The Norman Christmas Holiday Parade has a new place in the evening. On Saturday, Dec. 5, Norman Parks & Recreation opens Winterfest at The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave., at 3 p.m. The parade steps off on Main Street at 6, and when it's over, the tree lighting and a drone show take place back on Jones Avenue.
For anyone who lives between campus and downtown, the change is bigger than a new start time. The parade now sits in the middle of the night. What used to be a 6 p.m. outing now starts mid-afternoon, and Jones Avenue is where it begins and ends.
Last December ran the other way
In 2025, the City of Norman billed Winterfest as the event that "immediately follows" the parade. Everything began at 6 p.m. on Main Street, and Winterfest activities filled Jones Avenue from Main to Eufaula afterward, according to the City's November 2025 announcement. That release also told families to follow Santa down the route at the end of the parade or meet at James Garner and Main for the tree lighting.
Last year's lineup was built for after dark. It had a tree lighting, a drone light show, performances by Massay's DanceStar Productions, Sooner Theatre and The Imaginaries, free hot cocoa from Beanstalk Coffee & Sno, bounce houses, mini train rides, vendors, food trucks and a live reindeer. Jeff Moody, a program coordinator with Norman Parks and Recreation, called it the "2nd ever Winterfest on Main" in that release.
This year the market moves to daylight. The parade committee's spokesperson said that moving Winterfest ahead of the parade and closing the night with the tree lighting and drone show makes "a full afternoon and evening of celebration in downtown Norman," according to the 2026 parade announcement.
Saturday, Dec. 5, in order
Here's the evening as the City of Norman and the parade committee have laid it out.
- 3:00 p.m. Winterfest opens at The Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave. The City's Winterfest page lists a holiday market with local vendors, games, photo opportunities and food trucks. The parade committee adds pictures with Santa, activities and entertainment.
- About 5:30 p.m. Main Street closes to traffic.
- 6:00 p.m. Winterfest wraps up and the parade starts. The two events meet at this hour. Winterfest's posted hours run from 3 to 6 p.m., and the parade starts at 6.
- Along the route. Spectators line Main Street from Pickard Avenue to James Garner Avenue.
- After the parade, back to Jones Avenue. The night ends with the City of Norman's tree lighting ceremony and a drone show.
The tree lighting takes place on Jones Avenue, not at James Garner and Main as it did last year. So after the parade, the crowd heads back to where the afternoon started. If you plan to watch from the east end of the route, give yourself time to walk back to Jones before the drone show starts.
What the earlier start does for Main Street
With the evening now starting at 3 p.m., Main Street gets a few shopping hours before the barricades go up at 5:30. Two of the newest storefronts are a good reason to show up early.
The Blue Rabbit, 205 E. Main St. Owner Amy Johnson described a gift shop stocking books, jewelry, shampoos, candles, food seasonings and more in The Norman Transcript's story on the shop. The Norman Chronicle reported a Sept. 5 opening date at the same address. Seasonings and candles are the sort of small gift you can drop in a bag and carry to the curb.
London Mae Needlepoint Studio, 309 W. Main St. The studio held its grand opening and ribbon cutting with the Norman Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 30. Founders Mariann Lawson and Leslie Long sell canvases, threads, fibers and accessories and also teach handwork, according to the studio's story page. The shop sits between University Boulevard and Webster Avenue, with store parking along Main Street.
The timing matters for that second stop. London Mae's posted Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. That leaves one hour after Winterfest opens at The Depot when both are going at once. The studio's west-side spot is also within the stretch of Main Street that closes around 5:30, and the parking out front is along that same street. If you're driving in for a canvas, go early in the afternoon.
Last year, the City described downtown parking for the holiday events as first-come, first-served and asked drivers to follow posted signs. If you live within walking distance of downtown, the 3 p.m. start makes walking in even easier than it already is.
A parade with a baseball theme
The 2026 theme is "Home Sweet Home Run for the Holidays." The grand marshals are the University of Oklahoma baseball team, which the committee describes as "fresh off their national championship victory."
"We are thrilled to celebrate both the holiday season and our incredible OU Baseball National Champions."
That line comes from an event spokesperson in the parade committee's announcement. The committee is encouraging entries with music, lights, movement and the baseball theme, and prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. Expect a lot of baseball on Main Street.
If your street, church, team or business wants a float, Friday, Nov. 20 is the deadline. Registration opened Nov. 1, and the parade is capped at 60 entries. Sign up through NormanChristmasParade.com or email [email protected].
The committee is a community volunteer group, according to the City. Sponsors so far are Oklahoma Electric Cooperative at the platinum level, First United Bank and Vision Bank at gold, and the Norman Board of Realtors and VisitNorman at silver. The City of Norman, Norman Parks & Recreation and the Norman Police Department are helping run the event.
Downtown again six days later
The Walker Arts District gets another evening the following Friday. The Norman Arts Council's 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk lists Dec. 11 as its next date after November. It's free, starts at 6 p.m., and brings shops, restaurants, offices, bars and concert venues together for dozens of arts events. The November walk is set for 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13.
So between Nov. 13 and Dec. 11, downtown Norman has three evenings to plan around. Dec. 5 is the one that now starts at 3 p.m.
I'll be downtown on Dec. 5 too, and I'm happy to share how I'd plan the day from your street, from where to park to which corner works best for the drone show. If you're also curious what your home near campus and Main Street is worth this season, Alaina Legendre can help. Get Your Free Home Valuation.
