LIVE STREAM: 2025 City of Venice Holiday Parade
begins 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov.29

2025 City of Venice Holiday Parade live stream provided by Venice Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Stages & Audio Support 

Each stage has an MC announcing the parade units, while judges from the Venice Area Toastmasters Club 5486 select six winners from the 100 participating units, bringing extra fun and energy to the night!

A heartfelt thank you to HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital for sponsoring this year’s main stage, and to WC Sounds for providing stages and audio. 

 

Parade officially begins at 6:30 p.m. from the corner of W. Venice Avenue and Ave Des Parques heading east (by City Hall). 

• The official start point of the parade is the intersection of W. Venice Avenue and Ave. Des Parques (by City Hall/Hecksher Park).
• The official end point of the parade is the intersection of Turin Street and Riviera Street (by W. Blalock Park/ Venice Community Center south parking lot). 

View the parade from: 

• Both side of Nokomis Avenue from W. Venice Ave to Turin Street 
• Westbound lane of W. Venice Avenue from Nokomis Avenue to Harbor Drive 
• Eastbound lane of W. Venice Avenue from Harbor Drive to Ave Des Parques (next to City Hall)
• Both side of Turin Street from Nokomis Ave to Riviera Street 

No viewing from:

• Eastbound lane of W. Venice Avenue from Harbor Drive to Nokomis Avenue, emergency access route and public safety drone operations 

From the start point, floats proceed on the north-side of W. Venice Avenue after crossing over Harbor Drive. From there, the parade turns right onto Nokomis Avenue heading south and travels down to Turin Street, making a right to the parade's end point near Riviera Street. 

Floats stage west of Ave Des Parques to Park Boulevard, and along Park Boulevard and neighboring side streets. Floats will unload at the Venice Community Center. 

 Your purchase of food, drinks, and trinkets helps support Venice High School team booster clubs to purchase uniforms, team equipment, sponsor team travel, and more. Located in areas along the parade route, the 2025 concessionaire vendors are:

Find public parking within in a short walking distance from the parade route, available first come first served:

• Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Ave, enter from Tampa Avenue or Nassau Street. NO access from W. Venice Ave. 
• Dr. Fred Albee Park, 245 St Augustine Ave, enter from Tampa Avenue
• Graser Park, 740 Barcelona Ave, use Tampa Avenue or The Esplanade to access 
• Hecksher Park, 450 W. Venice Ave, enter parking off Barcelona Ave, use Tampa Avenue to access 
• Venice Beach, 101 The Esplanade, use Grenada Ave, GO SLOW 
• Under the North/KMI Bridge near the VABI building, use Tampa Ave to access 
• Tampa Avenue, limited street parking 
• Miami Avenue, limited street parking, and public parking lot across from Burgundy Square Cafe
• Venice High School, 1 Indian Ave 
• Legacy Park, 395 E. Venice Ave, use N. Seaboard Ave to access
• Historic Venice Train Depot, 303 E. Venice Ave, just before the boat ramp entrance 

Venice Cultural Campus, 300 S. Nokomis Ave (Venice Library, Art Center, Community Center, Museum) is restricted/limited parking by pass only.

•  The south parking lot (entrance off Turin St.) is reserved for Elf Dash participants, parking pass required. 
• The north parking lot (entrance off Milan) is reversed for City staff and volunteers. 
• Venice Library parking lot (entrance off Milan Ave W), access from Harbor Drive to Valencia to Pensacola to Milan. No access from U.S. Business 4.1. after 3 p.m. 

NO PUBLIC PARKING AT CITY HALL. City Hall is reserved for parade staff and volunteers. Parking pass is required. No parking in near City Hall on W. Venice Avenue - active parade route, no parking near City Hall on Harbor Drive - staging area and road closure (active parade route). 

Locate public restrooms along the City of Venice Holiday Parade route:

Pre-parade entertainment begins one hour before the parade start time at Harbor Drive and Venice Avenue and at Nokomis and Venice avenues. Music begins to fill the air, the lighting of the downtown holiday decorations begin to sparkle with the sunset and the fun is just beginning.

