39th Annual Holiday Parade

2024 Parade Theme: Out of this world holidays

The Holiday Parade is a long-time tradition for the Billings community to usher in the holiday season on the Friday after Thanksgiving. With families gathered for the weekend to eat and shop, the Holiday Parade is a great way to celebrate the season by joining the community to see over 70 holiday floats decorated in theme for the holidays with Santa riding as the parade finale.

register a parade entry here

Application deadline: Wednesday Nov. 13, 2024 4:00pm (MST)/ 6:00 pm (EST)

Please read the Float Guidelines and other resources below.  

This year’s parade is presented by our Downtown Billings team and AVA Law Group. and supported by our Downtown for the Holiday’s sponsor White Heating & Air Conditioning and event sponsors Valley Credit Union, TDS Fiber, Heenan and Cook Trial Lawyers, Bravera, Classic Hits, My 105.9, 96.3 The Zone, Planet 106.7 , and KSKY 94.1. ⁠

Resources

The parade route used for the holiday parade was introduced in 2021, the parade route does not cross N. 27th St. The route begins at 2nd Ave. N. and N. 32nd St.(near Granite Tower). The route heads east on 2nd Ave. N. (toward Skypoint), turns north (left) on N. Broadway, and turns west (left) in one block onto 3rd Ave. N., ending at N. 32nd St.

The float staging are takes place on streets just west of the parade starting point (between Division and N. 32nd St.). View a detailed map of the staging area in the Participation Packet info below.

Parade Route Map

  1. Parade Instructions
  2. Float Guidelines
  3. Parade Waiver & Code of Conduct
  4. Parade Safety Message: No Handout Policy 
  5. Route Map

Line-up & Staging details below will be made available the week prior to the event!

If you are available to lend a hand from 4:45pm to 7:30pm before the parade please  email lexiem@downtownbillings.com!
If you are interested in sponsoring the Downtown Billings holidays happenings email our Communications Director, Lindsay at LRichardson@downtownbillings.com and she can share current sponsorship opportunities.

2023 – Home for the Holidays

  • Best Overall Entry – Engels & Völkers
  • Best Float – Billings Federal Credit Union
  • Best Musical Entry – Young Life
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – For the Blank
  • Best Costumes – Magic City Witch Dancers
  • Best performers – Harvest Church
  • Most Original Entry – City of Billings MET Transit
  • DBA Staff Favorite – Lil’ Market Groceries

2022 – Holiday Movies

  • Best Overall Entry – Advanced Employment
  • Best Float – American Medical Response, Billings
  • Best Musical Entry – Plenty Coups High School Indian Club
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – Cunningham Family
  • Best Costumes – For the Blank
  • Best performers – Magic City Majorettes
  • Most Original Entry – Montana State University Billings
  • DBA Staff Favorite – City of Billings MET Transit

2021 – Cartoon Celebration

  • Best Overall Entry – Light the World
  • Best Float – Sons of Norway, Jotunheimen Lodge
  • Best Musical Entry – Caledonian Pipes & Drums
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – Altana Credit Union
  • Best Costumes – City of Billings MET Transit
  • Best performers – Plenty Coups High School Indian Club
  • Most Original Entry – Optimist Clubs of Yellowstone County
  • DBA Staff Favorite – Auto Recovery Towing

2019 – Let it Snow

  • Best Overall Entry – KTVQ – Q2 News
  • Best Float – Light the World
  • Best Musical Entry – New Life Church Children’s Choir
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – KTVQ- Q2 News
  • Best Costumes – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
  • Best performers – Movement Montana
  • Most Original Entry – White Aspen Ranch
  • DBA Staff Favorite – Big Sky Country RC Addicts

2018 – Holiday’s Around the World

  • Best Overall Entry – Santa’s Sleigh, Darwin & Theresa George
  • Best Float – Sons of Norway, Jotunheimen Lodge
  • Best Musical Entry – Crow Fair, 2019 Crow Royalty
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – Pioneer Oil
  • Best Costumes – Troy’s Grooming
  • Best performers – Movement Montana
  • Most Original Entry – Rivers Ridge Landscaping Co.
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  • Posted on: September 5, 2024

37th Annual Holiday Parade

The Holiday Parade is a long-time tradition for the Billings community to usher in the holiday season on the Friday after Thanksgiving. With families gathered for the weekend to eat and shop, the Holiday Parade is a great way to celebrate the season by joining the community to see over 60 holiday floats decorated for the holiday theme with Santa riding as the parade finale. Broadcasted live on Community 7 Television. 

