You’ve got to see this. On Saturday, December 6, thousands of Dallas families are heading downtown for the parade that officially kicks off the holidays. Giant balloons towering six stories high. Marching bands. Santa on a float that lights up the entire street. This is the kind of morning you’ll tell your grandkids about.
Why This Parade Matters
Back in 1988, employees from The Adolphus Hotel and Children’s Medical Center Dallas decided they wanted something special to celebrate the season and honor their 75th anniversaries. What started as an idea with 70,000 people became the “Miracle on Commerce Street”—a parade that draws over 450,000 spectators today. For nearly four decades, families have claimed their spots along Commerce Street at sunrise. It’s Emmy Award-winning. It airs on over 350 television stations in 159 markets, reaching more than 100 million homes coast to coast. It’s not just a parade. It’s a Dallas institution.
The Morning You’re Looking For
Doors open at 7:00 AM. The parade rolls at 9:00 AM sharp. Plan for two hours of nonstop entertainment as floats, balloons, bands, and characters flow down Commerce Street starting at Commerce and Houston.
You’ll see giant parade balloons you won’t see anywhere else, marching bands that’ll blow your mind, floats so elaborate they look like moving art, antique cars polished to perfection, horse-drawn carriages straight out of a fairy tale, and characters in costumes dancing through the streets. Miss America shows up. Miss Texas shows up. Dance teams bring the energy. And then—the moment everyone waits for—Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on a float so lit up it could guide ships. Seriously.
Before and After the Parade
Get downtown early and soak it all in. Main Street Gardens and Civic Gardens have vendors, entertainment, and food trucks stationed up and down the route. Grab coffee and breakfast before the parade starts. Stick around after and keep the holiday vibe going with more entertainment and shopping.
How to Actually Sit Down
Free admission means you can bring a chair or blanket and stake out your spot. But if you want a guaranteed seat without the early-morning scramble, grab bleacher seats online. They go FAST and are first-come, first-served.
Premier Club Tickets take it up a notch: you get breakfast, hot chocolate, cookie decorating for the kids, Santa’s Swag Bag, and a real meet-and-greet with Santa, Mrs. Claus, Miss America, Miss Texas, and parade characters. It’s worth it if you want the VIP experience.
Kids 24 months and younger need a ticket if they’re not sitting in your lap. Strollers and walkers can be stored under the bleachers for ticket holders. Everyone else? You’re good.
Getting There Without the Headache
Skip the parking nightmare. Take DART. Rail stations and bus stops get you within walking distance of the parade route, and you’ll avoid the traffic jam entirely. The parade starts at Commerce and Houston streets in downtown Dallas.
Watch From Home
Can’t make it downtown? No problem. The parade broadcasts live on CW33 or stream it at cw33.com. You’ll get the Emmy Award-winning production right from your couch.
Stay Connected
For tickets, special guest announcements, and updates as December rolls closer, head to dallasholidayparade.com. Follow them on Instagram @dallasholidayparade or check out their Facebook page for all the latest news on floats and participants being announced. Sign up on their website to get special offers and event updates sent straight to you.
You can also volunteer if you want to be part of the magic behind the scenes. Details are on their website.
Get Your Tickets and Go
Head to dallasholidayparade.com to grab your bleacher seats before they’re gone. This is where Dallas celebrates. Bring the whole family, bundle up, and be part of something that’s been bringing magic to this city for 38 years.
