TOLEDO — Santa Claus is coming to downtown Toledo tomorrow.

The 39th Annual Blade Holiday Parade steps off Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at 10 a.m., bringing a beloved holiday tradition back to the streets of downtown Toledo for a morning of music, color, and Christmas cheer. Families planning to attend should arrive early to find a good spot along the route.

The parade starts at N. Summit Street and Jefferson Avenue, turns left onto Jackson Boulevard, continues to Huron Street, and finishes down Washington Street. Street closures begin at 8 a.m., so drivers should plan for detours around downtown Saturday morning and allow extra time to get into the area.

More than 60 organizations are taking part in this year’s parade. Spectators can expect giant balloons floating above the route, marching bands filling downtown with holiday music, colorful floats, horses, and — as always — Santa Claus himself closing the parade, waving to the crowds as he makes his way through downtown.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Bay View Yacht Club, which will be handing out 2,280 books along the route — a gift for young readers to take home from the morning’s festivities.

The parade also carries a bittersweet note this year. The Blade is slated to stop publishing Dec. 31, as ToledoBuzz reported, so this year’s parade is effectively its farewell run under the Blade name. For longtime Toledoans, Saturday is a chance to celebrate a tradition that has kicked off the holiday season in downtown Toledo for nearly four decades — and to enjoy it one more time as the Blade Holiday Parade.

Bundle up, bring the family, and get downtown early. Whether you have claimed the same curb for years or are bringing little ones to the parade for the first time, Saturday morning is the time to be downtown. Santa steps off at 10 a.m. sharp.

A Santa Claus parade, via Wikimedia Commons.

Source: The Blade