Lighted Christmas Parade 2026
2026 date to be confirmed — estimated Saturday, December 5 (the parade has run the first Saturday of December). Bands, dancers, and lighted floats roll from Central Park through downtown Fernandina Beach. Free.
Note: the exact 2026 date has not been officially announced. The Lighted Christmas Parade has been held on the first Saturday of December (December 6 in 2025), so Saturday, December 5, 2026 is our best estimate — confirm before planning around it.
The Lighted Christmas Parade, organized by America's Youth, is downtown Fernandina Beach's holiday parade: marching bands, dancers, walkers, and floats strung with Christmas lights, with Santa Claus bringing up the rear.
The route
The parade steps off from Central Park and runs along South 3rd Street between Centre and Ash Streets, through the heart of the historic district. In recent years it has run from 4 to 6 p.m., timed so the lights read against the early December dusk.
Good to know
Admission is free. It typically shares a weekend with the Museum of History's Holiday Home Tour, so the first weekend of December is the one to pick if you want the island's holiday season at full strength. Bring chairs and arrive early for a curbside spot along 3rd Street.
Event Details
- Saturday, December 5, 2026 at 4:00 PM
- Central Park to S. 3rd Street, Downtown Fernandina Beach
- S 3rd St between Centre and Ash, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
- America's Youth
- Free
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