Jonesboro Christmas Parade Set for Dec. 5 with ‘Candy Christmas’ Theme

JONESBORO, Ark. — The 78th Annual Jonesboro Christmas Parade will bring holiday spirit downtown on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025.

The parade begins at 7 p.m. at the intersection of Main and Cate streets and will travel south on Main to Oak Street — the reverse of the usual direction. The goal is to bring a touch of nostalgia to Main Street, organizer Heather Talley told NEA Report, adding that with all the chaos and worry in the world, it’s a fun opportunity for Jonesboro to come together, give back to the community, and maybe put smiles on some faces in the process.

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Road closures along the route will begin at 1 p.m. on Dec. 5.

This year’s theme, “Candy Christmas,” invites participants to showcase their sweetest takes on the holiday season. Nonprofit organizations can participate at no charge, though auto and ATV clubs are excluded from that category. First-place winners from the 2024 parade will also receive free registration this year.

Talley says registration is open now through 5 p.m. on Nov. 28, with no late entries accepted. Parade information, including registration details and route maps, is available at jonesborochristmasparade.com.

“Our greatest need right now is sponsorship and parade participants,” Talley said, adding that last year, over 100 entrants participated. This year, they hope to have even more.

A performance zone will be set up in front of the Craighead County Courthouse. There will also be a snack zone nearby, and vendors are needed for that. Anyone wanting to join the vendor group must provide their business license, business entity information, and health department approvals.

The event will also include a sensory-friendly station and an ADA-accessible seating and parking area to accommodate attendees with special needs.

“We feel everyone should get to enjoy the parade and are working diligently to make sure we have accommodations available to make that happen,” Talley said.