Love holiday parades? If so, below is a list of a few taking place across Southwest Arkansas this year. Enjoy!
In Magnolia, their annual Christmas Parade takes place November 30. The route travels down Jackson Street to Southern Arkansas University and afterwards, the university will be the scene of their annual Celebration of Lights. The downtown courthouse will also be covered in lights at this time.
A parade in De Queen will be December 2. The event will have floats, antique cars, tractors, horses, marching groups, and an appearance by Santa. Vendors and music will be on the courthouse lawn before the parade.
Also on December 2 will be Mena’s Christmas Parade of Lights, which includes a 1 mile route. The route leads to Janssen Park at 601 7th Street, where there will be holiday festivities, fireworks, live music, and the official lighting ceremony of the park’s Christmas display.
On December 4, you can catch the Main Street Texarkana Christmas Parade which will be downtown. There will be more than 100 lighted floats, marching bands, and live camels are scheduled to lead the parade.
For those with pups, the Jingle Dogs Pup Parade will be December 4 at Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. On this night, well-behaved dogs on a short leash will be allowed admission to the Garden’s Holiday Lights. There will be a pup parade around the Great Lawn beginning at 5 p.m. and you can get photos with your pup and Santa from 6-8 p.m.
The Hot Springs Christmas Parade will also be in town on December 4 starting at 6:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “The Magic of Christmas.” and Maxwell Blade, master illusionist of the Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic, is going to be the grand marshal this year.
Disney Christmas is this year’s theme for the Ashdown Christmas Parade which will take place on December 5. While here you can see the impressive lights on the Little River County Courthouse, which will be up through January 1.
El Dorado’s downtown is a national historic district that hosts beautifully renovated 1920s and 1930s style buildings and a quiet charm. The holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy the city. Holiday lights shine at the courthouse, city hall and throughout the town until the end of the year and the largest Christmas parade in South Arkansas is here on December 7. The first phase of the Murphy Arts District (MAD),development project is now open. The district centers on a state-of-the art music, entertainment and restaurant complex.
The Fordyce Christmas Parade is also on December 7 and along with the parade there will be a Chili Cook Off.
Rounding out the parade lineup is the Prescott Christmas Parade on December 7 which will be downtown on 2nd Street. After the parade, there will be a Christmas on the Square event with Christmas carolers, hot cocoa and photos with Santa.