Abbotsford's Annual Christmas Parade Coming December 6th

Tuesday, November 18th, 2025 -- 12:01 PM

Excitement, beauty and wonderment for people of all ages comes to downtown Abbotsford Saturday, Dec. 6, with the return of the 54th annual Abbotsford Christmas Parade.

This year’s event promises to bring more joy to spectators lining the streets of Abbotsford. The spectacle, featuring over 45 lighted non-commercial floats and hundreds of favorite movie and book characters and other cartoon and film performers, takes off from the TP Printing parking lot at 7:30 p.m.

Popular floats include renditions of Blues Clues, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Mother Goose, Coco and the Green Bay Packers. Appearances are expected from Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the 40-ft. Puff the Magic Dragon.

New this year will be a Toy Story themed float. Over 400 volunteers are needed to make the parade come to life, including more than 250 costumed characters, float pushers, drivers and members of crowd control.

Costume fittings have been taking place since early November. There may still be some characters and other volunteer opportunities available until the day of the parade. Anyone wishing to join the fun can contact parade chairperson Kris O’Leary at 715-360-0901.

O’Leary said the parade route will once again run east on Spruce St. to Second St., then turn west on Birch St. to 1st St., and then head south, back to Spruce St. Spectators will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for prizes from vendors along the parade route before the event begins.

Prize drawings will be held following the parade. Raffle ticket sales have been the main revenue generator supporting the Christmas Parade since its inception in 1971.

Prizes this year include:

• Grand Prize, $1,500 in Chamber Bucks (donated by Nicolet National Bank);
• 1st Prize, $1,000 in Cash (Donated by Loos Machine & Automation, Inc. and Jim Jakel Memorial);
• 2nd Prize, Pellet Grill (Donated by Smith Brothers Meats & Catering and Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home);
• 3rd Prize, $500 Gift Card (Donated by AbbyBank);
• 4th Prize, New Holland Pedal Tractor (Donated by Cherokee Garage);
• 5th Prize, $250 Visa Gift Card (Donated by Forward Bank);
• 6th Prize, $200 Yard Stone Gift Certificate (Donated by Baumgartner’s Lumber & Materials);
• 7th Prize, $200 Gift Card (Donated by Royal Credit Union);
• 8th Prize, $200 Gas Card (Donated by Kwik Trip);
• And 9th Prize, $100 Gift Card (Donated by Taylor Credit Union).

Many other events are taking place that day including:

• Abby Lions Club soup (Abby City Hall, 9 a.m. until gone);
• A vendor and craft show (Shoppes on Candy Cane Lane at Abby City Hall, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.);
• Photos with Santa Claus (Abby City Hall, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., sponsored by Jenna Jakel Photography and Design and the Curtiss Lions Club);
• A Scholastic Book Fair at the Abbotsford Public Library hosted by the Abby PTO;
• Lunch with Santa (Colby High School Cafeteria, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.);
• Lunch with Santa features a free lunch (with a canned goods or cash donation to support area food pantries) and a hot cocoa bar. Activities and games will be available, along with photo ops with Santa.

New this year will be a Christmas Extravaganza at Northern Lakes Vet Supply from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This experience will feature Christmas trees, porch pots and kissing balls for sale; milk and cookies with Santa Claus; and a chance to meet “Pickles the Reindeer.”

All proceeds from this experience will benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Marshfield. Bring the whole family, bundle up and enjoy the magic of the Abbotsford Christmas Parade.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.