The Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade will return on Nov. 21, with Owensboro’s Blue Bridge Boys serving as grand marshals and a musical theme celebrating the “Sounds of Christmas.”
The annual parade, one of the largest holiday parades in the region, will once again kick off the holiday season in downtown Owensboro. Organizers are encouraging businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations to begin planning their entries, with online registration opening Aug. 1 at ChristmasParade.net.
“We invite all businesses and nonprofits to be part of the fun this year,” longtime parade volunteer Jane Head said. “Entries can be made online at ChristmasParade.net. The small entry fees help us to offset our costs.”
Entry fees are $50 for nonprofit organizations and $150 for commercial entries through Oct. 31. After that date, nonprofit entries increase to $100 and commercial entries to $300.
Organizers are also seeking sponsors for the event. Sponsorship opportunities include a $10,000 presenting sponsor, a $2,500 Santa sponsor, and Bronze ($350), Silver ($525), and Gold ($1,000) levels. Donations are also being accepted.
Head said the online registration process allows participants to submit entries and pay fees electronically.
The parade’s theme, “Sounds of Christmas,” pays tribute to Owensboro’s musical heritage. Head said selecting the Blue Bridge Boys as grand marshals highlights the city’s connection to bluegrass music and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum.
The Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade traces its roots to 1937 and has grown into what organizers say is the largest Christmas parade in the region and the second-largest parade of any kind in Kentucky, behind only Louisville’s Derby Festival Parade.
“Imagine what crowd watching the very first parade in 1937 would think about this year’s special event,” Head said. “Their eyes would light up with the magic of Christmas on parade downtown.”
