Colorado Springs Christmas parade: Route, parking and more | Arts & Entertainment

Tejon Street will be filled with colorful floats, dazzling lights, and Christmas joy as the Festival of Lights Parade returns to Colorado Springs tonight.
The beloved event will return for its 40th year, bringing holiday cheer downtown. The annual parade will feature nearly 100 unique floats, immersing Tejon in the holiday spirit.
This year’s theme is “celebrating the holiday season through the sights and sounds.”
Here’s what to know about this year’s Festival of Lights parade:
When and where
The Festival of Lights parade will take place Saturday, Dec. 7 at 5:50 p.m.
The parade will begin at the intersection of Boulder and Tejon streets, continuing along Tejon, and ending at Vermijo Avenue.
Parking
With any major event happening downtown, finding parking can be a hassle. This year, there will be free parking at these downtown parking garages the entire day of the parade:
•Bijou-Cascade parking garage located at 215 N. Cascade Ave.
•Nevada-Colorado parking garage located at 130 S. Nevada Ave.
•Kiowa-Nevada parking garage located at 127 E. Kiowa St.
Note: Click on each location for a Google map of the garage
Festivities ahead of the parade
Festival of Lights Family Fun Day
Visit the Pioneer’s Museum for a free holiday celebration ahead of the parade from 2 to 6 p.m. The festival will feature musical performances, crafts, face painting, and many more family-friendly activities. Starting at 6, the museum will serve hot cocoa and cookies. RSVP for the event here.
USOPM Winter Celebration
Before the parade, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum will host a Winter Celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature athlete meet-and-greets, indoor curling, artifact demos, and much more. Visitors will also have the chance to hold the Olympic torch.
Click here to purchase USOPM tickets.
Tuba Christmas
Enjoy holiday tunes at the annual Tuba Christmas performance just before the parade at 3:30 p.m. at Acacia Park.
Food Truck Villages
Savor different flavors of cuisine at three food truck villages open during and before the parade.
The food truck villages will be open from 1 to 9 p.m. at the Pioneer’s Museum, Platte Avenue and Tejon Street, and Kiowa Street and Tejon.
For more information about the parade and related events, visit the Festival of Lights official website.
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