OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The evening of this Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, will find the City of Ocala hosting its annual Christmas Parade, traditionally the largest nighttime Christmas parade in the entire Sunshine State.
More than 60,000 spectators (!) are expected to line both sides of East Silver Springs Boulevard between SE 25th Avenue and NE 8th Avenue, with some claiming their spots hours or even days before the cavalcade of seasonal splendor gets rolling.
You might have questions about start times, road closures or seating availability. We’ve got answers.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The Theme: “Christmas Through the Decades”
- The Grand Marshal: Bernadette Castro, Castro Convertibles/longtime Marion County phlanthropist
- The Start Time: 5:30 p.m.
- The Route: “The route begins at the intersection of SE 25th Avenue and Ft. King Street, moving North to E Silver Springs Blvd. It turns left/West onto the Boulevard and goes 1.6 miles to NE 8th Avenue. The parade then turns right/North onto 8th Avenue, ending at NE 3rd Street, just before Tuscawilla Park.” -Friends of the Christmas Parade
- The Road Closures: Effective 3 p.m.-midnight
- State Road 40 from NE Third Street to N. Pine Avenue/US 441
- SE/NE 25th Avenue from SE 14th Street to State Road 492
- E. Fort King Street from SE 30th Avenue to SE 22nd Avenue
- NE Eighth Avenue from State Road 40 to NE 14th Street/State Road 492
- The Bleacher Seating: At press time, bleacher seat tickets are still available for the Staples parking lot and Save-A-Lot parking lot for $10 plus $1.20 in service fees at this link.
- The Parking: In addition to the free parking garage downtown at 296 SE Broadway Street, some metered street parking will also be free–just look for the red “FREE PARKING” covers on the meters.
Have fun, stay safe and look out for your neighbors.
Check out our full list of big holiday events in the 352.