St. Pete's 98th Santa Parade is Saturday, Nov. 28, at 6:30 p.m. from Albert Whitted Park up Bayshore Drive, with the tree lit in North Straub Park after.

St. Petersburg’s 98th Annual Santa Parade and Tree Lighting is Saturday, Nov. 28, at 6:30 p.m. The parade leaves Albert Whitted Park and runs up Bayshore Drive to 5th Avenue NE, and the city’s tree in North Straub Park is lit as soon as it ends.

Updated Oct. 14: the city has posted the 2026 date, start time and route, which replace the 2025 details this page carried.

Last checked Oct. 14, 2026. Facts come from the city’s Santa Parade page and Parks and Recreation holiday events page. This page is updated each year.

Who to call

Is it on this year?

Yes. The City of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department lists the 98th parade on its holiday events page and is taking parade entries now.

  • When: Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m.
  • Route: from Albert Whitted Park along Bayshore Drive to 5th Avenue NE.
  • Tree lighting: in North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Drive NE, straight after the parade. The city says the lighting time depends on when the parade ends.
  • Cost: free to watch.
  • Road closures: the city has not published its 2026 closure list yet. Expect Bayshore Drive to close along the route on the evening; we will add the list when the city posts it.

Join the parade

Organizations, community groups and businesses can apply to march or ride. The online application closes Tuesday, Nov. 17, the city says.

Where to watch

North Straub Park and the length of Bayshore Drive between Albert Whitted Park and 5th Avenue NE are the places to stand. The same night is Small Business Saturday, with Shopapalooza in Vinoy Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so downtown fills early. City garages, lots and metered spaces are on the city’s parking page and our parking and getting around page. Check road construction and closures before you drive in.

The rest of the city’s holiday season

The waterfront holiday lights in North Straub Park, South Straub Park, Pioneer Park and on the St. Pete Pier run Nov. 28 to Jan. 1. The city’s December program, as posted:

  • Snowfest, Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., North Straub Park: toboggan slides, inflatables, crafts and food trucks. A $5 wristband covers all activities.
  • Holiday Movies in the Park, free, activities from 6:30 p.m. and the film at 7 p.m.: Christmas with the Kranks at Huggins-Stengel Field on Saturday, Dec. 5, and The Nightmare Before Christmas at Vinoy Park on Saturday, Dec. 12.
  • S’mores with Santa, Friday, Dec. 11, 5 to 7 p.m., Pinellas Pioneer Settlement at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, $5 a person, registration only, set up for families who need small crowds.
  • Meet Santa in the Park, 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 and Dec. 18 to 23, North Straub Park. Free; bring your own camera.

Everything else, from the Nutcracker to Santa Paws, is on our holiday lights and Christmas events page.

A long-running tradition

The city listed the Nov. 30, 2024, parade as the 96th annual and the Nov. 29, 2025, parade as the 97th. Both started at 6:30 p.m. on the same waterfront route and ended with the tree lighting in North Straub Park.

What this means for you

  • Saturday, Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m., Albert Whitted Park to 5th Avenue NE, then the tree.
  • Arrive early: Shopapalooza and Small Business Saturday share the day downtown.
  • Floats and groups must register by Tuesday, Nov. 17.
  • More dates are in things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the St. Petersburg Santa Parade in 2026?

The 98th Annual Santa Parade and Tree Lighting is Saturday, Nov. 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The parade starts at 6:30 p.m., the city’s Parks and Recreation Department says.

What is the St. Pete Santa Parade route?

It starts at Albert Whitted Park and runs along Bayshore Drive to 5th Avenue NE, the city says. The tree lighting follows in North Straub Park.

What time is the St. Petersburg tree lighting?

There is no fixed time. The city says the tree is lit in North Straub Park, 400 Bayshore Drive NE, immediately after the parade ends.

How do I enter a float in the St. Pete Santa Parade?

Organizations, community groups and businesses apply online through the Parks and Recreation holiday events page. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Where can kids meet Santa in St. Petersburg?

Santa is in North Straub Park from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 and Dec. 18 to 23, free, the city says, and at S’mores with Santa at Boyd Hill on Friday, Dec. 11.