Be "Wrapped in Plaid" at the Springfield Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 13 at 2 pm. The classic Springfield event returns to celebrate the rich and varied threads of our community and highlight the holiday season, all wrapped in the warmth and tradition of plaid.

The Springfield Christmas Parade will march up South Avenue from Elm Street, circle the west side of Park Central Square and then continue east on St. Louis Street to the Springfield Expo Center. Featuring marching bands from local high schools, Louie from the Springfield Cardinals, the Abou Ben Adhem Shriners, BWI's spinning port-a-potty and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The parade will be led by the grand marshals, the Central High School Kilties Drum & Bugle Corps & Alumni, in celebration of their 100th Anniversary. The Kilties hold the distinction of being the oldest, continually running, all-female uniformed Scottish drum and bugle corps in the United States. They have been a proud Springfield tradition since their founding in 1926 by R. Ritchie Robertson. The parade honors the corps' century of excellence, community service, and dedication to tradition.

Preceding the parade, there will be a Christmas Market on Park Central Square beginning at noon. The market offers parade-goers festive holiday shopping opportunities. This also marks the final weekend to vote in the Downtown Holiday Window Challenge, where visitors of Downtown Springfield can cast their vote for their favorite holiday window display.

The celebration will continue in the evening after the parade with free horse-drawn carriage rides from 6 pm to 9 pm, provided by the Downtown CID, and the opportunity to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus below the grand Christmas tree in the square between 5 pm and 8 pm. Families are encouraged to make Saturday a full day of fun in Downtown Springfield.

The Springfield Christmas Parade is presented by College Station Theaters and managed by the Downtown Springfield Association. The Springfield Christmas Parade is also made possible through the support of the following sponsors: Downtown CID, Ozarks First, Phelps County Bank, and the City of Springfield.