Lighting Ceremony Parade

November 27 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association is pleased to announce the 34th Annual Lighting Ceremony Parade, presented by STCU, on November 27, 2026. Watch as the parade entries light up Sherman Avenue as they bring the Holiday Spirit to Downtown CDA with marching bands, dancing, music, and festive floats!

Then gather on The Coeur d’Alene Resort Lawn for carols and a countdown to a spectacular firework display complements of the Hagadone Corporation. At the end of the show, the switch is flipped and over 1.5 million lights brighten the downtown area!

The parade starts at 5 p.m. at 8th & Sherman and travels West on Sherman Ave. to the intersection of Government Way and Northwest Boulevard. The lighting ceremony and fireworks directly follow the parade.

Participant Registration

2026 Applications are Open!

Participant Registration

Applications to participate in the 2026 Lighting Ceremony Parade are open! Entries will be considered for inclusion and notified via email. Payment for entry must be submitted at the time of application to be considered. If entry is not accepted, payment will be refunded in full.

PARADE THEME

Theme: Santa's Workshop - With elves hard at work, reindeer readying for flight, and holiday magic around every corner, Santa’s Workshop is bustling with cheer!

APPLICATIONS

Due to the limited number of entries allowed, not all applications will be accepted.

You will be notified of the number assigned to your entry after applications close. The DTA reserves the right to position entries in the parade at our discretion or to deny participation if the parade entry guidelines are not met. All entries must be accompanied by the appropriate parade fee at the time of application.

PARADE STAGING
Staging will be arranged in blocks east of 8th Street on Sherman Avenue at 4 p.m. The entire parade route will be closed to through traffic, and no parking will be enforced on the route after this. The parade will begin at the intersection of 8th Street and Sherman Avenue and continue west on Sherman Avenue, ending at the intersection of Lakeside Avenue and Government Way, just before Northwest Boulevard.

LINE - UP
The Parade Line-up will be released the week prior to the Lighting Ceremony and will be emailed out to all participating entries.

WHEN: All participants must arrive by their assigned line-up time (between 4 p.m. - 4:30 pm). The parade will begin at 5 p.m.

WHERE: Beginning at the intersection of 8th Street and Sherman Avenue. Each group's line-up position is determined by parade officials. Line-up positions will be emailed to participants before the parade but are subject to change.

2026 Parade Route Map

Parking along the route will be restricted. Motorists must remove parked vehicles on Sherman Avenue by 1 p.m. on November 27.

Sherman Ave will be closed to all traffic from Northwest Blvd to 8th St. beginning at 3 p.m. Barricades will be stationed along the parade route beginning at 4 p.m. to help facilitate traffic flow and begin closing the route. All entries/exits to Sherman Ave between 1st and 8th Streets will be closed. No traffic will be allowed to exit Sherman Avenue until all pedestrian traffic clears. Vehicular traffic trying to exit the area after the festivities should plan to use 4th & 7th Streets.

Volunteer with us!

We could always use an extra set of hands! Join the fun on the other side of the event and have the opportunity to help with traffic control and logistics!

Contact the Downtown Association via email - at info@cdadowntown.com or phone at 208-415-0116 for inquiries.

The Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association is a 501C6 non-profit that was established in 1990 to provide services within the Business Improvement District. The DTA is a downtown management agency that maintains the physical appearance and quality of the downtown corridor, supports small businesses, and hosts monthly events creating a sense of place for the community.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Want to support one of Coeur d'Alene's largest community events and get your brand in front of hundreds of people? The Lighting Ceremony Parade brings locals and visitors together to celebrate the Holiday season! Contact the Downtown Association via email - info@cdadowntown.com or phone 208-415-0116 for inquiries.

The Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association is a 501C6 non-profit that was established in 1990 to provide services within the Business Improvement District. The DTA is a downtown management agency that maintains the physical appearance and quality of the downtown corridor, supports small business, and hosts monthly events creating a sense of place for the community.