Holiday River Parade Viewing Party

The Tobin Center is hosting a free viewing party for the 45th Annual Ford Holiday River Parade at the Will Naylor Smith River Walk Plaza on Friday, November 27. It's one of the city's big holiday kickoffs, and the plaza is open to the public, so you don't need a ticket to watch the parade go by.

The party is built around the parade itself, which is the main event. The plaza opens at 5 PM, and the parade starts at 6 PM. After the floats and floats clear out, the evening wraps up with the Lighting of the River Walk at 7 PM, and everything winds down by 8 PM. If you're coming with a group, getting there closer to 5 PM is a good call—it gives you a chance to snag a spot before the parade actually kicks off.

While the party is a free community event, Tobin Center members have a reserved seating area to watch the parade. If you're a member and want to claim a spot, you can request it by emailing members@tobincenter.org. Parking is available in the Tobin Center Parking Garage, which is a convenient bet for a night when the River Walk gets crowded.

So, the timeline is: plaza opens at 5 PM, parade starts at 6 PM, Lighting of the River Walk at 7 PM, and the whole thing wraps by 8 PM. It's free to attend, and the Tobin Center Parking Garage is right there if you're driving in.