8 Holiday Parades In Small New York Towns

When winter arrives in New York State, small towns transform into magical holiday wonderlands. Local parades become the heartbeat of community celebrations, bringing neighbors together through twinkling lights, festive floats, and cheerful music. These cherished traditions showcase the unique character of each village while creating memories that last generations.

1. Skaneateles’ Dickens Christmas Parade

Victorian magic comes alive each holiday season along the shores of Skaneateles Lake. The Dickens Christmas isn’t a one-day parade – it’s a six-weekend celebration where Charles Dickens and his cast of characters roam the streets, interact with visitors, and participate in daily vignettes.

The event kicks off with a “World’s Smallest Christmas Parade.” Horse-drawn carriages clip-clop down historic streets while carolers in period costumes fill the air with traditional songs. The celebration culminates at the village gazebo where Dickens himself reads holiday classics to wide-eyed children.

Remarkably, this tradition began in 1993 when a local theater director wanted to boost winter tourism. It now draws over 20,000 visitors annually to this Finger Lakes gem, creating a cherished tradition for many families.

2. Saranac Lake’s Winter Carnival Parade

Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, Saranac Lake defies winter’s chill with one of America’s longest-running winter carnival. The highlight? A spectacular parade that winds through this mountain village against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks and an enormous ice palace glittering in the February sun.

Unlike typical holiday parades, this celebration embraces the depth of winter with themed floats built to withstand snow and temperatures that routinely plunge below zero. The Lawn Chair Ladies – a group of locals performing synchronized routines with decorated lawn chairs – have become legendary parade fixtures.

Started in 1897 as a health-centered celebration by tuberculosis patients seeking fresh mountain air, this parade has evolved into a ten-day festival that showcases how small-town ingenuity and spirit can transform the coldest season into the most anticipated time of year.

3. Lake Placid’s Holiday Village Stroll Parade

Olympic heritage meets holiday charm during Lake Placid’s Holiday Village Stroll. Against the dramatic backdrop of the Adirondack High Peaks, this mountain town in New York State transforms into a Norman Rockwell painting come to life during the second weekend of December.

The parade features appearances by Olympic athletes past and present, who ride on floats alongside the Skating Club of Lake Placid performing routines on specially-built rolling platforms. The real showstopper? Santa arrives not on a sleigh but in a bobsled pushed by the USA Bobsled Team!

After the parade, families follow a torch-lit path to Mirror Lake where a synchronized skating performance takes place on the ice. The evening concludes with a magnificent fireworks display that reflects off both the lake and the snow-capped mountains, creating a double explosion of color in this winter wonderland.

4. Seneca Falls’ It’s A Wonderful Life Parade

“Look, Daddy! Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!” This famous line echoes through Seneca Falls each December during their magical It’s A Wonderful Life Parade. Many believe this charming canal town inspired Bedford Falls in the beloved holiday film.

The parade kicks off a weekend-long festival with floats recreating movie scenes, actors portraying characters, and thousands of jingle bells ringing simultaneously. Local fire trucks decked in holiday lights lead the way while marching bands play the film’s iconic soundtrack.

The celebration gained national attention when Karolyn Grimes, who played Zuzu Bailey in the original film, began making annual appearances. She leads the parade through downtown, waving to crowds from a vintage car while everyone shouts the movie’s most famous lines!

5. Ticonderoga’s Fife & Drum Corps Christmas March

History reverberates through the streets of Ticonderoga during their annual Fife & Drum Corps Christmas March. This isn’t your typical holiday parade – it’s a living history lesson where Revolutionary War reenactors in full military dress lead a torchlight procession through this strategic fortress town.

The march begins at historic Fort Ticonderoga with cannon fire announcing the start of festivities. Participants follow the Corps through town, many carrying period-appropriate lanterns instead of modern flashlights. The procession pauses at designated spots where historical interpreters share stories of how Continental soldiers celebrated Christmas during the Revolutionary War.

The evening reaches its crescendo at the Heritage Museum where participants gather around a massive bonfire for wassail, historic carols, and a reading of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” – first published in 1823 when many of Ticonderoga’s buildings were already standing. It’s Christmas with a patriotic twist that only this historic town could deliver!

6. Hammondsport’s Keuka Lake Christmas Boat Parade

“Who needs reindeer when you have boats?” That’s the unofficial motto of Hammondsport’s Keuka Lake Christmas Boat Parade, a uniquely waterborne celebration in this Finger Lakes village. Local boat owners transform their vessels into floating holiday displays that process along the Y-shaped lake’s northern arm.

Unlike summer boat parades, this December event requires serious dedication from participants who brave chilly temperatures to decorate their crafts with thousands of lights powered by generators. The vessels – ranging from tiny kayaks to luxurious pontoons – create a magical reflection on the winter waters as they glide past the village.

The parade concludes at the town pier where judges award prizes for categories like “Most Likely to Cause a Power Outage” and “Best Floating Sleigh.” Afterward, spectators warm up with hot beverages from one of the town’s local businesses.

7. Medina’s Parade of Lights

When darkness falls early on the first Saturday in December, Medina’s historic Main Street erupts into a spectacular Parade of Lights that transforms this Erie Canal town into an electric wonderland. Unlike daytime parades, this evening procession showcases floats adorned with up to 100,000 lights each, creating a magical atmosphere in this 19th-century sandstone village.

Local businesses and community organizations spend months designing elaborate moving displays that incorporate both holiday themes and nods to the town’s rich canal heritage. Fire trucks wrapped in synchronized LED light shows pulse to holiday music, while dance teams perform routines in illuminated costumes.

The grand finale features Santa arriving atop the town’s antique fire engine, signaling the lighting of the community Christmas tree beside the historic Erie Canal basin. This parade has grown so popular that this village of just 6,000 residents welcomes over 30,000 visitors for this single-night spectacle!

8. Cold Spring’s Hudson Highlands Twilight Parade

Perched dramatically on the Hudson River with mountains rising behind it, Cold Spring hosts a Twilight Parade that celebrates both holiday traditions and the natural beauty of the Hudson Highlands. This intimate procession winds through narrow 19th-century streets still lit by historic lampposts that complement the parade’s magical ambiance.

The celebration begins at dusk when children carrying handmade paper lanterns lead the way from the riverfront gazebo up Main Street. Local musicians perform on porches along the route, creating a series of musical vignettes that parade-goers experience as they pass.

What makes this parade special is the community’s commitment to an eco-friendly celebration. Floats are human-powered rather than motorized, decorations are predominantly handcrafted from natural or recycled materials, and the parade concludes with a community tree-lighting ceremony featuring a living tree that remains planted year-round – a fitting tribute to this village nestled among protected wilderness.