Twinkling lights from decorated floats flickered against storefront windows and holiday music drifted through the air along Bryan Avenue. Children ran along the street waving glowing wands while families gathered with blankets and folding chairs along the sidewalk, as they watched Downtown Bryan come alive during the only lighted parade of the season.
Thousands gathered to attend this year’s Holiday Stroll & Lighted Parade on Thursday, Dec. 11, with Downtown shopping and activities beginning at 5 p.m. and the lighted parade kicking off at 7 p.m. According to event organizers, this year marked the largest parade to date and hosted over 80 participants decking out cars, trailers and other vehicles to coordinate with this year’s theme, “Rockin’ Around Downtown.”
Community Engagement Manager Caden Jones said organizers including The Bryan Police and Fire Departments, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Environmental Services and the City of Bryan came together to plan the record-setting celebration.
“This year is the largest parade we’ve ever had,” Jones said. “It’s really cool to see how this event and the parade continue to grow.”
Beyond the parade itself, the Holiday Stroll featured activities such as Santa letter drop-offs, free Polaroid photos and giveaways, with Downtown businesses offering hot chocolate, popcorn and extended shopping hours. Attendees were able to pick up a light-up wand and Christmas themed light-up memorabilia from various locations on the streets.
“It’s all about community connection and supporting locals,” Jones said. “We are really just getting people exploring, and hoping maybe they find something new downtown.”
This year’s theme tied into Bryan’s designation by the Texas Music Office as a Music Friendly Community and encouraged floats to incorporate live performances and musical inspiration. Jones said parade organizers hoped the theme would showcase local talent and spark creativity among participants.
“We really wanted to play into that and encourage floats to have live music,” Jones said. “It’s a really fun theme for the parade, and to see kind of where their imagination takes them.”
The event was a collaboration that relied heavily on both city support and local involvement, from permitting partners, to Downtown businesses that helped create a festive atmosphere. The event was also aided by local nonprofits, schools and local businesses, and Jones emphasized that the parade’s success stems from broad participation across Bryan.
“We really couldn’t do it without all of our community support and the Downtown businesses really getting involved in the parade and everything like that,” Jones said. “It’s really just kind of a culmination of our entire community coming together to put on a really fun event to make it something that everyone can enjoy during the holiday season.”
Bryan Independent School District, or ISD, Media and Community Relations Manager Clay Falls said the parade offers families and community members a chance to gather and celebrate the season while supporting local students. Bryan ISD showcases intermediate and high school student achievement across entries.
“It’s just a special community and getting to see thousands of people packed into Downtown,” Falls said. “It’s a caring community and you really see that on parade night, so it’s one of our favorite events to do as a district and to show everybody what we’re all about and celebrate the Christmas season with everyone here.”
Bryan ISD included a wide range of campuses and student groups in the parade, including high school as well as intermediate students.. Entries featured a variety of student organizations such as athletics groups and marching bands. Two additional floats were designed and decorated by Career and Technical Education students and Bryan ISD student ambassadors.
“The whole thing is really visually neat to see and you get to see a great sampling of what Bryan ISD has to offer,” Falls said.
Clothing designer and Bryan local Akira Carson opened up her booth in The Parker-Astin, a historic building and Downtown Bryan’s bespoke event space and art gallery. Carson offered clothing, hats and scrunchies during the holiday event. The center opened its floor for pictures with Santa, ornament making, hot chocolate and Christmas themed arts and crafts for kids to enjoy during the parade.
“It’s always good to have things for the kids that’ll bring out everybody,” Carson said. “My kids love to come here and see it while the downtown is so festive.”
Carson said she has been attending the event for years, and that it brings families in the community together with something nice to do during the week and gives them an opportunity to enjoy the holiday spirit.
“My girls have fun and they enjoy every bit of anything new coming into the event,” Carson said. “Over the years I have enjoyed more new memories. When we were younger the parade wasn’t like this, it just kept growing, so it’s an amazing feeling.”
