66th Annual Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade

The 2017 Theme of the Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade is “Vintage Christmas”, is honoring the Rochester Bicentennial along Main Street on Sunday, December 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The 66th event is presented by the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The Parade begins at the corner of Tienken and Rochester Roads and continues south along Main Street to Third Street in Downtown Rochester. Come early to find parking and a place to watch the parade. Nice weather brings out the masses. Your location along the parade route will determine the starting and ending times for you. While the parade begins at 2:00 p.m. at the north end of town, if you are positioned in Downtown Rochester, your “start time” may be closer to 2:30 p.m.

The Rochester Hometown Christmas Parade is the largest Christmas parade in Michigan with an average 3,500 parade participants who represent a collaborative effort among families, businesses, non-profit and civic organizations, as well as schools and universities. The Parade attracts nearly 80,000 loyal spectators, community organizations, floats, units of marchers, drill teams, marching bands, clowns, equestrian groups, fire trucks and Michigan dignitaries.

The 2017 Grand Marshals are Nancy and Steve Benedettini, and the Junior Grand Marshals are Kristen D’Souza and Kristofer Saba. All four were honored on Thursday evening at the Great Oaks Country Club at the Grand Marshal Celebration. Many thanks were given to all the hard working volunteers, generous sponsors, and dedicated Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce employees. Guests enjoyed food and drink, as well as time with Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will of course, be the final and most celebrated float at the parade on Sunday.