Holiday parades for families to enjoy in Champaign-Urbana and beyond
Love parades? So do we! We have all the Christmas and holiday season parades that kids and families will love. Many have modifications for 2020 to make them safe and socially-distant family-friendly events.
If you’ve followed chambanamoms.com for any period of time you might know that we have a thing for parades. And the pandemic hasn’t put a damper on that love.
We’ve put together a list of all the Christmas holiday parades in Champaign-Urbana and beyond for your convenience, in case you love parades as much as we do.
This post covers traditional parades that will happen in 2020, a virtual parade, and lists some parades cancelled for 2020, too.
Editor’s Note: As your family makes plans to head out to an event this holiday season, we encourage you to check with event organizers to confirm details – and remember to pack your masks and bundle up when necessary.
This article will contain both virtual and in-person events.
chambanamoms.com thanks the Champaign Center Parade of Lights for presenting this guide to Champaign-Urbana Area Christmas Parades. We look forward to next year’s holiday season, when we will be back together in downtown Champaign.
The holiday season will look differently this year because the Parade of Lights will be VIRTUAL. This beloved community event will feature traditional lighted floats miniaturized to the size of a SHOEBOX, followed by three weeks of holiday festivities in Champaign’s Downtown, Midtown, and Campustown.
The shoebox parade will be recorded and released on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28) so families can watch from home.
The following weekends will feature safe and fun activities in Champaign’s center neighborhoods like the small business scavenger hunt, holiday sales at local shops, window displays, and horse and carriage rides.
Get more info on both the virtual Champaign Center Parade of Lights AND the Hometown Holiday Shop & Stroll weekends here.
Now, let’s check out the lineup of all the parades near Champaign-Urbana!
The following parades can be found across Champaign, McLean, Ford, and Iroquois counties, so don’t fret if you miss one. Generally, they’re within an hour of Champaign-Urbana.
Please note that some parades may be cancelled or postponed in the event of inclement weather, so when in doubt check first. And as always, please remember it’s 2020. EVERYTHING is subject to change at any time.
Saturday, August 7, 2021
Honor Celebration & Parade
Location: Monticello Courthouse Square Historic District, Monticello
Time: 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Peddle pull, kids games, Kona Ice, the Wienie Wagon, and more! Honor parade starts at 6pm.
Saturday, August 14, 2021
St. Joseph Community Festival Parade
Location: Downtown St. Joseph, St. Joseph
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
3 p.m - Community Festival Parade. Lineup at 2:00 p.m. Starts at Middle School, Ends at High School. ROUTE: Peters Dr. to Evergreen to Main St .to High School
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Mansfield Homecoming
Location: Downtown Mansfield, Mansfield
Time: 10:00 am - 11:59 pm
Carnival, kids games, tractor pull, car/motorcycle show and more! Free entertainment! Saturday highlight includes a parade at 10am and kids activities all afternoon.
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Mahomet Music Festival Parade
Location: Downtown Mahomet, Mahomet
Time: 9:00 am - 10:30 am
The Mahomet Music Festival Parade is one you don't want to miss! The parade kicks off at 9am, starting at Lincoln Trail School, heading south on Division, east on Union, north on Elm, and west on Franklin. FREE entertainment begin following the parade and the vendors and carnival open up, too! All music is FREE for attendees! Carnival rides and other activities have a cost. The Sangamon River Music Festival is now called the Mahomet Music Festival. Conveniently located along Main Street in Downtown Mahomet, Illinois, the Mahomet Music Festival is an annual tradition that brings family-friendly fun to our…read more…
Saturday, September 4, 2021
Arthur Amish Country Cheese Festival
Location: Downtown Arthur, Arthur
Time: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
This Amish Country cheese festival is full of family fun with a parade, tractor pull, music, inflatables, pony rides, face-painting and more!
Monday, September 6, 2021
Champaign County Labor Day Parade & Picnic - NOT YET CONFIRMED
Location: Lincoln Square to Prairie Park, Urbana, Urbana
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
The information below is old from 2019. We have not yet confirmed if the Champaign County Labor Day Parade will be happening in 2021. Please check back later this summer to check on its status. The AFL-CIO of Champaign County is once again sponsoring the annual Labor Day Parade and Picnic this year, on Monday, September 2, 2019. This is the parade known as the "candy parade" in Champaign-Urbana! WHO: All are welcome & encouraged to come to the Parade AND Picnic WHAT: Labor Day PARADE, featuring floats by union locals, community organizations, politicians, and high school bands. PICNIC, where…read more…
Friday, September 10, 2021
Arcola Broom Corn Festival
Location: Downtown Arcola, Arcola
Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Free admission and entertainment; food and crafts for sale. Visitors can see broom activities, arts/crafts, free entertainment, great food, and more.
Saturday, September 11, 2021
Broadlands Festival
Location: The Village of Broadlands, Broadlands
Time: 8:00 am - 11:59 pm
The annual Homecoming Festival is BACK! Lots of fun events for all ages are planned including a parade, bags tournament, live music, kids games and inflatables.
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Tolono Fun Day: Fireworks, Inflatables, and More (Rescheduled from June)
Location: West Side Park, Tolono
Time: 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tolono Fun Day will conclude with Fireworks in West Side Park!
Not all parades had public information available at the publishing time of this post, so please send us information as it is released and we will update. You can add new events to our calendar here.
Looking for all kinds of info for the 2020 holiday season in Champaign-Urbana?
- Champaign-Urbana Holiday Meals To Go
- Amazing Christmas Lights Around Champaign-Urbana and Beyond
- Holiday Giving and Volunteering in Champaign-Urbana
- Holiday Food Favorites You Can Find Around Champaign-Urbana
- What You Need to Know about Hanukkah
- Where to Find Santa in the Champaign-Urbana Area
- Make Memories, Not Clutter: 35+ Experience Gifts for Kids
- Christmas Parades a Short Drive from Champaign-Urbana
- Drive-Thru Holiday Events in the Champaign-Urbana Area
- 8+ Great Places to See Holiday Lights in Central Illinois
- Champaign-Urbana Area Holiday Events and Activities
- Holiday Shopping and Eating in Champaign-Urbana
