# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Grand Rapids, 2026

> In 2026, Christmas parades near Grand Rapids run Nov 21 through Dec 5. One of them is a parade of lights. Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade is Nov 21 and is free to watch. Holland Parade of Lights is Dec 1 and is free to watch.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 6 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/grand-rapids/christmas-parades/
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## Christmas parades

- **Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade** at Downtown Grand Rapids, Steps off at Division Ave. & Michigan St. When: Sat, Nov 21, 2026. Time: 5 p.m. (steps off about 5:15 p.m.); Santa reaches Rosa Parks Circle about 6:30 p.m., city tree lighting 6:45 p.m. Price: Free to watch. There’s a children’s letter-writing station with free USPS delivery to the North Pole. Official page: https://grsantaparade.com/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Holland Parade of Lights** at Downtown Holland, Holland. When: Tue, Dec 1, 2026. Time: 6:30 p.m. Price: Free to watch. It begins at the corner of 8th Street and Columbia Avenue and goes west on 8th Street to Holland Civic Center Place, 150 West 8th Street. Santa arrives with the lighted entries. The organizer says 2026 parade entries are full. That is the participant list, not a spectator sellout. The page does not post a spectator parking plan. Check the organizer for details. Official page: https://downtownholland.com/winter-events/ (checked 2026-11-10)
- **Grand Haven Jingle Bell Parade** at Franklin St. to Central Park, downtown, Grand Haven. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 6 p.m. Price: Free to watch. More than 80 lit floats wind through downtown to Central Park. Santa and Mrs. Claus lead the tree lighting and carol sing-along at the end. Official page: https://visitgrandhaven.com/events/jingle-bell-parade/ (checked 2026-10-31)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Rockford Holiday Lighting Ceremony** at Downtown Rockford, Rockford. When: Fri, Nov 20, 2026. Time: Evening (see page). Price: No tickets listed. Part of Discover a Rockford Christmas; the Holiday Stroll open houses run Nov 12-14. Official page: https://www.rockfordmichamber.com/discover-a-rockford-christmas-2026 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **Meijer Gardens Tree Lighting Ceremony** at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids. When: Tue, Nov 24, 2026. Time: 6–8 p.m. Price: Not listed. The lighting is in the BISSELL Corridor, followed by holiday music until 8 p.m. Official page: https://www.meijergardens.org/events/tree-lighting-ceremony-university-of-michigan-health-west-christmas-holiday-traditions/ (checked 2026-10-21)
- **Gaslight Village Tree Lighting** at Regatta Plaza, 2181 Wealthy St. SE, East Grand Rapids. When: Fri, Nov 27, 2026. Time: 5–8 p.m. Price: Free. The mayor and Santa light the 30-foot tree together. Kids can pet reindeer and roast s’mores. Official page: https://gogaslight.com/tree-lighting-ceremony/ (checked 2026-10-31)

## Parades and tree lightings that come back every year

- [Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade](https://littlesweekly.com/grand-rapids/events/gentex-grand-rapids-santa-parade-downtown/): next dates Nov 21, 2026
- [Meijer Gardens Tree Lighting Ceremony](https://littlesweekly.com/grand-rapids/events/meijer-gardens-tree-lighting-ceremony-frederik-sculpture-park/): next dates Nov 24, 2026
- [Holland Parade of Lights](https://littlesweekly.com/grand-rapids/events/holland-parade-of-lights-downtown/): next dates Dec 1, 2026

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6. Lists refresh Monday and Thursday. The email goes out Thursday evening.
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## FAQ

### When is the Christmas parade in Grand Rapids in 2026?
Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade: Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 5 p.m. (steps off about 5:15 p.m.); Santa reaches Rosa Parks Circle about 6:30 p.m., city tree lighting 6:45 p.m. (Steps off at Division Ave. & Michigan St.). Holland Parade of Lights: Tue, Dec 1, 2026, 6:30 p.m. (Holland). Grand Haven Jingle Bell Parade: Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 6 p.m. (Grand Haven).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Grand Rapids?
Rockford Holiday Lighting Ceremony at Downtown Rockford: Fri, Nov 20, 2026, Evening (see page). Meijer Gardens Tree Lighting Ceremony at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park: Tue, Nov 24, 2026, 6–8 p.m. Gaslight Village Tree Lighting at Regatta Plaza, 2181 Wealthy St. SE: Fri, Nov 27, 2026, 5–8 p.m. The full list is on the [tree lighting page](https://littlesweekly.com/grand-rapids/christmas-tree-lighting/).

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Grand Rapids free?
Four of the six we list are free to watch: Gentex Grand Rapids Santa Parade, Gaslight Village Tree Lighting, Holland Parade of Lights and Grand Haven Jingle Bell Parade. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).