The 56th Annual Schenectady County Holiday Parade presented by MVP Healthcare
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025
The Northeast's largest nighttime holiday parade!
A storied holiday tradition! Schenectady County welcomes the holiday season in Downtown Schenectady with sparkling floats, glittering firetrucks, marching bands, dance troupes, and a special visit from Santa Claus. It's fun for the whole family. Gather with friends, family, and neighbors along the parade route, take a stroll along State Street, grab a hot coccoa or a bite to eat at your favorite Downtown restaurant, and start your holiday shopping on Jay Street. Come early and enjoy live music in the streets of Schenectady!
Let's celebrate the best of what makes New York and Schenectady County a great place to live, work, and play.
Announcing The Grand Marshals
The County Legislature is thrilled to announce that Schenectady Shares will lead the 2025 Schenectady County Holiday Parade as the Grand Marshal. This incredible volunteer network supports over 20 local food providers, helping families across the county get the nutritious food and essentials they need. Their teamwork and generosity truly capture the spirit of the season — and of our community! Their commitment to provide much needed food to the entire county makes them the perfect choice to lead this year's parade.
What to Expect
The pre-parade Holiday block party
Starting at 3pm enjoy live entertainment, festive treats, and holiday fun for all ages!
Enjoy:
And don’t forget to Sip & Shop through the Jay Street Holiday Marketplace as you explore downtown.
A Second Grand Stand On Lower State Street
A second grandstand will be added to the parade route on Lower State Street near the corner of State and South Ferry Streets. Sponsored by National Grid, this new viewing area will feature emcees Stan from the gazette and Shen from the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. Together, they will provide live commentary and insights to enrich your parade experience.
A Sensory-Friendly Space
A designated space inside the GE Theatre at Proctors will provide neurodiverse individuals and their families a comfortable environment to enjoy the festivities. Partnering again with Crossroads Center for Children, and new this year, Bring on the Spectrum (BOTS) will be participating. The space will be open from 3:00 p.m., when the pre-parade party begins, through the end of the parade, and will offer tools and resources to support regulation for both adults and children. A separate area in the GE Theatre will also be available for veterans and their families to enjoy the parade in a comfortable setting.
Veterans Division
All military veterans and their families are invited to join this year’s Veterans Division—open to both groups and individuals. Celebrate service, community, and the spirit of the season.
Holiday Tree Lighting
Gather at State Street & Jay Street at 4:45 PM for the official lighting of the City of Schenectady Holiday Tree—a magical moment before the parade begins.
Parade Kickoff
5:00 PM • State Street & Washington Ave (near SUNY Schenectady)
The parade steps off with over 100 illuminated floats and thousands of marchers. Leading the way is Schenectady Shares, this year’s Grand Marshals.
✨ Sparkling Floats
Dozens of brightly decorated and illuminated floats created by local volunteers.
🚒 Glittering Firetrucks
Firetrucks, police cars, snowplows, and more—decked out in holiday lights.
🎺 Festive Marching Bands
Local marching bands and musicians performing your favorite holiday tunes.
💃 Spectacular Dancers
Dance troupes showcasing high-energy, holiday-inspired routines.
🎅 Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Santa and Mrs. Claus make their first official stop of the season in Schenectady—spreading cheer and reminding everyone to stay kind and festive.
Where to Eat
Our food options range from classic Italian bistros, to Mediterranean, Asian Fusion and everything imaginable in between! Check out our website, for a list of restaurants in Schenectady County!
Where to Drink
Whether you are looking to enjoy a glass of wine, or a flight of craft beer at one of our five first-class breweries, there is no shortage of places to grab a drink in Schenectady County before or after the show. Visit our website for a list of places to grab a drink in Schenectady County!
Where to Stay
Our unique hotels offer options for everybody and every budget. Discover all that Schenectady has to offer for places to stay!
Schenectady County Holiday Events
The Schenectady County Holiday Parade is the official kick-off of everything holiday! Check out other holiday themed events like the Festival of Trees, Chanukah on Jay, Northeast Ballet's Annual the Nutcracker at Proctors, and much more!
Download Our Destination Guide!
From hot spots to hidden gems, our guide to everything you need to explore and enjoy Schenectady County! Download a copy of our Visitor Guide before your visit!
We can't wait to see you in Schenectady County! Plan your trip today!
