What To Know About This Weekend’s 2023 Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular

STAMFORD, CT —The holiday season will officially kick off in Stamford on Nov. 19 at noon with the 30th annual Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular.

Here is some important information to know before you go

Who, What, When, Where

The parade is one of the largest of its kind in the country, with giant helium balloons and approximately 100,000 spectators annually.

The parade is scheduled to step off at noon on Nov. 19 at the intersection of Summer Street at Hoyt Street and conclude on Atlantic Street, just a few short blocks from the Stamford Metro-North Railroad Station.

Planned highlights of the parade include 15 giant balloons including favorites Abby Cadabby, Daniel Tiger, Elmo, Mr. Potato Head, Oscar the Grouch, Peppa Pig, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and more.

In addition to the procession's signature balloons, the streets will be filled with music from the Saints Brigade Drum & Bugle Corp., the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band and high school marching bands from Stamford, Westhill, Trumbull, Uniondale, and Brentwood.

Kidz Bop, the popular children's music group, will be performing during the parade as well.

Other floats and dance groups include: Center Stage Dance Studio; City Center Dance Performing Company; Dance on the DL; Hoop Girls of Stamford; Ladies of Finesse Dance Company; Locust Performing Arts Center of Stamford; The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts; and The Pulse Performing Arts Studio's nova jazz.

One float in particular is a perpetual favorite, carrying a beloved teacher on a float themed to her specific endeavors within the classroom.

Elba Sims, a New Arrivals teacher at Turn of River Middle School and 2023-2024 Stamford Public Schools Teacher of the Year, will be riding on one of the parade’s four floats, titled, "Love is love no matter what language you speak!"

New to the parade this year are the Hartford’s Proud Drill Drum & Dance Corp. and the John F. Kennedy Marching Eagles from Waterbury.

Those wishing for a behind-the-scenes look at how the parade’s giant helium balloons come to life are invited to attend the Point72 Giant Balloon Inflation Party on Saturday, Nov. 18.

This pre-parade event will take place from 3-6 p.m., at the intersection of Hoyt Street and Summer Street in Stamford Downtown, and will allow spectators an up-close-and-personal look at the balloons as they take to the sky in preparation for their flights above the streets of Stamford.

The party will offer music, clowns and cartoon characters, and a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

There will be plenty of restaurants open in the downtown area on Sunday. For a list of open restautants, click here.

Parking and Street Closures

Residents and attendees should plan accordingly for traffic delays in the downtown area.

Click here for a complete parade route and public parking map.

A list of street closures can be found here.