Crystal River Christmas Parade - 2025

Duration
Dec 06, 2025 6:00 pm - Dec 06, 2025 8:00 pm

Crystal River Christmas Parade
Theme: Holiday Favorites
Date and Time: Saturday, December 6, 2025 • 6:00 PM

Get ready to celebrate all your favorite holiday moments as the streets come alive with
dazzling floats, festive music, and the warmth of community cheer! This year’s theme,
“Holiday Favorites,” showcases all of our most-loved seasonal traditions, from cozy
winter wonderlands and classic storybook scenes to joyful popculture nods and
nostalgic holiday memories. Whether you dream of gliding through a snowy North Pole
village or dancing under a canopy of twinkling lights, your imagination is the only limit!

Spectator Information
 Viewing Route: Parade staging begins just south of the HWY 44 & NW 3rd St
intersection. Floats will enter HWY 19 between Walgreens and Sara’s Diner,
proceed northbound, and exit at Paradise Point (just past Truist Bank).
 Safe Viewing: Both sides of HWY 19 will be open for spectators. Please remain
behind the designated barriers and enjoy the show from a safe distance.
Traffic & Road Closures
 Detours on HWY 19: Beginning at 5:00 PM, north- and southbound traffic will be
rerouted via Martin Luther King Blvd (Aldi’s Plaza) until 9:00 PM.
 Downtown Closures (3:00 – 7:00 PM):
o N Citrus Ave
o NE 5th St
o NE 4th St
o NE 3rd St

Float Applications Now Open!
Businesses, nonprofits, schools, and civic groups! Bring your holiday favorites to life!
Visit our website to apply and guarantee your spot in the most festive event of the
season.

2025 CHRISTMAS PARADE
Crystal River – December 6, 2025 | Inverness – December 13, 2025

DISCLAIMER AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT

The undersigned hereby agrees on behalf of the Participating Business / Organization below that in consideration for participating in the Crystal River Christmas Parade to be held on December 6, 2025 in Crystal River, Florida and / or the Inverness Christmas Parade to be held on December 13, 2025 in Inverness, Florida respectively; s/he will make no claim against the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Crystal River, or the City of Inverness for any act, whether intentional or negligent, on the part of any person or object either prior, during or after the parade, including any claims that may be related to COVID-19. The undersigned further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce or the City of Crystal River or the City of Inverness from any act committed prior, during or after the parade on the part of the below-named participant which may cause harm to another person or property.

Further, the undersigned acknowledges that they have read the parade rules, disclaimer and hold harmless agreement and take responsibility for all participants of the applicant organization in connection with the parade activities. 

Business Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Name: ______________________________________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________________________

Parade Rules, Guidelines & Other Information
PARADE APPLICATIONS, PROOF OF INSURANCE AND DISCLAIMERS 
DUE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2025, by 5 p.m.

The commercial entry fee is per unit: Businesses can have up to two trucks, cars, boats, motor homes, etc.  Truck with a trailer is considered one unit.  More than two units per entry will be an additional $20 per unit. Entrant may not bring additional non-paid units on the date of the parade.   

No Fee Registrations: LEO, First Responders, Military Groups, (Seated) Government Officials, school bands/drill teams, and the 2025 Floral City Strawberry Pageant Princess. 

Crystal River Parade Check-in & Route Information will be sent out prior to December 6, 2025.
Inverness Check-In & Route Information will be sent out prior to December 13, 2025.

Please make sure everyone in your group knows what name parade entry was registered (ex: Lollygaggers Float). Please be sure children are accompanied by an adult.  IF the child is under 10 years of age, we recommend they ride on the float. There is not a point within the parade route, to stop and load in. Please note, be sure you share your float registration number with all participants in your group. This will assist our check-in volunteers in “pointing you” in the correct direction of your float/vehicle/group performance. For the safety of all pedestrian foot traffic, vehicles will not be permitted to travel up/down the streets once floats/parade vehicles/performers are in place.  

Judging and Guidelines:   
Award Categories: Best Commercial Entry, Best Non-Commercial Entry, Best Religious Entry, Best School-Related Entry, The Judges Choice Award
•    Judges will be along the parade route.
•    Numbers will be handed out at staging check-in. These need to be placed on the car in a clear visible location on the passenger side of the entry for the judges. 
•    Crystal River and Inverness - Floats will be viewed from both sides. All entries must be decorated and should be appropriate with the entry theme. Please ensure that decorations are well attached.
•    To avoid any confusion, Santa and Mrs. Claus are the GRAND FINALE (both parades). Santa is not to be included on ANY other float in the parade(s). Please note, if you do not comply with this rule, your float will not be allowed to participate in the parade, and your entry fee will not be refunded. 
•    All entries are encouraged to use appropriate music and creativity to add to the festive atmosphere of the parade. Please be considerate when setting the volume control while out on the parade route and in the staging area.
•    Due to space limitations, entries such as car clubs, tractors, motorcycles, 4-wheelers, etc. please keep registration to no more than 15 vehicles. Vehicles are not permitted to do any stunts, this includes burn outs, power slides, "donuts", etc. Please always keep wheels on the ground or you will not be permitted to return in 2026.  
•    All animal entries shall have a clean-up crew. NO EXCEPTIONS.

