Parade day in Salem – here’s all you need to know to watch and get into the spirit

Families lined the streets for the Salem Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 26 (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)

The Downtown Salem Holiday Parade takes to the streets in Salem Friday evening, featuring a longer route and more entries than last year.

Here’s what you need to know:

The route:

 Start time: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1.

Route: Four times longer than in 2022.

Entries: 49.

Snow balls: Watch for Buddy the Elf near the front of the parade.

Lights: 130,000 holiday lights.

Tree lighting: After the parade at intersection of Northeast Liberty and Court Street. Bonus: Sing-along.

Sponsor: Salem Main Street Association.

Forecast: Rain likely, breezy with a temperature in the 40s. Jim Vu, president of the association, was undeterred: “We live in the Northwest. There’s no bad weather, just bad layering choices.”

Parade order of entries:

  1. Color Guard ­(walking group)
  2. Salem Main Street Association Volunteers (walking group)
  3. Buddy the Elf – Alex & Ted Ferry – State Farm (float)
  4. Children’s Educational Theatre (walking group)
  5. The Bridal Gallery (vehicle)
  6. Sprague Olympian Marching Band
  7. Interstate Championship Games (vehicle)
  8. Salem Descenders (walking group)
  9. T-Mobile (float)
  10. Bark Boys Inc. (vehicle)
  11. Haven’s Urban Movement (vehicle)
  12. Center 50+ (walking group)
  13. Gilbert House Children’s Museum (float)
  14. City of Salem – Mayor Chris Hoy (vehicle)
  15. World Beat Dragon Boat Club–Salem Multicultural Institute (float)
  16. ABC Window Cleaning (vehicle)
  17. CASA of Marion County (walking group)
  18. Salem First Presbyterian Church (vehicle)
  19. Oregon Native American Education Foundation (float)
  20. McKay High School Cheer (walking group)
  21. SVN Commercial Advisors (float)
  22. Gene McMurrin Inc. (vehicle)
  23. Salem Capitals Basketball (walking group)
  24. Obsidian Bodyworks/LouJean Fobert Graphic Design (vehicle)
  25. Marion County 4-H, OSU Extension (walking group)
  26. PAC/WEST/Salem Chamber Emerging Leader (float)
  27. Oregon National Guard Military (vehicle)
  28. Girls Rugby Inc. (walking group)
  29. Servpro Salem West-Team McGinnis (float)
  30. North Salem Marching Band
  31. Scout Troop 9009 (walking group)
  32. Marion County Sheriff’s Office (vehicle)
  33. Bankers Life (float)
  34. Training 4 Responders LLC (vehicle)
  35. ALIVE Youth Ministries at New Harvest Church (vehicle)
  36. The Potters House (float)
  37. Quevcor Homes (float)
  38. Garten (vehicle)
  39. FREE CHURCH (float)
  40. Marion & Polk Early Learning Hub/Dolly Parton Imagination Library (float)
  41. Friends of Will Lathrop (walking group)
  42. Junk911 (float)
  43. Willamette University Art Senior Thesis Class (walking group)
  44. Marion County Democrats (float)
  45. Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter (vehicle)
  46. Oregon Capital Watch Foundation (float)
  47. Marion County Fire District #1 Volunteers (vehicle)
  48. Marion County Fire District #1 Volunteers (vehicle)
  49. Santa and Marion County Fire District #1 Volunteers (vehicle)

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