Bundle up the little ones and bring your holiday spirit downtown for the Baytown Christmas Parade, Friday, December 4 (Please note that due to winter weather conditions, the parade has been postponed until Friday, December 11) at 6:30 p.m. The annual parade, which features lighted floats, marching bands, decorated vehicles, and Santa riding an historic 1947 fire engine, is one of Baytown’s most beloved events. This parade kicks off the Christmas on Texas Avenue Festival.
Baytown Parks & Recreation, who sponsors the event, anticipates over 200 entries in this year’s parade as it progresses down Texas Avenue, beginning on Market Street and ending on Commerce Street. A panel of judges will hand out awards to winning entries, including, Most Entertaining, Most Creative, and Most Original, as well as a variety of “Best of” awards.
Parade organizers hope the theme “Under the Christmas Tree” will evoke memories of past Christmases to both the young, and young at heart; and the cold weather predicted can only make for a more traditional Christmas atmosphere.
“With winter-like temperatures more like the North Pole than Baytown expected, it’s going to look and feel a lot like Christmas,” said Kylie Wilson, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation. “We’re expecting a strong turn out as the weather puts people into a holiday mood.”
Despite a variety of rumors stating that the event has been canceled, Wilson says that the parade will go on as scheduled unless the weather becomes a problem. With the possibility of freezing rain or snow in the forecast, the City will decide at 4 p.m. on Friday if the parade must be postponed. In the event postponement due to weather is necessary, participants will be called based on the information in their application and the general public will be notified on the City’s web page (www.baytown.org), on the Park’s marquees on Market and on Garth, and on BTV - Comcast Channel 16.
Due to the length of the parade and its route, the City of Baytown will be closing some roads and streets in the vicinity beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, December 4. Market Street will become a one way street (north-east bound). All parade vehicles must enter the line-up from West Main at Market Street near the Baytown Community Center. Any participants coming from 146 / J.B. LeFevre will be directed down Airhart to Market Street to enter the parade route from the end. Parade Line-Up will begin at 5:30 p.m.
The following streets will also be closed (beginning at 5 p.m.) These streets will not be re-opened until after the parade has past those locations.
- Decker Dr. / Market St. / Texas Ave.
- Lee Dr. at Market St.
- Carnegie at Market St.
- M.L.K (Stadium Drive) at Market St.
- JB LeFevre at Market St. (Vehicles will be re-routed down Airhart)
In addition, Texas Avenue, between Pruitt Street and Commerce, will remain closed through Saturday evening for the Christmas on the Avenue street festival.
For more information on the Christmas Parade contact Baytown Parks and Recreation, at 281-420- 6597.