Peoria Santa Claus Parade Set for Nov. 27
The 139th annual parade begins at 9:15 a.m. in downtown Peoria, with Peoria Area Community Events planning a handoff to the Peoria Park District starting in 2027.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Civic
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Peoria Area Community Events has announced the 139th annual Santa Claus Parade for Friday, November 27, beginning at 9:15 a.m. in downtown Peoria. The parade, which features marching bands, costumed characters, decorated floats and an appearance by Santa Claus, is set to take place 14 days from the time of this announcement.
Why it matters
The parade is described as the longest continually running holiday parade in the country, dating back to 1887, and marks a turning point as organizing responsibility is set to shift to the Peoria Park District. Residents and visitors planning to attend the holiday event will find the route and start time in the announcement.
Peoria Area Community Events is preparing 22 floats for the event, including two debuting this year: the North Pole Mail Train and SCP Kart. The parade has been organized by the group since 1989, a 37-year run, and the full scope of the Park District's future role beyond the planned 2027 transition has not been detailed.
The players
Peoria Area Community Events
Peoria Area Community Events is the local volunteer organization that has run the Santa Claus Parade since 1989 and is coordinating the handoff to the Peoria Park District.
Peoria Park District
The Peoria Park District is the public park agency that is set to assume full responsibility for the Santa Claus Parade in 2028, after a transition period beginning in 2027.
The details
The parade begins at the Peoria Central Firehouse near Monroe and Bryan Streets and travels along Monroe Street to Main Street, turns left onto Main, then left onto Adams Street, and finishes on Fayette Street past the Peoria County Courthouse. The event's theme this year is "A Holiday Tradition for the Ages."
Timeline
1887: The Santa Claus Parade tradition begins in Peoria.
1989: Peoria Area Community Events begins organizing the parade.
2026: Joint planning between Peoria Area Community Events and the Peoria Park District begins.
Friday, November 27, 2026: The 139th Santa Claus Parade steps off at 9:15 a.m.
2027: Responsibility for the parade begins transitioning to the Peoria Park District.
Civic Continuity
The parade's origin in 1887 makes it the longest continually running holiday parade in the country, and the planned handoff from a volunteer group to a public park agency places this year's edition at the start of a new organizational chapter. The move to the Park District reflects how long-running community traditions are sometimes transferred to public institutions to secure their continuity.
Attendees can watch the parade in downtown Peoria beginning at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, November 27, following the route from the Peoria Central Firehouse along Monroe, Main and Adams Streets to Fayette Street. Those seeking the full route, parking or additional logistics can consult the organizer's website, PeoriaEvents.com.
The takeaway
Plan to arrive early on November 27 to secure a viewing spot along the route, and check PeoriaEvents.com for any updates before the parade begins.
What happens next
The Peoria Park District and Peoria Area Community Events will begin joint parade planning in 2026, with the Park District's responsibility for the parade beginning in 2027 and becoming full in 2028.
Further reading
Explore more Peoria civic news to see how local events and community institutions are shaping the city.
More information
Find additional parade information on the PeoriaEvents.com site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 104.9 The Wolf.
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