The Columbus Festival of Lights Parade rolls through downtown Columbus, Indiana, on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m., with organizers adding more craft vendors and food trucks to this year's lineup of floats, marching bands and Santa's arrival. The parade has only a few of its 100 entry slots left, and volunteers are still finalizing logistics for the mile-long route.
A Nonprofit's Decades-Long Tradition
As reported by The Republic, the parade began on Dec. 4, 1993, with just 52 units and now draws a far larger crowd under the theme Stars, Stripes and Holiday Lights. Organizers say the event attracted at least 13,000 people last year, based on cell phone data, with organizers estimating turnout at more than 15,000 including children, up from the 8,000 to 10,000 people it typically drew in previous years. The parade is organized by Red Arch Community Events, a nonprofit led by two community-focused women in Columbus, according to the organization's About Us page.
Red Arch funds its event budget through sponsorships, entry fees, vendor fees and a grant from the Columbus Area Visitors Center, and the nonprofit donates a portion of its profits to local child-focused causes. The group says it has donated more than $20,000 to child-focused causes over the past three years, according to the same Republic report. Amy Stoughton Berquist, the organization's chief financial officer, called the parade one of Columbus' biggest events and said the volunteer committee and event-day helpers are essential to pulling it off. Sarah Forbes serves as Red Arch's president.
Volunteers and Safety on the Route
About 60 volunteers are expected to staff the route itself, part of a broader 20-member volunteer committee that works year-round on the event. Red Arch coordinates with the Columbus Police Department and other safety officials to keep the procession secure. The route runs north on Washington Street, east on Third Street, south on Brown Street and continues west on Eighth Street, covering about a mile and lasting roughly an hour.
Three local radio stations will provide emcee announcements at multiple points along the route this year, a change meant to let attendees spread out rather than cluster near Third and Washington streets, where announcements were previously made exclusively. The parade itself includes holiday floats from area companies and organizations, marching bands, walking groups and Santa's arrival.
New Vendors and a Nonprofit Showcase
Food trucks and vendors will set up on Fourth Street between Jackson and Franklin streets on Dec. 5, and organizers plan to add more craft vendors and food trucks to this year's event. The Columbus Parks and Recreation Department will also host a nonprofit showcase the same day. Families can get Pictures with Santa from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Commons, while Jackson County Bank presents Sammy's Fun Zone, offering free children's activities from 2 to 5 p.m.
Among the groups hoping the exposure pays off is Students Fund of Hope, which entered the parade for the first time in 2025. Founder and president Whitney Budd, who has attended the parade since childhood, said the entry substantially increased the organization's exposure, even though many people still do not know about the group, which helps struggling families cover essential needs.
How to Get Involved Before Dec. 5
Red Arch is still accepting sponsors and volunteers, and anyone interested in entering, sponsoring or volunteering can reach out through columbusfestivaloflights.com or by calling Amy Stoughton Berquist at 812-552-4737. With only a handful of the parade's 100 entry slots remaining, organizers are encouraging interested groups to act quickly as the Dec. 5 date approaches.
