It's the most wonderful time of the year in Downtown Sanford! We are excited to welcome you to the 2026 Sanford Christmas Parade! This beloved holiday tradition brings our community together for an evening filled with Christmas magic, creativity, festive floats, and hometown spirit! IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR 2026 – PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING! This year, we are limiting the Sanford Christmas Parade to 80 entries, and all applications will be reviewed and selected by a Parade Selection Committee. Submitting an application does not guarantee participation in the parade. This means your application matters more than ever! We want to create a magical, entertaining, and memorable parade for the thousands of spectators who line our downtown streets. To help our committee select this year's entries, we need you to PAINT A PICTURE WITH YOUR WORDS! When describing your entry, be creative, thoughtful, and DETAILED! Tell us exactly what our committee can expect to see coming down the parade route.Will your entry feature elaborate Christmas decorations, twinkling lights, festive costumes, music, a special theme, or something completely unique? What will make your entry stand out and add to the magic of the evening? Photographs are NOT required. However, your written description should be detailed enough that our selection committee can clearly visualize your entry without ever seeing a picture.We encourage you to put thought and creativity into your application. Our goal is to offer a wonderful variety of entries that celebrate the joy of Christmas and make this year's parade one to remember! Application & Selection Process - Only 80 entries will be selected to participate in this year's parade. All applications will be reviewed by the Parade Selection Committee.Entries will be evaluated based on their descriptions, creativity, holiday spirit, and overall contribution to the parade. Incomplete or vague descriptions may impact your opportunity to be selected.Every applicant will receive an email notification informing them whether their entry has been accepted or declined. Please provide an accurate email address and monitor your inbox. If your entry is accepted, you will also receive an invoice for your parade entry fee. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. We cannot wait to see the creativity our community brings to this year's parade! Thank you for helping us make the 2026 Sanford Christmas Parade a magical experience for families and visitors of all ages. Now, tell us your Christmas vision, and let's make some holiday magic in Downtown Sanford!