West Chester Christmas Parade’s Santa Float Gets a Makeover

Things to Do West Chester Christmas Parade’s Santa Float Gets a Makeover Long beloved in the area, the West Chester Christmas Parade has a new Santa float this season, along with other surprises for paradegoers. November 11, 2026 | By Anne E. Hill Share Facebook X Linkedin Print Copy URL Prefer us on Google West Chester’s Christmas Parade is a repeat Best of the Main Line & Western Suburbs winner for Best Family-Friendly Event. Each year, the parade rings in the holiday season for thousands of residents and visitors. And with every reoccurrence, it seems to get bigger, better and brighter. Case in point: this year, a new Santa float will be unveiled. We asked Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Laurie Ryan all about it. MLT: What prompted the need or want for a new Santa float? Laurie Ryan: Our most recent float for Santa in the West Chester Christmas Parade, built by Treehouse Group , has delivered Santa in style for five wonderful years after decades of evolving designs. But let’s be honest…even Santa needs a new ride every now and then! With a little North Pole inspiration, we decided it was time to reimagine Santa’s grand entrance to the parade on Friday, December 4. Our goal was simple: create an even more magical experience for families and add a new surprise to a beloved community tradition. We knew Treehouse World was the perfect partner to sprinkle a little extra creativity into this special project. - Advertisement - MLT: What can you tell us will be different this year? LR: We’ve intentionally kept the design under wraps because we want the entire community to share that magical “wow” moment together on parade night. [But]…we can tell you that Santa will have to do some extra climbing this year to reach his special perch. That makes it even easier for our more than 20,000 paradegoers to see him both up close and at a distance as he approaches their favorite viewing locations along the parade route. This year’s Santa float also has an especially whimsical “fairy house” flair thanks to the boundless creativity of Treehouse Group and the support of co-sponsor Lamb McErlane. Santa will make his grand entrance in a way that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. And we can’t wait to see the smiles and gasps of excitement. It’s always the most anticipated moment of the West Chester Christmas Parade. MLT: What do you think makes the West Chester Christmas Parade so special in our area? LR: In a world that’s turned virtual, the West Chester Christmas Parade is where hometown holiday magic and genuine community spirit still come together to make something truly spectacular. Each year, businesses, nonprofits, schools, performers, volunteers and families help create an experience that marks the start of the season. [It’s also] the beginning of six weekends of free family fun during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester. There’s nothing better than seeing generations of families lining the streets, making memories and celebrating together as the excitement builds for the evening’s grand finale: Santa Claus himself arriving to welcome the holidays to West Chester. MLT: Is there anything else paradegoers should expect this year? LR: Along with the debut of Santa’s brand-new float, paradegoers can enjoy more than 85 parade entries, including a special America 250-themed float, a celebration of East Side Little League’s trip to the Little League World Series and nine high school marching bands competing for top honors before a performance by West Chester University’s Golden Rams. We’ll also have all the traditions you know and love, plus a few surprises along the way. Come early for the 6:30 p.m. tree lighting with the cast of White Christmas, soak in the festive atmosphere downtown and get ready for an evening of holiday cheer, community pride and Christmas magic. [It all leads] up to the moment everyone has been waiting for: Santa’s grand arrival to officially kick off the holiday season. These shared memories are what the West Chester Christmas Parade is all about. - Partner Content - Fall Outdoor Living on the Main Line Exceptional Dentistry, Rooted in Community Celebrate the Season in West Chester Nov. 27–Jan. 3: Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester includes six weekends of holiday festivities with thousands of twinkling lights and free family fun including: Santa on a Fire Truck, cruising through downtown West Chester on November 28, December 5 and December 19 at 3 p.m. West Chester Borough Balladeer Carolers roaming the historic sidewalks in Victorian attire each weekend from November 27-December 19 on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons Free photos with Santa in front of West Chester’s spectacular 28-foot-tall Christmas tree Outdoor holiday concert featuring performances by West Chester Music Academy on December 12 from 2-4 p.m. on the historic Chester County Courthouse steps Seventh annual Christkindlmarkt on December 12 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Gay St. (between Darlington and Matlack) and Church St. (between Gay and Chestnut), presented by Downtown West Chester and the Chester County Art Association. Dec. 4: West Chester Tree Lighting at 6:30 p.m., Parade at 7 p.m. The eight-block parade route begins at the intersection of Market Street and New Street, heads east on Market Street, left on Matlack Street and left on Gay Street before ending at New Street. For more event details, visit the Greater West Chester website . Related: 10 Can’t-Miss November Events Happening Around the Main Line