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Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade 2026 (Dec. 12): Time, Route and Parking

The 34th Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade is Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 5:30 to 7 p.m., free: route, parking, kids tips and what else is on that week.

By Hank Whitlock·Updated ·7 min read
Forsyth Park fountain in Savannah, Georgia, with red Christmas bows and garland on the fence and lamp posts

Short answer

The 34th Annual Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade is Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and it is free. It starts at Plant Riverside District on the west end of River Street, goes to the East Broad Ramp, then winds through downtown along Bay, Lincoln, Broughton and Jefferson Streets.

The date, time, route and “free and open to the public” come from Savannah’s Waterfront, the organizer, on its event listing. Things the organizer has not published yet are marked “not yet announced – we check weekly.” The parade is a different event from the Savannah Lighted Boat Parade on the river, which is two weeks earlier, on November 28.

Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade 2026 at a glance

QuestionAnswer
When?Saturday, December 12, 2026, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Where?Downtown Savannah. It begins at Plant Riverside District on the west end of River Street
CostFree and open to the public, per the organizer
RoutePlant Riverside District, then the East Broad Ramp, then Bay, Lincoln, Broughton and Jefferson Streets
What you will seeCommunity floats, cars, trolleys, walking groups and more, every entry covered in Christmas lights
OrganizerSavannah’s Waterfront, a Christmas on the River signature event
Street closures, rain plan, parade order, best viewing spotsNot yet announced – we check weekly

What is the Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade?

The organizer calls it a “longtime regional holiday tradition” and a “signature Christmas on the River event.” Local floats, cars, trolleys and walking groups roll through downtown after dark, and the rule for entries is that each one must be “completely covered in Christmas lights.”

The 2026 parade is the 34th annual. After the 2024 parade, the organizer wrote on its parade page that it had “over 50 entries – marching bands, vibrant floats, merry dancing groups, and more” and gave trophies for best walking group, best vehicle, best musical group and best float. The 2026 entry list and parade order are not yet announced – we check weekly.

What time does the Christmas street parade start?

The parade runs from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2026, according to the organizer. The listing gives one window for the whole parade, not a time for when it reaches each street, so we can’t say when the first float passes any one spot. Plan to be in place before 5:30 p.m.

What is the Savannah Christmas parade route?

Per the organizer, the parade “begins at Plant Riverside District on the west end of River Street, proceeds to the East Broad Ramp, then winds through downtown along Bay, Lincoln, Broughton, and Jefferson Streets.” That is the organizer’s wording and the only route description it has published for 2026. A route map and the street closures are not yet announced – we check weekly.

Where is the best place to watch?

The organizer has not named official viewing spots or reserved areas, and no source ranks the route. What the route itself tells you:

  • Plant Riverside District (west end of River Street): where the parade begins. The Savannah Christmas Market is open there the same evening, so it is the easiest place to pair the parade with food, lights and shopping.
  • Along Bay Street and Broughton Street: both are named on the route.
  • Anywhere on the route works, because the organizer describes a single line of entries moving through downtown. Which side of the street gets the best view and where the crowds gather is not stated anywhere we found.

How do you get there and where do you park?

  • Plant Riverside Garage: 500 West River Street, with access to Plant Riverside District and West River Street, per the organizer’s River Street FAQ. Its event-night rate is not yet announced – we check weekly.
  • Eastern Wharf Parking Garage: 301 Passage Way, run by the City of Savannah, 696 spaces. The park’s getting here page says it is open 24/7, costs a $10 flat rate on weekends, and takes cards only, no cash. December 12 is a Saturday. The River Street FAQ adds that “rates may be subject to change for special events.” We have not found whether the garage is within easy walking distance of the parade route.
  • Street parking: metered spaces near Eastern Wharf are enforced 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, per that same page. The parade is 5:30 to 7 p.m. on a Saturday, so meters are in force the whole time.
  • Savannah Belles Ferry: free rides between River Street and Hutchinson Island, running 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, per the River Street FAQ. The parade ends at 7 p.m., so the ferry is still running afterward.
  • Driving on River Street: it is one-way, west to east, with ramps from Bay Street (Barnard, Bull, Abercorn, Lincoln and East Broad) on cobblestone, per the River Street FAQ. Whether any streets or ramps close for the parade is not yet announced – we check weekly.
Driving to Savannah fromMilesDrive time (no traffic)
Jacksonville, Fla.1382h 35m
Atlanta2484h 34m
Charlotte, N.C.2524h 48m

Free-flow OpenStreetMap routing to Savannah (collected September 29, 2026), with no traffic model. Allow more time on a December Saturday. Full table: Georgia drive times.

