Reston Town Center is shaking up its annual holiday parade.
Set to return for a 34th year on Black Friday (Nov. 27), the popular celebration will no longer include some of the larger balloons or horse-drawn carriage rides featured in the past, says a spokesperson for BXP, the main property owner and developer behind the town center.
According to the spokesperson, strong winds have prevented the giant balloons from being deployed in “several” previous years, including at the 2025 parade, making it harder to justify the cost of renting them. For 2026, the parade is instead going all in on festive floats, introducing an application process open to the community and grants for select groups.
The decision to stop offering horse-drawn carriage rides — the traditional method of travel for Santa Claus — stemmed from “safety and animal welfare considerations,” the spokesperson told FFXnow.
BXP says the move wasn’t prompted by any specific issues or incidents involving the horses at the holiday parade. It was just part of a “broader review of the event and how it continues to evolve.”
Nationally, the horse-drawn carriage industry has seen a decline in popularity in recent years, culminating in New York City’s recent passage of a ban, starting in 2028, that will end a centuries-old Central Park tradition.
“The best traditions evolve over time, and we’re continuing to invest in new ways to bring the magic of the holidays to Reston Town Center,” the BXP spokesperson said in a statement. “This year, we’re expanding the celebration well beyond the parade with new programming and experiences throughout the property.”
In addition to leaning more on floats in place of balloons, changes expected for the 2026 Reston Holiday Parade include a “glam station” where visitors can take selfies with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a sip-and-stroll option allowing visitors to carry around alcoholic beverages from participating restaurants during the tree lighting that concludes the festivities.
Organizers are also planning more live entertainment and performances than in past years, including a DJ adjacent to the on-site train rides, as well as gondola “activations” by the ice skating rink, which opened today (Nov. 10) for the 2026-2027 season.
“We know the annual parade holds a special place in our community and has become a cherished holiday tradition for generations of families,” the BXP spokesperson said. “As we look to the future, our goal is to honor what people have long loved about the celebration while introducing new experiences that create even more memorable ways to celebrate the season together at Reston Town Center.”
A post-Thanksgiving tradition dating back to 1992, the Reston Holiday Parade has been recognized in the past as one of the best holiday parades in the country by USA Today’s annual 10Best poll. The event is once again in the running for 2026, competing with the likes of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City and America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit.
Voting in the poll will end at noon on Nov. 30, with the 10 winners getting announced on Dec. 3.
This year’s parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and end with the tree lighting at 6 p.m. Sip-and-stroll hours will be 4:30-8 p.m.
Also returning to Reston Town Center for the upcoming winter holidays is PR Run and Walk’s Run with Santa 5K, which will take over local streets starting at 8 a.m. on Dec. 6.
