Havendale Christmas Parade Returns Dec. 4, With A Second Winter Haven Parade Dec. 19
Neighbors from Winter Haven and Auburndale line the streets each year for the annual joint-city parade to kick off the holiday season.
The Havendale Christmas Parade returns Friday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m., along Havendale Boulevard, just west of U.S. 17 to 42nd Street in Auburndale. (Photos from the City of Winter Haven photo gallery)
Then on Saturday, Dec. 19, the Jewett Alumni Association will mark its 40th year with a second parade in Winter Haven.
The Jewett Alumni Association parade starts at 11 a.m. at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church. It ends around noon at the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center, with more community activities planned there. The route heads north on Second Street to Avenue O, west to First Street, north to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and east to the center. Road closures along the route are expected to begin at 10:30 a.m.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Havendale Christmas Parade in 2026?
Friday, Dec. 4, from 7 p.m. to about 9 p.m.
What is the Havendale Christmas Parade route?
It runs along Havendale Boulevard from just west of U.S. 17 in Winter Haven to 42nd Street in Auburndale. Winter Haven and Auburndale host it together.
When is the Jewett Alumni Association parade in Winter Haven?
Saturday, Dec. 19, from 11 a.m. to about noon. Road closures are expected from 10:30 a.m. The parade runs from Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church to the Winter Haven Recreation and Cultural Center.
How do you enter the Havendale Christmas Parade?
Entry details for 2026 have not been published. The city memo requesting the road closures does not address entries. The parade listings on the Auburndale and Winter Haven event calendars still carry 2025 information.
Do the Winter Haven December parades need state approval?
Yes. The road closures require a temporary closure permit from the Florida Department of Transportation. City staff asked commissioners on Oct. 26 to authorize the permit applications.
Sources: “FDOT Temporary Closure Permit Applications,” City of Winter Haven City Commission agenda packet, mywinterhaven.com, Oct. 15, 2026; “City Commission Regular Meeting Agenda,” City of Winter Haven, mywinterhaven.com, June 8, 2026.
