The 55th Bluffton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, through Old Town, rain or shine. The town tree lighting is the Friday before. Entries due Nov. 20.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year. Facts come from the Town of Bluffton’s 2026 Christmas Parade Application and its Oct. 10, 2025, news release (PDF). The town has not yet published 2026 times; this page will be updated when it does.

The 55th annual Bluffton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, rain or shine, through Bluffton’s Historic District. The town holds its tree lighting and parade on the first Friday and Saturday of December each year, so the tree lighting falls on Friday, Dec. 4.

Who to call

What to expect

From the 2025 schedule, which the town says follows the same pattern each year:

  • Friday: the town’s tree lighting at Martin Family Park, 68 Boundary St. (5:30 p.m. in 2025), then Santa’s Workshop at the DuBois Park pavilion and a free movie under the stars (6:30 p.m. in 2025).
  • Saturday: the parade through the Historic District (10 a.m. in 2025).

The parade will be broadcast on The County Channel, with WSAV’s Andrew Davis and town spokeswoman Debbie Szpanka announcing entries at the judges’ stand, according to the application. Judges award Best Float, Best Performance and the “State of Mind” award.

Parking and roads

The town says there is no parking along the parade route from 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Expect closures on Old Town streets for the parade; the town will post the route and detours closer to the day. Lost items handed to town staff go to the Bluffton Police Department substation at 1264 May River Road, where owners can collect them from 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7.

Entering the parade

  • Deadline: Friday, Nov. 20, 2026.
  • Limit: 125 entries, first come, first served. Apply early.
  • No fee: the town asks entrants to donate any amount to the Mayor’s Stay Safe Bluffton Scholarship Fund, managed by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.
  • Holiday theme required. Undecorated vehicles used only to promote a business are not accepted.
  • No Santa costumes. The parade has one official Santa Claus.
  • No throwing. Candy and giveaways are handed out by walkers only.
  • Floats may be no taller than 14 feet and no wider than 12 feet. Animals must stay at least 10 feet from spectators and from other entries.
  • Drivers need a valid license, and vehicle owners need liability insurance of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence.

Apply online, or mail, email or drop off the application at Town Hall, 20 Bridge St., P.O. Box 386, Bluffton, SC 29910.

What this means for you

  • Mark Friday, Dec. 4, for the tree lighting and Saturday, Dec. 5, for the parade.
  • Park off the route before 7 a.m. on parade day.
  • Groups that want to march should apply now; the 125 places go in order.
  • Rain or shine: the town cancels only for unsafe weather and does not reschedule.

More: things to do this month and getting around Bluffton.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Bluffton Christmas parade in 2026?

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, rain or shine, through Bluffton’s Historic District. It is the 55th annual parade. In 2025 the parade stepped off at 10 a.m.

When is the Bluffton tree lighting?

The town holds its tree lighting the first Friday of December, the night before the parade, which is Friday, Dec. 4, in 2026. In 2025 it began at 5:30 p.m. at Martin Family Park, followed by Santa’s Workshop and a movie.

How do I enter the Bluffton Christmas parade?

Apply on the Town of Bluffton’s online parade application by Friday, Nov. 20, 2026. Entries are first come, first served, with a limit of 125, and the town asks for a donation to the Mayor’s Stay Safe Bluffton Scholarship Fund instead of a fee.

Can you throw candy in the Bluffton Christmas parade?

No. Throwing candy or anything else from vehicles or floats is prohibited. Walkers may hand candy to spectators, and spectators may not go into the road to collect items.