Is the Savannah Christmas parade good for kids?

It is a free, early-evening, family parade, and the organizer’s own invitation is to “celebrate the holidays with friends and family.” Some practical points, with what we could and could not find:

  • It is short: the whole parade is a 90-minute window, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  • It starts after dark in December: that is the point of the lights, but it means a cold, crowded street at night. Keep young children close, and agree on a meeting spot before you go.
  • Strollers and seating: the organizer does not say anything about either for the parade. The River Street FAQ lists public outdoor elevators at The Alida (West), between the Hyatt Regency and City Hall (Central) and at the AC Hotel (East), for the climb between River Street and Bay Street.
  • Warming up afterward: the Savannah Christmas Market at Plant Riverside District is open until 9 p.m.

Can you bring a dog to the Christmas street parade?

The organizer does not publish a dog policy for the parade. Dogs on a crowded street at night, with marching bands and sirens, is a decision for you and your dog; we have no official rule to cite. Whether pets are allowed along the route is not yet announced – we check weekly.

What should you wear to the Savannah Christmas parade?

NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for Savannah International Airport give December an average high of 63.7°F and an average low of 42.6°F, and about 3.21 inches of rain (Georgia weather by month). Those are monthly averages, not a forecast for December 12. The parade is after sunset, so plan for the low end of that range: a coat, gloves for children and something rain-proof. We have no official rain-date policy to cite yet.

What else is happening nearby that week?

FAQ

When is the Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade in 2026?

Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., according to Savannah’s Waterfront, the organizer. It is the 34th annual parade.

Is the Savannah Christmas parade free?

Yes. The organizer’s listing says “Admission is free and open to the public.” Parking, food and drinks are not included.

What is the Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade route?

It begins at Plant Riverside District on the west end of River Street, proceeds to the East Broad Ramp, then winds through downtown along Bay, Lincoln, Broughton and Jefferson Streets, per the organizer.

What is in the Savannah Christmas parade?

Community floats, cars, trolleys, walking groups and more, every entry covered in Christmas lights. The 2024 parade had more than 50 entries, including marching bands, per the organizer. The 2026 lineup is not yet announced.

Where do you park for the Savannah Christmas parade?

The Plant Riverside Garage (500 West River Street) and the City’s Eastern Wharf Garage (301 Passage Way, $10 flat on weekends, card only) are the two the organizer and the park name. Event rates may change, per the organizer.

How long is the Savannah Christmas parade?

The listed window is 90 minutes, 5:30 to 7 p.m. The organizer has not published a time for when the parade reaches each street.

Will streets be closed for the parade?

Not yet announced. We check weekly and update this guide when the organizer or the city publishes closures.

How we checked this guide: Dates, hours, admission and parking prices, and access details were verified against the official sources listed below on . Operators change schedules and raise prices without notice, so confirm anything time-sensitive before you drive. The figures in this guide also feed our Georgia Attraction Transparency Index and Family Day-Out Cost Index.

Sources

Checked on against Savannah’s Waterfront. Times, parking and street closures can change; we re-check this guide every week until December 12.

Coming up near Savannah

Places nearby

Straight-line distance from Plant Riverside District and downtown Savannah, not driving miles. Events within 40 miles, places within 25; “about” means measured from a town centre.

Every Georgia event on the calendar

About Hank Whitlock

Hank Whitlock is the pen name of the It's Georgia editor. Every guide is built around the questions a busy family actually asks before a trip: how long is the drive, what does parking cost, can the stroller make it, are dogs allowed. Details are checked against official park, city, and venue sources, and each guide shows the date it was last updated.

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Cite this page: It's Georgia, “Savannah Lighted Christmas Street Parade 2026 (Dec. 12): Time, Route and Parking”, itsgeorgia.com/events/savannah-christmas-street-parade/ (updated ). Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page.