Joplin Christmas Parade set for tonight

The 2025 Joplin Christmas Parade, themed “100 Years – Then & Now”, kicks off at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd, bringing floats, marching bands, and Santa Claus to downtown.

The parade route starts at 15th and Main Street and stretches down to 2nd Street. The Grandstand and Judges Table are located at 8th and Main Street. 

Up to 75 floats, marching bands, equestrian units, and community groups will fill the lineup, with registration closing earlier than expected due to high demand. Organizers have urged participants to get creative with “100 Years: Then and Now,” resulting in striking pairings: restored 1920s ambulances rolling beside cutting-edge medical units, horse-drawn carriages straight out of Joplin’s mining heyday followed by silent, light-wrapped electric vehicles, and dozens of entries that weave the city’s unbreakable post-2011 tornado recovery into the holiday glow.

Parking will not be allowed along Main Street starting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2nd to make sure everyone can see the parade. Accessible parking will be available at 8th and Main Street. Main Street from 15th Street to 26th Street will be closed at 3 p.m. for parade entries. Starting at 4:30 p.m., the closure will expand to 2nd Street.

Bundle up, as it is expected to be very cold with temperatures in the low 20s overnight.