Squamish Holiday Parade

The Holiday Parade is an annual event in Squamish. It’s a celebration of all special occasions in winter including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and more.

The parade usually happens on the last Saturday of November. Last year, however, it took place on December 6th.

TIP: Other events you might also want to attend in the Squamish region during the holiday season include Photos With Santa at Britannia Mine and the North Pole Express at the Railway Museum of BC.

Holiday Parade in Squamish

Several parades happen in communities across Metro Vancouver during the holiday season. Most of the events have a distinct Christmas theme. The Holiday Parade in Squamish claims to be inclusive to all faiths and celebrations, and it is. It used to be called the Squamish Santa Claus Parade, but not anymore. However, it’s still very much a Santa Claus-themed event. There are inflatable St. Nicks on about 25% of the entries and the final float has Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Hosted by the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association, there are usually more than 40 floats featured in the procession. The parade lasts about an hour from start to finish. Local businesses and community organizations make most of the floats. Some floats feature lights and decorated vehicles, while others showcase people in costumes. There’s also a competition for best float, with a charitable donation going to the winning group.

The parade in Squamish doesn’t feature any marching bands (or at least not when we’ve been), unlike some other similar parades elsewhere in the Lower Mainland.

Whether you’re looking to celebrate Christmas, Yule, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, or any other special day, this event is worth checking out. The Holiday Parade is a fun and family-friendly celebration attended by thousands of people each year.

The Holiday Parade normally takes place on a Saturday in late November or early December. Festivities in past years have kicked off at 3:00 pm and continued until around 8:00 pm. Last year’s parade started at around 5:15 pm and continued until about 6:15 pm.

Squamish Restaurant Decorations — Christmas Decorations in Downtown Squamish

Parade Route

The Holiday Parade is held in downtown Squamish. The route over the past three years began at the Log Sort on Galbraith Avenue, turned onto Cleveland Avenue and then finished at Pemberton Avenue.

In previous years, the parade began near the corner of 3rd and Pemberton Avenue. It then travelled south down Cleveland Avenue and concluded around Main Street.

Tips & Advice

The following tips should help you make the most of your experience at the event.

TIP #1: The Holiday Parade is an outdoor celebration. It usually runs for a bit over an hour. Dress warmly and be prepared for whatever the forecast is.

TIP #2: While in the area, another event worth checking out is the North Pole Express Railway. It’s a Christmas-themed train ride at West Coast Railway Heritage Park that also takes place at the end of November.

TIP #3: Another great attraction with Christmas activities is the Britannia Mine Museum. It’s located about a 15-minute drive south of Squamish. Last year, its Photos with Santa event happened on December 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th.

Britannia Mine Museum