•    Absolutely no throwing, tossing, propelling from your float, vehicle, ATV, etc. candy, beads, glow sticks. This includes brochures, pamphlets, maps, flyers, business cards, booklets, advertising of any kind. You may provide an “Elf” to walk along the “sidewalk” side and pass out the above mentioned.  Failure to comply (no throwing of items) by a parade participant, will result in participant’s float/vehicle being removed from the parade, and not being invited back to future parades.

 Chamber Christmas Parade Award Mixer
Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 5pm-7pm
Sweet Citrus Acres 
3995 N Turkey Oak Dr., Crystal River, FL 34428

Parade participants are encouraged to decorate in accordance with the Christmas theme.  Vehicles and/or floats that are not decorated for the holidays will not be permitted to participate in the parade route.
 
Parade Rules & Information:
•    Proof of Insurance, Waivers, Disclaimers, and completed registration applications (online) must be completed/submitted by November 29th, 2025 - 5:00pm.
•    Please remember, upon check-in day of, to move quickly to your space/staging.  Here you will begin the final touches to your float.  If a vehicle is assisting in load-in, please drop and move quickly.  Please make these arrangements prior to day of check-in (Missy at events@citruscountychamber.com).
•    Check-in Crystal River location: Behind Big Lots at the corner of SE 1st Terrace and Three Sisters Springs Blvd., Crystal River.  Please have all the information at the time of check-in, ex: name of business and/or your assignment number, to expedite and prevent stacking on Three Sisters Springs Blvd.  Check in time, to be provided later.
•    Businesses may have up to (2) units (vehicles, boats, motorhome, RV).  If you need more than (2) units, please select the additional option and submit the $20 payment upon filling out the application.  additional vehicles arriving day of who have not registered, will be turned away.
•    LEO, First Responders, Front Line Nurses, Military, Government Officials (seated), High School bands, drill teams, color guard and/or flag core, the 2025 reigning Floral City Strawberry Festival Pageant Prince(s) and Princess(es) are at NO CHARGE to participate.  However, registration is still required online.  
•    Please provide a chaperone(s) for children under 12.  It is suggested that children under 10 yrs. of age, always remain on the float.  There are no stopping areas to safely load-in throughout the parade route.
•    Crystal River Parade will begin at the South end of the intersection Hwy 44 at NW 3rd Street. The CCSO will assist with directions, please NO STOPPING on Hwy 44, and NO Disembarking during parade route.  With the assistance of CCSO, you may turn on a side street and move your vehicle to another location to disembark at the END of the PARADE route.
•    Crystal River Parade Judges will be located at Lowman's Law - Crystal River.  Please have your number visible on the passenger side of the float.  Performance time may be possible, more information to follow as we approach the parade.
•    Inverness Parade check in located behind Citrus High School on South Montgomery Avenue. The parade will start HWY 44 and will enter W. Main St. by Dunkin Donuts and head east toward downtown Inverness proceeding South on Main Street, turning on West Highlands.  The CCSO will assist in directions, please NO STOPPING on W Highland Blvd., and NO Disembarking during parade route.  With the assistance of CCSO, you may turn on a side street and move your vehicle to another location to disembark at the END of the PARADE route.
•    Inverness Parade Judges will be located at Lowman’s Law - Inverness.  Please have your number visible on the driver side of the float.  Performance time may be possible, more information to follow as we approach the parade.
•    Floats need to be decorated on both sides.  However, as a reminder, the assignment number of your float is to be visible for the judges on the passenger side of your vehicle.
•    Santa and Mrs. Claus are the GRAND FINALE.  PLEASE NO SANTA and/or MRS. CLAUS on your float and/or vehicle.  You will be asked to withdraw from the parade, with no refund given.
•    Please secure all decorations safely.  All are encouraged to play Christmas and/or holiday cheer.
•    ABSOLUTELY NO THROWING, PROPELLING, SHOOTING, TOSSING Protectory Objects and/or CANDY from cars, boats, float, vehicle.  You may, however, pass out candy (suggested) provide an "Elf" to walk along the "sidewalk" and hand out candy, beads, literature, cards.  Please be advised, there is no stopping of vehicles for the "Elf" to catch up to said float.  Violators of this rule will NOT be permitted to participate in future Chamber of Commerce parades.  
•    All animal entries MUST provide their own clean-up crew.
•    No more than 15 vehicles per car club, motorcycle club, motorcross, and/or ATV group.  No stunts, tire squealing, or burnouts permitted.
 
Categories: 
Best Commercial, Best Non-Commercial, Best Religious/Denominational, 
Best Education/School & The Judges' Choice Award

Business Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Name: ______________________________________________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________________________