It's "Season of Joy" Thursday Night At The Lakeland Christmas Parade

LAKELAND, FL — Lakeland residents will be able to enjoy one of the city's holiday favorites this season after 2020's COVID-19 cancellation—The 40th Annual Lakeland Christmas Parade themed"Season of Joy."

Recognized as one of Lakeland’s largest annual events, parade participants step off from the RP Funding Center to begin their 1.25-mile course winding through the city’s streets, around Lake Mirror and back down Lemon Street, according to city officials. Parade participants deck out their floats to reflect each year’s theme, which in past year’s has included “The Giving City” and “A Storybook Christmas," the city's website said.

The parade begins Thursday at 7 p.m. in downtown Lakeland.

“We have 88 participants this year,” Kevin Cook, city of Lakeland director of communications, told WFLA. “Now that’s down a little bit from previous years. Again I hate to keep saying the COVID word but I do believe that’s because of COVID and it was just not on everyone’s mind because of registration time.”

Fireworks at Lake Mirror Park kick off the parade Thursday night. The city considers this event as its official start to the Christmas season. Santa and Mrs. Claus will make an appearance toward the end of the parade.

If you are unable to attend the holiday festivity, you can watch live on the city of Lakeland’s Facebook Page, or Spectrum Channel 643, FiOS Channel 43 or Comcast Channel 5. The Facebook page also has a detailed parade route, chair placement information and parking.