2026 dates are not out yet. In 2025, A Very GNV Holiday Parade ran noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 6 on University Avenue, then lights at the Thomas Center.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year. The City of Gainesville has not yet announced its 2026 holiday events, so the details below are from the 2025 events as the city published them in its Dec. 2, 2025, announcement. We will update this page when the 2026 dates are out.

Gainesville’s Christmas parade is A Very GNV Holiday Parade, run by the City of Gainesville on University Avenue downtown. In 2025 it was held from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, followed by a kids’ dance party on Bo Diddley Plaza and the Holiday Lights Celebration at the Historic Thomas Center that evening. All three events were free.

Who to call

  • City of Gainesville main line: 352-334-5000 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays)
  • City event updates: gainesvillefl.gov events
  • Emergencies: 911

The holiday parade

The 2025 parade was the third annual A Very GNV Holiday Parade, according to the city. More than 100 floats, dance troupes, marching bands and community groups traveled University Avenue in 2025, the city said. The parade runs rain or shine.

Detail 2025
Date and time Noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6
Start West University Avenue and West Sixth Street
Finish 620 E. University Ave., the Alachua County Public Schools administration building
Theme “Homegrown talent”
Cost Free

The 2025 parade’s co-grand marshals were theatrical producer and director Marion J. Caffey and saxophonist Emmanuel Garilus, both from Gainesville, and it marked the 25th anniversary of Star Center Theatre.

Can’t make it downtown? The city livestreamed the 2025 parade on its Facebook page and recorded it for replay on Community 12TV, the city’s YouTube channel and GNV TV on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.

Tree lighting: Holiday Lights Celebration at the Thomas Center

The city’s tree lighting takes place at the Historic Thomas Center, 302 NE Sixth Ave. In 2025 the Holiday Lights Celebration ran from 5 to 8 p.m. on parade day, Saturday, Dec. 6, and was free.

Between the parade and the lights, the city held a free Holiday Kids’ Dance Party from 1 to 3 p.m. on Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave.

Road closures and parking

These were the city’s traffic plans for 2025. Expect similar closures in 2026:

  • NW Sixth Street between West University Avenue and NW Eighth Avenue closed at 7 a.m. as the parade staging area, until the last unit entered the route.
  • University Avenue from West Seventh Street to East Seventh Street closed at 11 a.m. and reopened gradually behind the last unit.
  • RTS buses on some routes ran late on parade day. Check Regional Transit System service alerts before you ride.
  • Parking: downtown parking is free every weekend, the city said, except in the SW Parking Garage at 105 SW Third St. and spaces reserved for another entity or purpose.

See our road construction and closures guide for other work downtown.

What this means for you

  • Plan for early December. The 2025 parade was on the first Saturday of the month, but the 2026 date is not confirmed.
  • Arrive before 11 a.m. if you are driving downtown, because University Avenue closes then.
  • You can make a day of it: parade at noon, the dance party on Bo Diddley Plaza after, and the lights at the Thomas Center in the evening.

Related: things to do in Gainesville this month and trick-or-treat hours in Gainesville.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Gainesville Christmas parade in 2026?

The City of Gainesville has not announced the 2026 date. In 2025, A Very GNV Holiday Parade ran from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, on University Avenue.

Where does the Gainesville holiday parade go?

In 2025 the parade started at West University Avenue and West Sixth Street and ended at 620 E. University Ave., the Alachua County Public Schools administration building.

Where is the Gainesville tree lighting?

The city’s Holiday Lights Celebration is held at the Historic Thomas Center, 302 NE Sixth Ave. In 2025 it ran from 5 to 8 p.m. on parade day.

Is parking free downtown for the Gainesville holiday parade?

The city said downtown parking is free every weekend, except in the SW Parking Garage at 105 SW Third St. and spaces reserved for another purpose.

Which roads close for the Gainesville holiday parade?

In 2025 University Avenue closed from West Seventh Street to East Seventh Street at 11 a.m., and NW Sixth Street closed from 7 a.m. for parade staging.