Parade Schedule

Beginning at 2:00 PM, "Holiday Fun Zone presented by XTO Energy" will take place in the Chisholm Trail parking lots between 3rd and 4th Streets.  Enjoy entertainment, children's holiday craft-making and food and delicious coffee from Starbucks. 

Cowboy Santas will take to the parade route at about 5:15 PM, and will collect toys for needy children. Everyone is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy (for up to 12 years of age) to give to the Cowboy Santas prior to the parade to help give kids around Fort Worth a brighter holiday!   For more than 20 years, the city has gathered, sorted and helped distribute toys throughout Tarrant County to children of families with income at or below 15% of poverty income guidelines.  Toy donations must be new.  Items that pose a health or safety risk cannot be accepted, including toys that represent violence.

The Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights presented by CHASE begins at 6:00 PM and starts at Belknap Street and Throckmorton Street, proceeds along Belknap to Commerce St., south on Commerce to 6th St., west on 6th Street to Houston St. and then north to Weatherford St. 

The lighting of the Sundance Square Christmas Tree will take place immediately following the parade, and afterwards kids can have their photos taken with Santa Claus, supporting the Fort Worth Sister Cities Youth Scholarships Program.  Bring your chair to the Chisholm Trail parking lot to see an special viewing of a holiday movie, TBAl.  Avoid the traffic rush after the parade and enjoy a few more moments downtown.

Schedule of Activities:

  • 2:00 PM - 6:00PM - Holiday Fun Zone presented by XTO Energy opens at the Chisholm Trail Parking area, between 3rd and 4th Streets downtown.
  • 4:30 PM - Come early to get a great seat, enjoy some hot chocolate, and visit the shops of Sundance Square (or purchase reserved seating).  There will be entertainment along the parade route.
    •
  • 5:30 PM - Cowboy Santas step off and travel along the parade route to collect toys for needy children. Bring an unwrapped toy!
  • 6:00 PM - Parade begins featuring over 100 illuminated entries. 
  • Grand Marshal - Pam and Billy Minick from Billy Bob's Texas!
  • 2009 Parade floats from - Chesapeake Energy, CHASE, Texas Rangers, XTO Energy and, of course, Santa's arrival on the Downtown Fort Worth Inc. float! 
  • Entries featuring community groups and supporters from around Fort Worth. 
  • Radio personalities from Mix, KISS and Lone Star on our announcer stands!
  • 7:00 PM - Santa begins his trip around the parade route on a specially designed float.
  • 7:35 PM - Lighting of the Sundance Square Christmas Tree on Main Street between 3rd and 4th Streets, featuring a skit from downtown's own 4-Day Weekend comedy group.
  • 7:45 PM - Photos with Santa, benefiting Fort Worth Sister Cities youth scholarship programs, continuing until 10:00 PM.
  • 7:45 PM - Holiday Movie TBA shown on a giant screen in the Chisholm Trail parking lot.  Bring your own chair or take your reserved chair over to the movie!

Watch for our elves selling bright lights before and during the parade. Special hand-held lights will be available for purchase, and we're hoping to have thousands of illuminated viewers along the parade route to make this the most spectacular parade in America.