The Reston Holiday Parade has been selected as one of the 20 best holiday parades in the U.S. — and it has a chance to join the top 10.
Set to return next Friday, Nov. 24, the annual Reston Town Center tradition is competing against such high-profile events as Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, to be named one of the country’s 10 best holiday parades by USA Today’s 10Best, which provides travel and lifestyle advice.
The 2023 Readers’ Choice Award nominees were initially submitted by the expert panel and then narrowed down to 20 choices by the 10Best editors.
Public voting for the top 10 is currently underway. Voters must be at least 18 years old and can cast one vote per day until the poll concludes at noon on Nov. 29. The winners will be announced on Dec. 8.
Now in its 32nd year, the Reston Holiday Parade previously ranked at no. 8 in the USA Today 10Best poll in 2019, and it currently sits in that spot on the leaderboard for this year’s Best Holiday Parades ranking.
Starting at 11 a.m. on Market Street, the hour-long, half-mile parade features Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage, antique cars, dances and floats carried by guests. There will also be live entertainment, including the Herndon High School marching band.
The festivities will conclude at 6 p.m. with the Clauses lighting a tree on Market Street.
The parade also came in at no. 60 in a poll conducted in October by Mixbook, a photo book brand, on the country’s most cherished Thanksgiving traditions. Events were ranked based on celebrations that respondents most wanted to experience.
Philadelphia’s 6abc Dunkin’ Parade topped the list, followed by Detroit’s America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Missouri’s Thanks-for-Giving Parade came in third.
“As we embrace these cherished Thanksgiving events, we’re not just celebrating traditions, but also enjoying what makes each community across America so special,” Mixbook Director of Brand Leslie Albertson said.
Reston Town Center’s holiday parade is set for this Friday (Nov. 25), kicking off a series of holiday events for the season.
The annual parade, now in its 31st year, will march down Market Street at 11 a.m.
At the conclusion of the half-mile-long parade, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will arrive on a horse-drawn carriage. The event also includes balloons, entertainment, and marching bands.
Following the parade, the couple will be on hand for the town center’s annual Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m.
The parade is sponsored by Reston Town Center, Reston Community Center and Reston Town Center Association.
A character meet and greet is slated for 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Fountain Square. Mini-train rides are scheduled for 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the pavilion. Horse-drawn carriage rides take place between 6-10 p.m. at the pavilion as well.
Parking is free in all garages on Friday.
As in previous years defined by the pandemic, parade bells will not be distributed.
“We hope to continue this popular tradition in the coming years when social distancing is not an issue,” event organizers said.
The parade has once again been nominated for USA Today’s annual Readers’ choice awards for the best holiday parades in the country.
