5 Top Tips for Surviving a Holiday Parade with Kids

Holiday Parades have a been a favorite Christmas event for our family almost every where we have lived. We’ve also enjoyed Thanksgiving and St Patrick’s Day parades.

Surviving them with little kids can be tricky some times. However, with a few tips they can become one of your favorite holiday events too. 

This past weekend for the first time we were in the La Jolla Christmas Parade. It was our first time not being one of the families huddled on the street curb. 

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Over the years we have enjoyed:

• Holidazzle Parade in Minneapolis, MN
• Baraboo Light Parade near the Dells in WI
• Holiday Stroll Parade near Milwaukee, WI
• St Patrick’s Day Parade in Chicago, IL
• Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City (my personal favorite)
• Madison Christmas Parade near Jackson, MS
• La Jolla Christmas Parade near San Diego, CA

Parades can be a blast for little ones, but they can also be difficult. Waiting is hard. Weather can be hard. Finding a bathroom can be really hard.

Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Parade with Kids

We’ve gone to parades with kids ages 1 to 7 and here is what I’ve learned to do in order to ensure your whole family enjoys the holiday parade:

1. Dress Appropriately

This can mean a lot of things. When we lived in Mississippi, this meant an umbrella in case it rained and our rain boots for puddles. When we lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota, this meant multiple layers everywhere, especially toes and hands. Scarves and hats were a must and hand warmers were highly advisable.

Check the weather and make sure your whole group is prepared for standing still in whatever weather is out there.

2. Arrive Early

Arrive early enough to have a seat at the front. Little ones are not going to be interested in a parade they can’t see.

If you are going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade or Chicago St Patty’s parade, this requires a significant time commitment.

For a smaller event, a half an hour is usually plenty of time.

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Macy’s Parade Tips in This Post

3. Bring Waiting Activities

If you need to save spots, bring activities similar to those you would bring for waiting at a doctor’s office or sitting on an airplane. Small coloring books, action figure toys, travel games, etc.

However, if you can get your little ones moving during this time. When we went to the Madison parade last weekend we brought simple model planes to build and fly around. Our twins happily ran around flying and running after they planes.

Simply singing some movement songs like the hokey pokey would work too. You might feel a little silly, but helping your kids get their wiggles out can be key to them sitting still during the parade.

4. Bathroom!

Make sure to go to the bathroom early on in this waiting period. If you wait until right before the parade there will be long lines. Once you go to the bathroom limit fluid as much as you can so you can make it through the parade without needing to find another one. 

5. Clearly Define Your Rules

Mine are that they need to stay out of the street at all times and that they need to sit during the parade.

If you anticipate candy being thrown, have a plan for whether they are allowed to walk into the street to get it or not. Do they need an adult to go with them? Can they run out and come right back? You may have different rules.

Whatever your rules may be, be clear and definitive about them.

Then, Have Fun!

Little kids can get excited about just about everything. Get excited with them and I promise you’ll have more fun too.

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