Downtown Fort Worth is set to glow with more than 100 illuminated floats on Sunday, November 22, as the 44th annual GM Financial Parade of Lights returns to kick off the city's holiday season. The free, two-hour spectacle runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and promises festive performers, holiday decor, live music, and a finale appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The City of Fort Worth announced the date and time in a social media post, writing, “Fort Worth, get ready to shine! The 44th annual GM Financial Parade of Lights returns Nov. 22 at 6 p.m.,” and noting that attendees can “enjoy more than 100 illuminated floats and festive performances in downtown Fort Worth,” all for free, according to the City of Fort Worth
. The parade's route stretches 1.59 miles through downtown, according to
dfwi.org
, which describes the floats as professionally designed and illuminated for the occasion.
A Legacy of Lights Theme Ties Into Decades of Tradition
This year's parade embraces the theme “A Legacy of Lights,” per the same dfwi.org report, continuing a Fort Worth tradition that traces back to 1983, when the event began as an effort to celebrate the city's Central Business District. As reported by traveltexas.com, the parade illuminates downtown streets with floats, performers, holiday decor, live music, and hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights.
The GM Financial Fort Worth Parade of Lights has long been billed as an annual tradition in Cowtown, according to cbsnews.com, which noted that the 2025 edition was hosted from downtown by CBS Texas anchors Madison Sawyer and Carmen Blackwell. A prior version of the event's listing described more than 100 elements altogether, including floats, marching bands, antique cars, and horse-drawn carriages, per the dfwi.org page covering that year's return.
Free Viewing, With Reserved Seats Available for Purchase
The parade remains free and open to the public, though those hoping for a guaranteed sightline can purchase reserved Street Seats starting at $15.75 for children and $19.50 for adults, the dfwi.org listing states. The night's festivities are expected to conclude with Santa and Mrs. Claus making a special appearance atop their own finale float, according to traveltexas.com.
Some earlier event materials referenced a Sunday, November 23 date and road closures beginning at the intersection of Weatherford and Throckmorton Streets, but those references come from older dfwi.org postings and do not match the November 22 date confirmed for this year's parade. Readers planning to attend should rely on the newest scheduling details rather than that earlier information.
