Seasonal & Holidays

After COVID-19 Cancellation, Sarasota Holiday Parade Returns Downtown Saturday

Downtown Sarasota's Holiday Parade celebrates its 25th anniversary Saturday after canceling last year's event because of the pandemic.

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Tiffany Razzano, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge

SARASOTA, FL — The 25th annual Sarasota Holiday Parade returns Saturday in downtown Sarasota at 7 p.m.

Last year’s event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic “in the interest of our community’s health and safety,” according to the Sarasota Holiday Parade’s website.

This year’s parade theme is “silver bells” in honor of the event’s silver anniversary of 25 years.

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In the past, the event has had as many as 4,000 participants, including lighted floats, high school marching bands and the arrival of Santa Claus, according to the parade’s Facebook page.

The parade will begin at Main Street and U.S. 301 in downtown Sarasota and end at J.D. Hamel Park at Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue, according to a Sarasota Police Department news release.

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There will be multiple street closures before and after the parade, as well as tow-away zones in effect, including:

  • Main Street from Osprey Avenue to U.S. 301: Saturday, 9 a.m. to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Main Street from Orange Avenue to Osprey Avenue: Saturday, 9 a.m. to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Main Street from U.S. 41 to Orange Avenue: Saturday, 11 a.m. to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Main Street from U.S. 301 to School Avenue: Saturday, noon to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Fletcher Avenue from Main Street to Fruitville Road: Saturday, noon to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Wallace Avenue from Main Street to Fruitville Road: Saturday, noon to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • East Avenue from Fruitville Road to Ringling Boulevard: Saturday, noon to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • School Avenue from Main Street to Fruitville Road: Saturday, noon to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Audubon Place from Main Street to Fruitville Road: Saturday, noon to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • First Street from Audubon Place to East Avenue: Saturday, noon to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Lemon Avenue from First Street to Main Street: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.
  • Gulfstream Avenue from U.S. 41 to McAnsh Square: Saturday, 3 p.m. to Sunday, 12:30 a.m.

Vehicles not removed by the posted time will be towed at the owner’s expense. For information on towed vehicles, call Upman’s Towing at 941-365-7084.

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