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.

In 2024 the parade happened on Saturday, November 30th.

TIP: Other events you’ll likely want to attend in the Squamish region during the holiday season include Squamish at Dusk, 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. That being said, it’s still very much a Santa Claus-themed event. There are inflatable St. Nick’s 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. From start to finish, the parade takes between about 30 and 45 minutes. Most of the floats are made by local businesses and community organizations. Some floats are full of lights and decorated vehicles, while others include people in costumes. There’s also a competition for best float, with a charitable donation going to the winning group.

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

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 takes place on a Saturday in late November or early December. In 2024 it was on November 30th. Festivities kicked off at 3:00 pm and continued until around 8:00 pm. The most recent parade was supposed to start at between around 5:00 and 5:15 pm, but actually started slightly later. After the parade finished, there were other activities (including opportunities to visit Santa).

Squamish Restaurant Decorations — Christmas Decorations in Downtown Squamish

Parade Route

The Holiday Parade is held in downtown Squamish. In years past, the parade began near the corner of 3rd and Pemberton Avenue. It then travelled south down Cleveland Avenue and concluded around Main Street.

The route the last couple years (including 2024) is a little different. While it still travels down Cleveland Avenue, it goes north instead! The parade begins at the Log Sort on Galbraith Avenue, turns onto Cleveland Avenue and then finishes at Pemberton Avenue.

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 about 90 minutes. Dress warmly and be prepared for whatever the forecast is.

TIP #2: The Holiday Parade typically doesn’t include Santa Claus. For folks wanting to meet and take photos with the man in red in 2023, they could visit the Whistler Fireplace Company between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on the same day as the parade. The building is located at 1201 Commercial Way, which is only about five minutes away. Admission to the Holly Jolly Photos with Santa event last year was by donation. Whether or not it happens in 2024 is TBD as of early November. If it does, be sure to reserve a timeslot in advance online to guarantee a family photo.

TIP #3: 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 on November 30th in 2024.

TIP #4: Another awesome attraction with Christmas activities is the Britannia Mine Museum. It’s located about a 15-minute drive south of Squamish. This year, its Photos with Santa event happens on December 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th in 2024.