Ring in the holiday season as Santa makes his way through downtown La Porte, followed by a festive tree lighting ceremony at Plaza 618.
Held the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, the Downtown Santa Parade kicks off the holiday season with a festive procession through the heart of La Porte. The parade features food and beverage vendors along the route and concludes with a community tree lighting ceremony at Plaza 618.
Saturday, November 28
4PM–6PM
Lincolnway & Michigan Ave
Watch Santa arrive downtown alongside floats, local organizations, and holiday cheer.
The evening wraps up with the official tree lighting at Plaza 618, a favorite holiday moment for La Porte families.
Warm up with hot food and drinks from local vendors stationed along the parade route.
Every event runs on volunteer power from setup crews and booth greeters to parade marshals and cookie counters. Give a few hours and watch the whole town show up.
Food trucks, artisans, and local shops: our events put thousands of neighbors in front of your booth. Applications for the 2026 season are open now.
Have a question about the event? Send us a message, and we’ll get back to you.
The Santa Parade takes place each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season in Downtown La Porte!
The parade will kick off at the corner of State Street and Tipton Street. Then it will travel:
The parade will conclude at Plaza 618, where the celebration continues with the City of La Porte’s Tree Lighting Ceremony.
There’s no bad place to enjoy the parade! Find a spot along the route on State Street, Michigan Avenue or Lincolnway. If you’d like to continue the celebration after the parade, consider watching from or near Plaza 618 so you can easily stick around for the Tree Lighting.
Don’t head home just yet! The parade leads directly into the City of La Porte’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at Plaza 618. Stick around for the tree lighting, Christmas music, coffee, hot chocolate and more holiday fun!
Of course! Santa will make his way through Downtown La Porte during the parade and then head to his Santa Chalet at Plaza 618, where families can stop by and get a photo with him after the parade.
Absolutely! Businesses, organizations, community groups and other local groups are invited to participate. Applications are available on our site.
The Santa Parade is a rain-or-shine event unless conditions become unsafe. If severe weather or other circumstances require a change to the event, updates will be shared through Downtown La Porte Events’ official communication channels.
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome along the parade route. However, please consider your pet’s comfort around crowds, music, lights and other animals before bringing them to the event.
There are public parking lots and on-street parking throughout Downtown La Porte. Some areas may have temporary closures or restrictions, so we recommend allowing extra time to find parking and walk to the event.
Whether you’re selling, sponsoring, or lending a hand, there’s a place for you in downtown La Porte. Let’s make this season the best one yet!