The Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade kicks off today, and the event will be streamed live exclusively on the Owensboro Times Facebook page, with commentary from Jane Head and Chad Benefield. The stream will begin at 4:15 p.m., with the parade starting at 4:30. Here’s what else to know, including what streets will be closed, where to park, and the float lineup.
About the live stream
Watch the stream live exclusively on the Owensboro Times Facebook page. The Christmas Parade Committee and Glenn Family Services are sponsoring this year’s stream
Longtime parade committee member Jane Head and WBKR radio personality Chad Benefield will provide commentary throughout the stream.
The video will remain available to watch later on our Facebook page and on our website.
Street closures/parking
Starting at noon and lasting until late evening, 2nd Street will be closed from Wing Avenue (near the former Daviess County Middle School) to Walnut Street. Within that closure, side streets connecting 2nd and 3rd streets will also be closed.
Both downtown parking garages (located on Daviess Street and Locust Street) will remain open. Daviess Street will close at 2 p.m., so after that time drivers will have to access that garage by driving down Veterans Boulevard.
Parking will be available along other streets that remain open.
About the parade
The parade theme this year is “The Gift of Christmas.” The parade will begin at the corner of 2nd and Pearl streets and continues all the way to Loucst Street. The grand marshals for the 2023 parade are Heath and Molly Eric, professional musicians who are also Owensboro natives. The honorary grand marshal is Barb Birgy and the WBKR Christmas Wish volunteers, while 2nd-grader Sophia Westerfield is the official parade starter.
While the City of Owensboro helps with some aspects of the parade, the event is actually put on by the Parade Association, which is a nonprofit. The Association has a board and utilizes volunteers to host the parade.
Float lineup
According to the parade website, the confirmed lineup is as follows:
1 – Owensboro Police Department
2 – Daviess County Sheriff’s Department
3 – Daviess County Detention Center
4 – Kentucky State Police
5 – Tom Watson and Owensboro City Commissioners Banner
6 – Owensboro Fire Department
7 – Daviess County Fire Department
8 – 324
9 – AIRPORT-SORGHO FIRE DEPARTMENT
10 – Utica Volunteer Fire Department Engine 307
11 – Daviess County Emergency Management
12 – AMR Ambulance
13 – Daviess County Public Schools Police Department
14 – Al Mattingly and Daviess County Commissioners Banner
15 – City of Owensboro Trolley–With Judge Executive and Daviess County Commissioners
16 – Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade Banner
17 – Apollo High School Color Guard
18 – Grand Marshal Banner
19 – Grand Marshals – Heath and Molly Eric
20 – Wendell Foster
21 – Ice Queen and Ice Princess
22 – Bridges of Kentucky
23 – The Greatest Gift
24 – Puzzle Pieces Express
25 – Honorary Grand Marshals Banner
26 – Barb Birgy and WBKR Christmas Wish Volunteers
27 – WBKR
28 – Claypool Sleigh
29 – Miss Bubble Gum and Tower Princess
30 – The Salvation Army of Owensboro
31 – Apollo High School Marching Band
32 – Independence Bank
33 – Gold Level Sponsor Banner–Blue Line Entertainment
34 – Blue Line Entertainment
35 – Habitat for Humanity of Owensboro-Daviess County
36 – Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP)
37 – WFIE-TV 14 News
38 – Spider-Dude, Cartoon Mermaid Princess, Rose Princess
39 – Daviess County Lions Club Queens
40 – Junior Miss Rodeo Kentucky Carsyn Cecil
41 – Miss Teen Kentucky County Fair 2023
42 – Placeholder
43 – Miss Kentucky 2023 Banner
44 – Miss Kentucky 2023—Mallory Hudson
45 – Saving Paws Animal Rescue of Kentucky
46 – WLES Tigers Cheer Squad
47 – Silver Level Sponsor–Glenn Family Services
48 – Borrowed Hearts Owensboro
49 – Birthright Center of Owensboro
50 – Corgis of Owensboro
51 – WEHT/WTVW
52 – Owensboro Shriners
53 – Placeholder
54 – Gold Level Sponsor Banner–Owensboro Health
55 – Owensboro Off-Road Jeepers x 12 jeeps
56 – Burns Middle School Dance Team
57 – DCPS Transportation
58 – Daviess County Animal Care and Control
59 – Spay A Stray
60 – AmVets Post 75
61 – Miracle Sister and Flower Sister
62 – Flamingos for Amber
63 – Chick-fil-A Owensboro
64 – Owensboro Catholic Marching Aces
65 – Josh’s Broken Feather
66 – Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center
67 – DCMS Girls Cross Country Team
68 – Foster.KY.Gov
69 – Ghostbusters of Daviess County
70 – Heritage Christian School
71 – M.S.C.
72 – Farmer’s House Real Estate, LLC
73 – Gifts of the Force
74 – Girl Scouts Troop 1886
75 – Glass Slipper Princess and Frog Princess
76 – The Event Kode
77 – Trials to Triumph Motorcycle Ministry
78 – River City Pickleball Club
79 – OCHS FFA
80 – WKWC 90.3
81 – Panther Company-Daviess County High School Navy JROTC
82 – Daviess County High School Band
83 – Owensboro Community & Technical College
84 – Gold Level Sponsor Banner–Lanham Logistics
85 – Lanham Logistics
86 – Legacy Church
87 – Girl Scouts Troop 1592
88 – Atmos Energy
89 – Dream Riders of Kentucky
90 – Nix Structural Fabrication Division
91 – Owensboro Bombers Post 9 Baseball
92 – Living Christmas Story
93 – Celebrating the gift of Community Health with Audubon Area Community Care Clinic
94 – Owensboro Public Schools Transportation
95 – Active Nutrition and Supplements
96 – OMU Electric Distribution Department
97 – Gold Level Sponsor Banner–Lanham Offroad
98 – Lanham Offroad
99 – Matthew’s Table Church
100 – The Gifts of 4-H
101 – GERMAN AMERICAN BANK
102 – Nella’s Cleaning Services LLC
103 – The Vault Dance Studio
104 – Public Works
105 – Lee Best Memorial Foundation
106 – Owensboro Family YMCA – Unwrap The Magic
107 – Real Hacienda Express
108 – RiverValley Behavioral Health
109 – Savi float
110 – Tally’s Towing & Recovery
111 – Senior Community Center
112 – WKU Owensboro Campus
113 – OMU Water Distribution Department
114 – RE/MAX Professional Realty Group Christmas presents
115 – Owensboro High School Marching Band
116 – First Free Will Baptist
117 – Here Comes Santa Banner
118 – Santa’s Helpers
119 – Santa
