Mobile's Christmas and Holiday Parade Ready to Roll this Saturday

Dec 11th, 2012

Santa Claus is coming to…DOWNTOWN MOBILE!! This Saturday, December 15, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., the streets of downtown Mobile will once again ring with holiday cheer as the City’s annual Christmas & Holiday parade entertains kids from “1 to 92” with giant balloons, bands, colorful holiday floats, and, of course, the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus!

Mobile’s Christmas & Holiday Parade is sponsored by the City of Mobile and local companies including Austal USA, Briggs Equipment, the Bicentennial Commission of Mobile County, Downtown Historic District Hampton Inn & Suites, wellbornideas, WALA Fox 10/Studio 10, and many more. The parade will feature holiday music performed by local high school marching bands from Murphy, Alma Bryant, and Davidson, as well as talented marching band units from a number of the City’s community centers. Other groups participating in the parade are the Azalea Trail Maids, the Mobile International Festival, the Crewmates of the U.S.S. Alabama, and the always popular street units from the Abba Shrine. But, that’s not all, enjoy vintage vehicles, scouts, school group performances, and local dance troupes.

In addition to the parade, this year you can also enjoy Christmas Kids Day activities and a Holiday Market on the Square, both located along the parade route at Cathedral Square. The Holiday Market on the Square will run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and will feature fresh fruits, breads, and pastas, along with hand-crafted items by local artisan and craftsmen, all perfect for your holiday parties and gift giving. Fun, free activities for the kids will include such things as face painting, karaoke, balloon sculpting clowns, and a holiday themed craft project. Christmas Kids Day activities will begin at 12 noon and last until 3 p.m.

The parade will start at the Mobile Civic Center on Claiborne Street, take a right on Government Street, a left on Royal Street, a left on Dauphin Street, and finally a left on Claiborne Street, finishing back at the Civic Center. Streets on the downtown parade route will close at 12:30 p.m. All vehicles parked along the parade route should be moved two hours prior to the parade start.