and find parking outside of the staging area. 
• Course Marshals will patrol the staging areas and along the route.  Please comply with their directions. They have been empowered by the Parade Committee to enforce the regulations. Non-compliance could result in being removed from the parade line-up
• Portable toilets will be available.

Remember – STATE STREET WILL BE CLOSED AT 4 p.m. You must be at the staging area before 4 p.m.

View List of Street Closures

During the Parade

• Do NOT throw candy or any other items from your float. Throwing items causes confusion, draws children into the street, and can lead to injury. 
• And please, NO SANTAS on your entry! There is only one Santa Claus at the end of the parade.
• If you are performing, you will have 45 seconds to perform in front of the stage in the MVP performance area. Due to the time limit, please note that this performance does not have to be a full routine, and can be a shortened version, or a fun, unique display for your group. All performances should be no longer than 45 seconds. Course Marshals will be present along the parade route, and will be strictly enforcing the performance time limit in this area. All performances will be recorded and broadcast.

• Remember to keep your energy HIGH, and most importantly, HAVE FUN! You are the show!
• Your entry should be decorated in keeping with the holiday and/or parade theme.
• ROUTE: The parade starts at SUNY Schenectady County Community College and proceeds east on State Street to Lafayette. You will turn left onto Lafayette and proceed to Liberty Street.

View Route Map

Parade Participant Pick Up

Parking for pick up of parade participants will be available at the Bechtel Parking Lot (670 Liberty St, Schenectady, NY 12305). Use the entrance on Nott Terrace between Union College Graduate School and the Double Tree. If you are dropping off parade participants and then wish to park your vehicle at the parade’s end, you will have to exit SCCC, take I-890 east one exit to Broadway. Take Broadway to Veeder Street. Upon crossing over State Street Veeder becomes Nott Terrace. Participant pick up parking lot is located off Nott Terrace just past the Double Tree.

• Please follow the directions of the safety officers who will be directing the parade breakdown.