Christmas Parades

Annual Crystal River and Inverness Christmas Parades

Lights, Camera, Christmas Spirit! The 2024 Crystal River and Inverness Christmas Parade Theme is Patriotic Christmas!

Get ready to experience a festive celebration combining the magic of Christmas with a proud display of America. This year’s theme invites you to create dazzling floats that capture the essence of holiday cheer and patriotic spirit.

Imagine the streets adorned with red, white, and blue lights, festive decorations, and heartwarming displays. From stars and stripes to classic holiday symbols, let your creativity shine as we come together to celebrate a Patriotic Christmas.

Float Applications!

Remember, the magic starts with YOU!

We invite all community members, organizations, and businesses to join in the patriotic cheer and let your creativity soar! Now is the time to design your show-stopping floats that celebrate the spirit of a Patriotic Christmas. Transform your ideas into vibrant displays of red, white, green and blue!

Applications for floats are officially open! Whether you're a seasoned participant or a first-time entrant, we welcome everyone to be part of this festive celebration. Let’s come together to craft a memorable display of community spirit and patriotic joy that will light up the parade route and warm the hearts of all who attend.

To View the Parade:

The Crystal River Christmas Parade will begin SOUTH of the intersection of HWY 44 at NW 3rd Street. The floats will begin their journey entering HWY 19 between Walgreens and Sara’s Diner and exit at Paradise Point, just past Truist Bank. Spectators will be able to utilize BOTH sides of HWY 19 to view the parade floats from a safe distance. The parade is scheduled to begin at 6PM on December 7th.

Traffic Detour Information:

North and South bound traffic on HWY 19 will be detoured between the HWY 44 intersection (across from La Casita Mexican Restaurant) through Martin Luther King Blvd (at the Winn-Dixie Plaza) beginning at 5PM, December 7th. The closure is estimated to last through 9PM, December 7th. Through-traffic can utilize Martin Luther King Blvd.

Additional Road Closures:

You can also expect the following downtown Crystal River roads to be closed to through-traffic from 2PM – 7PM:

- N Citrus Ave

- NE 5th St

- NE 4th St

- NE 3rd St

To View the Parade:
Park along W. Main St. beginning in the area of Cherry Ave. (Next to Taco Bell), the parade will enter W. Main St. by Dunkin Donuts and head east toward downtown Inverness, then turn off at E. Grace St. right after Mama's Kuntry Kafe. The parade will then follow Grace St. towards HCA Florida Citrus Hospital, following the curve to the right, turning left to continue on to Grace St., turning left on S. Line Ave., then turning right onto W. Highland Blvd., ending at Citrus High School.

Traffic Detour Information:

Main Street will be closed from Hwy. 44 East to Montgomery Ave. All traffic will be detoured around Main Street via Montgomery Ave. and W. Highland Blvd. N. Apopka Ave., E. Dampier Street, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. will be closed; traffic will be detoured down E. Dampier St. to N. Seminole Ave. onto Tompkins St. Grace St. will be closed; all traffic will be detoured via W. Highland Blvd.

Gospel Island residents will use Zephyr Street and Tompkins St. to Hwy. 41 North.
Highlands South community can utilize alternate routes to 41 South by utilizing Hill Street and Inverness Blvd and Pleasant Grove Road by utilizing West Arbor Street.

Road Closures will begin at 10:45 AM and are estimated to last until 2:00 PM.