This year’s parade is presented by out team at the Downtown Billings Alliance and TDS Fiber and supported by Community Seven Television, White Heating & Air Conditioning, Classic Hits, My 105.9, 96.3 The Zone, Planet 106.7 , and KSKY 94.1. 

Graphic for Billings Holiday Parade on Friday, November 25 2022. 37th Annual parade is presented by Downtown Billings and TDS Fiber. The event details and registration is on downtownbillings.com event page

Click for printable Parade Line-Up 

 

Parade Theme

2022 theme: Holiday Movie

All entries are required to decorate for the holiday theme. Avoid any plain vehicles or trailers from being part of your parade entry. DO NOT include a Santa in your entry as the one and only Santa in the parade sits on the float that closes the parade each year.

Parade Safety Message – Please Read!

Resources

A new parade route was introduced in 2021, the parade route no longer crosses N. 27th St. The new route begins at 2nd Ave. N. and N. 32nd St.(near Granite Tower). The route heads east on 2nd Ave. N. (toward Skypoint), turns north (left) on N. Broadway, and turns west (left) in one block onto 3rd Ave. N., ending at N. 32nd St.

The float staging are takes place on streets just west of the parade starting point (between Division and N. 32nd St.). View a detailed map of the staging area in the Participation Packet info below.

Parade Route Map

If you are available to lend a hand from 4:45pm to 7:30pm before the parade please click here or email Frontdesk@downtownbillings.com!
If you are interested in sponsoring the Downtown Billings holidays happenings email our Community Engagment & Events Director, Lindsay at LRichardson@downtownbillings.com and she can share current sponsorship opportunities.

2022 – Holiday Movies

  • Best Overall Entry – Advanced Employment
  • Best Float – American Medical Response, Billings
  • Best Musical Entry – Plenty Coups High School Indian Club
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – Cunningham Family
  • Best Costumes – For the Blank
  • Best performers – Magic City Majorettes
  • Most Original Entry – Montana State University Billings
  • DBA Staff Favorite – City of Billings MET Transit

2021 – Cartoon Celebration

  • Best Overall Entry – Light the World
  • Best Float – Sons of Norway, Jotunheimen Lodge
  • Best Musical Entry – Caledonian Pipes & Drums
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – Altana Credit Union
  • Best Costumes – City of Billings MET Transit
  • Best performers – Plenty Coups High School Indian Club
  • Most Original Entry – Optimist Clubs of Yellowstone County
  • DBA Staff Favorite – Auto Recovery Towing

2019 – Let it Snow

  • Best Overall Entry – KTVQ – Q2 News
  • Best Float – Light the World
  • Best Musical Entry – New Life Church Children’s Choir
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – KTVQ- Q2 News
  • Best Costumes – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
  • Best performers – Movement Montana
  • Most Original Entry – White Aspen Ranch
  • DBA Staff Favorite – Big Sky Country RC Addicts

2018 – Holiday’s Around the World

  • Best Overall Entry – Santa’s Sleigh, Darwin & Theresa George
  • Best Float – Sons of Norway, Jotunheimen Lodge
  • Best Musical Entry – Crow Fair, 2019 Crow Royalty
  • Best Interpretation of the Theme – Pioneer Oil
  • Best Costumes – Troy’s Grooming
  • Best performers – Movement Montana
  • Most Original Entry – Rivers Ridge Landscaping Co.
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  • Posted on: January 11, 2022