Kankakee, IL – Holiday cheer is on the way as the City of Kankakee prepares for its annual Christmas Parade, scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. in downtown. Parade organizers are calling on community groups, schools, and local businesses to register entries before the Saturday, November 29 deadline.
According to the City of Kankakee, participants can enter floats, marching groups, bands, emergency vehicles, or even horse units—with special guidelines in place for safety and clean-up. All bands are required to play Christmas music, and entries must align with this year’s festive theme.
The parade will take place rain or shine, with lineup details and assigned positions sent to participants by Friday, December 5, at 5 p.m. Each organization must have a representative with its entry at all times during staging, as vehicles may need to be moved or repositioned.
The event coincides with the city’s Mistletoe Market at Festival Square, running earlier that day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering holiday shopping and seasonal fun before the parade lights up downtown streets.
Parade organizers say they look forward to seeing creativity, spirit, and community pride shine through each entry. Interested groups can register online through the official city website.
For more information, participants may contact Alderman Lance F. Marcotte at 815-791-8631 or lmarczak@citykankakee-il.gov.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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