2023 Christmas Parade Line-Up & Information:
Thank you for your interest in the 2023 City of Waukesha Christmas Parade - it's our 60th anniversary! We begin the parade with a remembrance lantern walk of silence, transition to spectacular floats from local community groups/organizations, and finish with Santa & Mrs. Claus!
Staging Information:
- All staging will occur at the Lee Sherman Dreyfus State Office Building (official address is 141 NW Barstow, Waukesha). However, all parade participants are required to enter the State Office Building parking lot on Union Street (Union Street is across the parking lot opposite Barstow). Please use St. Paul Avenue to access Union Street. There will be no entry into the parking lot off Barstow.
- Vehicle entry to the State Office Building parking lot will begin at 1:30 PM and end at 2:50 PM.
- All parade participants must in IN PLACE by 3:00 PM.
- Upon arrival, parade volunteers will be available on Union Street to check you in and direct you to your staging space. Please look for a volunteer when you turn onto Union Street from St. Paul Avenue.
Walkers:
- Please note, there is no entry into the State Office Building parking lot to drop off walkers - walkers can be dropped off on St. Paul Avenue, State Office Building side of the street, just before Union Street, if it is safe to do so. School busses - please drop off walkers on St. Paul Avenue near Union Street as well, and then proceed to designated pick up area at end of route. If you are a walker and are parking your car nearby, please use any of the City parking lots downtown as well as the Transit Center at 212 E. St. Paul Avenue, along with other generally accepted parking during large community events.
Sorry, there is no transportation provided by the City of Waukesha Chamber for walkers at the end of the parade. Please consider your parking placement and know that you will need to walk back to your vehicle.
Hospitality:
- Along the front of the State Office Building, tables will be set up to check in volunteers, provide information and a snack for participants. This is being provided by Summit Woods/Capri Communities and Home Federal Savings Bank. Stop by and say HI!
Weather:
- There is no warming area available as the State Office Building will be closed. Please bring enough layers to go ice fishing with your grandfather . . . but then come to the parade instead . . . ;)
Parade Day Information:
- CANDY: No throwing of candy is allowed in the parade. Candy may be handed out along the sides. This is a serious safety issue due to children running into the street to collect fallen candy. Units throwing candy will not be allowed to return.
- DRIVERS: Unit/float drivers are responsible for their vehicles and the safety of the people around them and possess a valid driver's license appropriate for the vehicle. Individual units may be held liable in the event of an accident.
- WALKERS: For everyone's safety, please ask your participants to walk along-side vehicles, not in front or in back. Do not get on or off your float/vehicle during the parade.
- ROUTE: Units must maintain 30 feet between each other and must continue to move forward. If the parade stops, fill the gap to 30 feet. Units may not stop to perform. Delaying the parade will be cause for removal.
- SIRENS: No vehicles may use horns or sirens throughout the parade route. If you DO hear an emergency vehicle, move immediately to the right side of the road.
- ANIMALS: Animals are not allowed in the parade (unless part of a pre-approved float).
- POLITICAL SIGNS: No political and/or campaign signs are allowed.
- END OF PARADE: If your unit does not need to disband, exit the parade by proceeding on Maple Avenue. If you need to disband, turn left onto Carroll Street and park or move into the Library parking lot. Please DO NOT STOP on Maple Avenue.
NOTE: The City of Waukesha Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to pull units from the parade if they are deemed inappropriate or if they create a safety hazard.
Thank you all for participating in this, our 60th Anniversary City of Waukesha Christmas Parade! It will be an amazing day for the City of Waukesha community . . . smile, wave, and enjoy the parade!
- All staging will occur at the Lee Sherman Dreyfus State Office Building (official address is 141 NW Barstow, Waukesha). However, all parade participants are required to enter the State Office Building parking lot on Union Street (Union Street is across the parking lot opposite Barstow). Please use St. Paul Avenue to access Union Street. There will be no entry into the parking lot off Barstow.
- Vehicle entry to the State Office Building parking lot will begin at 1:30 PM and end at 2:50 PM.
- All parade participants must in IN PLACE by 3:00 PM.
- Upon arrival, parade volunteers will be available on Union Street to check you in and direct you to your staging space. Please look for a volunteer when you turn onto Union Street from St. Paul Avenue.
Walkers:
- Please note, there is no entry into the State Office Building parking lot to drop off walkers - walkers can be dropped off on St. Paul Avenue, State Office Building side of the street, just before Union Street, if it is safe to do so. School busses - please drop off walkers on St. Paul Avenue near Union Street as well, and then proceed to designated pick up area at end of route. If you are a walker and are parking your car nearby, please use any of the City parking lots downtown as well as the Transit Center at 212 E. St. Paul Avenue, along with other generally accepted parking during large community events.
Sorry, there is no transportation provided by the City of Waukesha Chamber for walkers at the end of the parade. Please consider your parking placement and know that you will need to walk back to your vehicle.
Hospitality:
- Along the front of the State Office Building, tables will be set up to check in volunteers, provide information and a snack for participants. This is being provided by Summit Woods/Capri Communities and Home Federal Savings Bank. Stop by and say HI!
Weather:
- There is no warming area available as the State Office Building will be closed. Please bring enough layers to go ice fishing with your grandfather . . . but then come to the parade instead . . . ;)
Parade Day Information:
- CANDY: No throwing of candy is allowed in the parade. Candy may be handed out along the sides. This is a serious safety issue due to children running into the street to collect fallen candy. Units throwing candy will not be allowed to return.
- DRIVERS: Unit/float drivers are responsible for their vehicles and the safety of the people around them and possess a valid driver's license appropriate for the vehicle. Individual units may be held liable in the event of an accident.
- WALKERS: For everyone's safety, please ask your participants to walk along-side vehicles, not in front or in back. Do not get on or off your float/vehicle during the parade.
- ROUTE: Units must maintain 30 feet between each other and must continue to move forward. If the parade stops, fill the gap to 30 feet. Units may not stop to perform. Delaying the parade will be cause for removal.
- SIRENS: No vehicles may use horns or sirens throughout the parade route. If you DO hear an emergency vehicle, move immediately to the right side of the road.
- ANIMALS: Animals are not allowed in the parade (unless part of a pre-approved float).
- POLITICAL SIGNS: No political and/or campaign signs are allowed.
- END OF PARADE: If your unit does not need to disband, exit the parade by proceeding on Maple Avenue. If you need to disband, turn left onto Carroll Street and park or move into the Library parking lot. Please DO NOT STOP on Maple Avenue.
NOTE: The City of Waukesha Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to pull units from the parade if they are deemed inappropriate or if they create a safety hazard.
Thank you all for participating in this, our 60th Anniversary City of Waukesha Christmas Parade! It will be an amazing day for the City of Waukesha community . . . smile, wave, and enjoy the parade!