SCRANTON — Nora King expressed excitement as Santa Claus made his way down Biden Street in a horse-drawn carriage Saturday morning.
“He’s right there,” Nora, 4, of Throop, exclaimed, adding that she would like a horse for Christmas.
The appearance by the jolly old elf highlighted the 32nd Santa Parade, which also featured floats, high school marching bands, and various other performers.
Maureen Forman of Pittston attended the parade for the first time to see Wally, a therapy dog chosen as the parade’s honorary grand marshal, and his owner, Brian Machowski.
Machowski explained he and Wally serve as a therapy team at the Gino J. Merli Veterans’ Center in Scranton and the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport in Pittston Twp., and in residential hospice settings.
“The therapy work they do is amazing, and Brian is so nice,” Forman said. “It’s just such a nice gathering, I’m sorry I never came before.”
Santa waves to a large crowd as he makes his way through the street of Scranton during the annual Santa Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Santa waves to a large crowd as he makes his way through the street of Scranton during the annual Santa Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Champ, mascot for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders greets an enthusiastic holiday crowd at the annual Santa Parade in Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
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Santa waves to a large crowd as he makes his way through the street of Scranton during the annual Santa Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti noted that the Santa Parade on the Saturday before Thanksgiving starts the holiday fun in the city each year.
“Monday night, we will flip the lights on at Nay Aug Park, and then on Wednesday night, we’ll have the tower lighting,” she said. “There’s a whole lead-in to the holiday season in these next few days. The parade is a great tradition for our city. You see all the kids, all dressed up, having a great time.”
Dancers from Occhipinti Dance Academy take part in the annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
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Dancers from Occhipinti Dance Academy take part in the annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Susan Luchko of Dunmore — vice president of logistics for the Santa Parade — stressed planning for the event is a year-long process.
“After the parade is over, we start our meetings and start getting ready for the upcoming year … we don’t stop,” Luchko said. “We work on trying to get sponsors and volunteers early on.”
She added volunteerism has been dwindling over the years.
“We wish more people would come out and help, but we manage to pull it off,” Luchko said. “There’s a core group of seven of us on the board — it’s like a part-time job to put this whole thing together.”
Interest in the event continues to grow as more groups look to take part in the festivities, Luchko said.
“This year is the biggest parade we’ve had to date,” she said. “We have more than 1,400 participants, 108 floats, and four marching bands. It’s pretty massive.”
With the temperature hovering around the low 40s, hoards of spectators lined the downtown streets throughout the morning. The crowds remain consistent, no matter the weather, Luchko said
She recalled a year in the early 2000s where there was rain, sleet, and wind.
“The parade still went on, and people were still on the parade route,” Luchko said.
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
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The annual Santa Parade in downtown Scranton drew large crowds to the city on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Joel and Kelly Perkins of Scott Twp. watched the parade with their sons, Graham, 4, and Blake, 2 — a yearly tradition for the family.
“The kids like to see the floats and the marchers,” Joel Perkins said. “It’s just a fun thing to do on a Saturday morning. It’s part of the holiday season.”
The parade also provides a boost for some downtown businesses.
Tyler Connor, owner of DaVinci Pizza on the Square along Linden Street, decided to open early on Saturday to serve customers along the parade route.
“We’re not usually open in the mornings, but I was here around 8 a.m.,” he said. “We had some hot chocolate and coffee, and we made breakfast pizza and breakfast sandwiches.”