Join us for our 32nd Annual Holiday Parade!
5:00 pm on Sunday, December 1, 2024
Downtown Sheboygan
Presented in partnership with WLKN Lake 98.1
►2024 theme: “Christmas Costumes”… we want to see you dressed up as whatever makes you think of Christmas! Dress as a present, a cookie, a unicorn, or any character (except Santa & Mrs. Claus) from a holiday show or movie you love!
►Facebook event
►The Holiday Parade takes place every year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving
►Please direct any questions to hp@sheboyganjaycees.com
►Check back here for updates, the entry form becomes available in mid-October each year.
Parade Route
Starting at 5:00 pm, the route begins at Center Avenue and 7th Street, goes north on 7th Street to Erie Avenue, goes west on Erie Avenue to 8th Street, goes south on 8th Street, and ends at Mead Public Library for the Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Letters for Santa
The U.S. Postal Service will be walking in the parade to collect and deliver your letters to Santa. Be sure to include your name and address on the letter so Santa can give you a response.
Donations
The Girl Scouts will be collecting donations of paper supplies and personal hygiene items from spectators along the parade route, these items will be given to Safe Harbor and Bridgeway.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
This takes place at Mead Public Library immediately following the parade.
Entry Details
There is no fee to enter, the entry form becomes available by mid-October each year. Promote your organization or business and show your holiday spirit by participating in the Holiday Parade! You can enter a decorated float, have your employees/volunteers wear holiday costumes and distribute candy, or come up with your own creative entry. Only entries decorated in the holiday spirit will be allowed in the parade.
Awards
We award cash prizes to the top three non-profit entries (1st place is $150, 2nd place is $100, and 3rd place is $50) and we award plaques to the top three corporate entries. The winners are announced at the tree lighting ceremony at the Mead Public Library following the parade.
| 11/26/2023 (31st Annual) Theme: Welcome To Whoville (Grinch) Sponsor: Great Lakes Cheese Partnership: Lake 98.1 |
2023 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Great Lakes Cheese 2. Brilliant Lightscapes 3. Just Orthodontics |
2023 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Lakeshore Community Health Care 2. Edgewood Community Church 3. Girl Scouts of Manitou Council |
•Facebook event |
| 11/27/2022 (30th Annual) Theme: Santa’s Ho-Ho-Hoedown (country/western) Sponsor: Great Lakes Cheese Partnership: Lake 98.1 |
2022 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Great Lakes Cheese 2. Van Horn Automotive Group 3. Miesfeld’s |
2022 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. North High Band 2. North High Varsity and JV Dance Teams 3. Sheboygan Lakers Figure Skating Club |
•Facebook event |
| 11/28/2021 (29th Annual) Theme: White Christmas Sponsor: Meijer Partnership: Lake 98.1 |
2021 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Freaktoyz 2. Van Horn Automotive Group 3. JJ Trucking |
2021 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Sheboygan Lakers Figure Skating Club 2. Making Spirits Bright 3. Sheboygan Dog Training Club |
•Facebook event |
| 11/29/2020 (28th Annual) |
No Holiday Parade due to pandemic. | In lieu of the parade, the Sheboygan Jaycees organized a “Santa Sighting” event so kids could give their letters to Santa. | •Facebook Live of tree lighting ceremony |
| 12/1/2019 (27th Annual) Theme: Candy Factory Sponsor: Meijer Partnership: Lake 98.1 |
2019 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. MilliporeSigma 2. Royal Heating & Air 3. Meyer Motors |
2019 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. City of Sheboygan Dept. of Public Works 2. Road Legal Four Wheel Drive Association 3. Making Spirits Bright |
•Facebook event |
| 11/25/2018 (26th Annual) Theme: A Christmas Story Sponsor: Lake 98.1 |
2018 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Precision Floors & Décor 2. Brittany’s School of Dance 3. Dax Trucking |
2018 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Wrangler Riders 2. VW Club 3. Making Spirits Bright |
•Facebook event |
| 11/26/2017 (25th Annual) Theme: Tune Into Christmas Sponsor: Lake 98.1 |
2017 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Discovery Coach 2. Uber 3. Van Horn Automotive Group |
2017 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Trinity Lutheran Church and School 2. Wrangler Riders 3. Making Spirits Bright |
•Facebook event |
| 11/27/2016 (24th Annual) Theme: Classic Christmas |
2016 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Neumann Plumbing & Heating 2. Liberty Tax Service 3. Larry’s Distributing |
2016 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Immanuel Lutheran 2. Brittany’s School of Dance 3. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church |
•Facebook event |
| 11/29/2015 (23rd Annual) Theme: Christmas in Toyland Sponsor: HSA Bank |
2015 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. HSA Bank 2. Discovery Coach 3. Dollhouse Dance Factory |
2015 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Mid-Lake Softball Organization 2. The Salvation Army 3. Brittany’s School of Dance |
•Facebook event |
| 11/30/2014 (22nd Annual) Theme: Winter Wonderland |
2014 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Cellcom 2. Fantastic Sam’s 3. Discovery Coach |
2014 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Mid-Lake Softball Association 2. Immanuel Lutheran 3. Town of Sheboygan Volunteer Fire Department |
•Facebook event |
| 12/1/2013 (21st Annual) Theme: Classic Christmas Movies |
2013 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Discovery Coach 2. Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt 3. Town of Sheboygan Volunteer Fire Dept. |
2013 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. YMCA Team SPARKZ 2. Sue Darrow’s School of Dance 3. Immanuel Lutheran |
•Facebook event |
| 11/25/2012 (20th Annual) Theme: Ugly Sweaters |
2012 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Dick Brantmeier Ford 2. Sheboygan Smile Center 3. Discovery Coach |
2012 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. Immanuel Lutheran 2. Sheboygan North High Band 3. Sue Darrow’s School of Dance |
•Facebook event |
| 11/27/2011 (19th Annual) Theme: Festival of Lights |
2011 Top 3 Corporate Entries 1. Meyer Motors 2. Dick Brantmeier Ford 3. Discovery Coach |
2011 Top 3 Nonprofit Entries 1. St. Dominic Catholic School 2. UW Sheboygan 3. Sheboygan Theater Company |
•Facebook event |
History of the Holiday Parade
The Holiday Parade began in 1992 with the Sheboygan Jaycees organizing the parade and Younkers as the sole sponsor. This was a natural fit for Younkers, as they were already considered the “Christmas Store” and their store was in the middle of the parade route.
In 2004, the Sheboygan Press was added as a sponsor to help save the Holiday Parade due to an increase in costs and decrease in sponsorship dollars. The Sheboygan Jaycees felt that the parade would be a perfect tie-in with the Sheboygan Press because it aligns them with a positive community event attended by thousands in its service area.
In 2006, the Harbor Centre Business Improvement District was added as a sponsor for the same reasons.
In 2007, due to a loss of cash sponsorship, the Sheboygan Jaycees self-funded most of the parade out of its own budget. Even though there was some expense involved to continue the parade, the Jaycees overwhelmingly supported continuing the parade as a holiday tradition for the city of Sheboygan.
This incredible growth in the size of the parade is solely due to the demand of the community. Excluding weather conditions, this parade has seen a year over year growth in community participation and we see no signs of this trend slowing. It is the only winter parade in the City of Sheboygan.
The Holiday Parade over its history has turned into a family and community tradition. It signifies the beginning of the holiday season in Sheboygan!