Polk County will kick off its Christmas celebrations after Thanksgiving Day, and what better way to do so with lights, floats and lots of everyone’s favorite holiday songs.
There are a lot of parades in Polk this year, as Eagle Lake hosts its second annual parade and Lake Hamilton gets in the spirit by hosting its first golf cart parade.
The Ledger has compiled this list of 15 parades from Dec. 2 to 13 where residents can pull up a chair for the roadside, or waterfront, spectacle of the holiday season:
Pro Tip: Check your city’s restrictions, as some limit how far in advance you can stake out a spot.
Auburndale and Winter Haven
The city of Auburndale in partnership with the city of Winter Haven presents the annual Havendale Christmas Parade on Dec. 5, stepping off at 7 p.m. The parade starts at Spring Haven Senior Living, 1225 Havendale Blvd. SW, and ends at Publix in Auburndale, 606 Havendale Blvd.
Bartow
Join Main Street Bartow for its annual Magical Illumination Christmas Parade on Dec. 12, stepping off at 6 p.m., with a route that travels along Broadway and Main Street.
Davenport
Davenport will hold is annual Christmas Parade and Winterfest on Dec. 13 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Tom Fellows Community Center, 207 North Blvd. W. The parade steps off at 6 p.m. with the overall event featuring vendors, fireworks, a snow slide and a visit from Santa Claus.
Dundee
The Town of Dundee will host its 2025 Christmas parade with the theme “Christmas at the Movies: Lights, Camera, Christmas!” on Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. The parade steps off from the Winn Dixie Plaza, 28047 U.S. 27 in Dundee, and ends at Church on the Hill, 1111 Scenic Highway in Dundee.
Eagle Lake
TheEagle Lake Christmas parade will be Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. from the Eagle Lake Ball Park, 350 Cooley Road, and end at Eagle Lake Elementary school, 400 Crystal Beach Road.
Fort Meade
The Fort Meade Chamber of Commerce presents the annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. with this year’s theme being “Here we go a caroling…”. The parade lines up at Monument Park, Southeast 2nd Street, with family-friendly activities to follow.
Frostproof
Frostproof will hold its 33rd annual Christmas in the Country parade on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. The parade runs along Scenic Highway, from 3rd Street West to F Street West.
Haines City
Haines City will host is annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. The parade route will start at Hinson Avenue and Lake Elsie Drive, then follow the westbound lanes of Hinson Avenue to 6th Street, where it makes a right turn and goes back to Lake Eva Park.
Lakeland
The Junior League of Greater Lakeland’s 44th annual Christmas Parade with the theme, “Rocking Around Lakeland” will step off at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. The start will be signaled by fireworks over Lake Mirror. The parade starts at the RP Funding Center, travels east along Lemon Street, turns north on Tennessee Avenue, turns east on Main Street, north on Kentucky Avenue, east on Lake Mirror Drive, south on Lake Avenue, then west on Orange Street back to the RP Funding Center.
Lake Alfred
Celebrate with Light Up Lake Alfred 2025 when the city’s Christmas parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 in Central Park, 455 E. Cummings St., and will end about 7:30 p.m. at Frank C. Gardner Park, near U.S. 17-92 and Main Street. Festive activities follow at the park, including photos with Santa, hot cocoa and cookies.
Lake Hamilton
Lake Hamilton invites all to join the first Lake Hamilton Golf Cart Christmas Parade followed by a tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. The event will feature fun activities, including hot cocoa, cookies, movies and a visit from Santa Claus.
Lake Wales
Watch the annual Lake Wales Christmas Parade, presented by Rotary on the Ridge, on Dec. 13 starting at 6 p.m. The parade route starts at Polk Avenue Elementary School, traveling up First Avenue to Central Avenue, it will move toward Lakeshore Boulevard before ending at Orange Avenue.
Mulberry
Mulberry’s annual 2025 Christmas Parade, with the theme “All Creatures Great and Small” will take place Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. The route starts on Northeast 9th Street, turns on 17th Avenue, to 1st Street, north on Dr. MLK Jr. Avenue, then west on 5th Street ending at State Road 37.
Plant City
Plant City will hold its annual Christmas Parade on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. There’s a new route this year that starts at Collins and Ball streets, heads north to Reynolds Street, then west on Reynolds to Wheeler Street, south on Drane Street to the end of the route.
Winter Haven
A sparkling holiday tradition on the water, the annual Winter Haven Boat Parade featuring festively decorated boats takes to the Chain of Lakes on Dec. 6 starting at 6:30 p.m. off Lake May. The parade route brings boats through Lake Howard and Lake Shipp, ending about 8 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County has 15 Christmas parades this year. Here’s what to know
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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