Tis the season, North Texas! One of the city’s largest one-day, outdoor events is happening this weekend to kick off this holiday season.
The Dallas Holiday Parade is expected to draw thousands to the streets of downtown this Saturday. The event will feature floats, giant balloons, marching bands and lots of other festive fun.
Whether you are attending or will just be in the downtown area, here’s what you need to know to avoid the inevitable traffic woes to come.
Route, street closures and traffic impact
Breaking News
The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. and will last for about two hours. The route will start at the corner of Market Street and Commerce Street, proceed east on Commerce Street, right on Harwood Street, right on Young Street and disperse at Young Street and Akard Street, according to the city’s Office of Special Events.
Those that will be in the area should expect road closures that will disrupt traffic in the Central Business District and throughout downtown.
Earlier this week, crews began assembling bleachers in the parking lanes along Commerce Street, which will reduce available metered parking. Impacts to traffic can be anticipated throughout the day, however bleacher construction is not expected to interrupt peak rush hour traffic before 9 a.m. and from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., according to the Office of Special Events.
All of the bleachers will be removed and parking meters will be unhooded by 8 p.m. on Monday.
Here’s a list of roads that will be fully closed between Friday and Saturday along with the times of the closures.
A schedule of street closures for the 2025 Dallas Holiday Parade.
City of Dallas Office of Special Events
For more information, reach out to Jeffrey Giles at 469-628-5399 or jeffrey@dallasholidayparade.com. The city’s Office of Special Events can also be reached during regular business hours at specialevents@dallascityhall.com or by calling 214-939-2701.
Best way to get there
It is recommended that spectators take Dallas Area Rapid Transit to get downtown to avoid traffic and parking stressors. DART trains and buses operate daily from approximately 5 a.m. to midnight.
If you take the train, the following stations can get you within walking distance of viewing areas for the parade:
St. Paul, Akard and West End stations (Red, Blue, Orange or Green Line)EBJ/Union Station (Red or Blue Line and Trinity Railway Express/TRE)Convention Center Station (Red or Blue Line)Dallas Streetcar – Union Station stop
According to the parade’s website, you can also use the following bus stops to get close to the parade route:
Elm @ LamarElm @ GriffinElm @ Akard
DART buses will also detour around the parade route and staging areas. For more specific route changes near the parade, click here.
Additionally, DART schedules can be found here.
If you decide to go by car, there are a few parking garages in the area that will likely be available. Street parking near the parade route, however, may not be an option.
While the parade is free to the public, tickets for bleacher seats are currently on sale. Otherwise, it is recommended to get there early to find a good spot on the curb or nearby.