The 35th annual Holiday River Parade is Friday at 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the River Walk and it’s expected to have more attractions than in years past. The parade starts at El Tropicano Hotel. More than 30,000 people are expected to attend.
Paula Schechter is the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the Paseo del Rio Association.
“I think of the 2016 Holiday River Parade as the year of more,” Schechter says. “”We’re giving them more lights, more floats, more parade routes. We have some really fun little bumper boats that we’ve added to mix and mingle. They’ll be creating mischief by buzzing around and passing out candy canes.”
Schechter says for the first time there will be a scented ginger bread float sponsored by Starbucks that people will be able to smell as it passes by. There will also be carolers on some of the bridges. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, however you can see the parade for free at the beginning of the parade route if you get there early.