Christmas marches into Appleton during the 39th Annual Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade November 24. Held every year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the parade is the largest nighttime Christmas parade in Wisconsin.
Regular parade-goers know to mark their spot along College Avenue early, then head out to their favorite downtown Appleton restaurants for dinner. The parade begins at State Street, follows along College Ave. and ends at Drew Street. Nearly 50,000 people, bundled in winter coats and snuggled under blankets, watch, listen, and enjoy the spectacle of nearly 75 parade units, including floats, fire trucks, and flames. Along with those attending, over 100,000 watch the event live on WFRV-TV 5, Green Bay and WJMN-TV 3 from Escanaba, Michigan.
The street echoes with music and merriment as seventeen marching bands and costumed performers stream by under a canopy of gold tinsel angels and the November night sky. Children await a glimpse of the guest of honor, all the way from the North Pole.
Following the parade, Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna and Parade Marshall Jay Schumerth will lead the Annual City of Appleton Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in City Park. The ceremony will feature a chorus of Christmas carols by the Appleton Boychoir and a community sing-along, beginning at approximately 7:45 pm.
The theme of this year’s parade is “A Child’s Christmas,” but children and grownups alike will delight when Santa Claus closes the parade by wishing everyone a hearty “Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!”
Tags: Appleton Christmas parade, Appleton Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, downtown Appleton restaurants
