WinterFest Parade of Lights

Information & Registration

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The Town of Stafford invites you to join  the 2025 WinterFest Parade of Lights and celebrate the magic of the season with this beloved holiday tradition. Businesses, organizations, clubs, civic groups, and residents are all invited to be part of the fun! Whether you're part of a float, a marching group, or driving a decorated vehicle, we encourage all entries to be brightly illuminated for a dazzling evening display. The parade will step off just after dusk, and we ask that all participants ensure their entries are well-lit for optimal viewing.

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Get creative and bring your holiday vision to life using lighted decorations, string lights, or battery-operated lights! This is your chance to showcase your holiday spirit in a way that will truly shine through the night.

New this year! The Events & Celebrations Committee is hosting a float/entry contest, inviting participants to decorate their parade entries with festive holiday themes and compete for recognition in several categories.

There is no cost to participate. Let’s come together to light up Stafford and make this year’s WinterFest Parade of Lights a night to remember!

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Before registering, please take a moment to review the following details and guidelines:

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When & Where:

​Saturday, December 13, 2025 (Weather date: Sunday, December 14, 2025)

• Lineup: Begins at 4:00 PM on Olympic Avenue

• Parade Start: Step-off at 5:00 PM sharp from the corner of Olympic Annex and West Main Street/Route 190

 

Parade of Lights Decorating Contest

Over the years, decorating for the Parade of Lights has become a competitive tradition. To celebrate these creative efforts, the Stafford Events & Celebrations Committee is introducing the Parade of Lights Decorating Contest. Participants are invited to showcase their creativity by decorating their parade entries with festive holiday themes. Three winners will be selected in the following categories: ​The Clark Griswold, celebrating the brightest and most spectacularly illuminated entry; Most Holiday Spirit, awarded to the entry that best captures the joyful, festive essence of the season; Best Holiday Theme, incorporates beloved characters, iconic scenes, or heartwarming moments from holiday movies, books, or traditions.

 

All registrants will be automatically entered into the contest upon registration, with winners to be announced on December 22, 2025.

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Parade Arrival & Lineup

• All parade vehicles/entries must enter the parade lineup via Summer Street – from Monson Road/Route 32 (across from Sara Mart/Getty and lineup according to entry type). Olympic Avenue will be one-way traffic during parade staging, entry from Olympic Circle is not permitted.

• Parade participants will be lined up in the order of arrival, organized by entry type as indicated on the registration form.

• Please stop at the parade unit check-in (at corner of Summer Street/Olympic Field Parking Lot) to receive direction to lineup location. 

• Please carpool! A limited number of spaces are available for non-parade vehicle parking in the Olympic Field lot. Once parked, these vehicles will not be able to move/exit until the parade procession leaves Olympic Avenue. The American Legion (10 Monson Road) is allowing use of their parking lot for non-parade vehicles. You will need to cross Monson Road/Route 32 by foot to access parade lineup – proceed with caution. Please carpool to help reduce the number of onsite vehicles. 

• Participant drop-off: Vehicles transporting walkers/participants are not permitted in the staging area (Olympic Circle/Summer St). Utilize Olympic Circle/Annex for drop-off. Enter from Route 190, enter Olympic Circle, drop participant, and exit via Olympic Annex. Participants are required to walk and meet their float/vehicle entry. Parade flaggers will be positioned throughout the staging area on Summer St./Olympic Ave.; follow directives.

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Route:  

Step-off at 5:00pm from corner of Olympic Annex and West Main Street, and proceeds to Main Street and ends at Town Hall/Holt Fountain.

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Parade End/Disbandment

• Do not leave the parade line-up until it ends.

• The parade concludes at the rotary/Holt Fountain in front of Town Hall.

• Marching groups and those on foot will continue straight into the Town Hall Parking lot.

• Floats/vehicles with ride on passengers: proceed up Furnace Avenue. DO NOT STOP IN THE ROTARY.  Maintaining parade order, pull past the American Woolen lot, park on the righthand shoulder with hazards lights to unload passengers from your float. There will be traffic flaggers on Furnace Avenue, follow their direction. Once passengers are safety offboarded, drivers proceed down Furnace Ave. to exit parade route.

• Standalone passenger and commercial vehicles (no ride on passengers): at the rotary, exit the parade route using River Road*, East Main Street*, or Furnace Avenue (preferred*).

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Parade & Participation Rules

The safety of all parade participants and spectators is our primary concern. Parade entries and operators are responsible for the safe construction and operation of their floats. All drivers and operators must exercise extreme caution. Drive slowly and always be alert for spectators, pedestrians, children, and other potential hazards. The downtown area, especially near Fiske Avenue and the Rotary/Fountain, is typically the most crowded, and traffic cones and barrier tape will be in place to keep crowds safely out of the roadway. Please stay vigilant at all times to avoid dangerous situations.

 

Safety is our top priority throughout the parade. This is a “forward motion” event with no planned stops, so please maintain a reasonable distance between vehicles and floats—30 feet is preferred—and avoid large gaps in the parade.

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Lighting & Visibility 

• Please turn off your driving lights and use only parking lights (if equipped) during the parade to ensure your float is visible while preventing glare for viewers.

• All entries must be illuminated for evening viewing. It's a nighttime parade, so lighted decorations are required! Feel free to play music, dress up, and have fun!

 

Safety Protocols:

• Gunning, revving of motors, or “burnouts” are strictly prohibited.

• For safety, candy or giveaways must be handed out by walkers only. No throwing or projecting items from vehicles, mounts, or floats to prevent children from running into the street to retrieve them. We appreciate your cooperation with this important safety measure.

 

Santa Claus Policy:

• No entry may feature a "live" Santa Claus, as there will be one official Santa at the end of the parade. Please do not include a fully costumed Santa on your float or vehicle.

 

General Conduct:

This is a family-friendly event, so all decorations, music, and behavior must be appropriate for all ages.

Children must be under adequate adult supervision at all times.

All parade participants are expected to conduct themselves responsibly. Smoking, vaping, consuming alcohol, or engaging in any activities that could cause discomfort or compromise the safety of others is strictly prohibited.

Thank you for helping make this a safe, enjoyable, and festive event for all!​

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