• 3 to 6 p.m. FREE face painting, balloon twisting and caricature art, located at: 

• Centennial Park, 200 W. Venice Avenue, two face painters, two caricature artists
• Holiday 100 Block Party, one face painter
• Fountain Park, one balloon twister 
• City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave., one balloon twister 

• 4 to 7 p.m. FREE holiday music by the Venice Gondoliers at the Centennial Park Gazebo 

• 5:15 p.m. Starz Choice Dance Academy performance at the main stage, Harbor Drive & W. Venice Ave intersection

• 5:45 p.m. the Elf Dash returns for the second year in a row. Dash, jingle, and dance your way down the parade route for $25, registration closes Nov. 28. 

Sponsored by My Favorite Race Events, the Elf Dash kicks off the holiday parade dancing, jingling, an joy-spreading elves making their way down the parade route, ending at W. Blalock Park with hot chocolate a cookies.

Time/Date: 5:45 p.m., Saturday, Nov.29, 2025
Distance: 0.9 miles 
Time limit: All elves MUST cross the finish line within 20 minutes
Location: Race begins at the parade start line at the Harbor Drive and Venice Avenue intersection 
Parking: The south parking lot at the Venice Community Center is reserved for Elf Dash participants. Parking pass is required and must be visible.
Registration and race information: $25 Registration is required. Including packet pick-up, course route, and race rules can be found at  https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Venice/TheElfDash

Celebrating their 100th Anniversary, the Venice-Nokomis Woman's Club 
is the 2025 City of Venice Holiday Parade Grand Marshal! 

The Venice-Nokomis Woman's Club is one of the oldest not-for-profit civic organizations in the State of Florida, was founded in 1926 by Louella Albee. Over 98 years later, the Club continues to carry on the legacy of its founders by donating thousands of dollars each year to local charities and nonprofit organizations, by awarding scholarships to Venice High School students and by participating in community events.

To learn more about the VNWC visit: venice-nokomiswomansclub.org/ 

This is the 49th annual City of Venice Holiday Parade, kicking off the City's Centennial, themed "All Aboard the Centennial," pays homage to those who built, rode, and championed the train that helped create our City on the Gulf. As the second largest parade, there are 100 parade units and more than 3,350 participants this year, see the full line up at the bottom of the page.  

ROUTE: The route stretches approximately one mile, beginning at W. Venice Avenue and Ave Des Parques and ending near the Venice Community Center, and the parade is viewable from the westbound lane of W. Venice Ave. and both lanes of Nokomis Avenue. Roadways in the downtown area begin to close around 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. Detour around the parade route using Harbor Drive south to Airport Road, exiting the island over Circus Bridge. Roadways reopen before 10 p.m. but expect a lot of traffic in the area - be patient and remain alert.

SAFETY: The route is secured by 40+ law enforcement officers from Venice Police, North Port Police, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, University of South Florida, and other partner agencies. And there are more than 7,500 linear feet of pedestrian barricades and over 35 hardened barricades are placed the day of to protect intersections and roadways. Last year, more than 16,000 spectators lined the parade route to enjoy the festivities. 

GAPS: Each year, we work hard to keep the parade flowing smoothly, and this year we’re using parade ushers to help keep units moving along the route. But remember, every float, walker, dancer, drummer, vehicle, and costume you see is made possible by volunteers who donate their time, decorations, vehicles, and holiday spirit to bring this tradition to life. If you notice a gap here and there, it simply means our units are excited, energized, and showing off their holiday spirit — and we appreciate your patience and understanding as they do!

SNACKS: Venice High School sports team booster clubs will have snacks, drinks, and trinkets available for sale near City Hall, at Centennial Park, Fountain Park, and across from Venice Library. Your purchase helps teams purchase equipment, travel, uniforms, and more. 

REMINDER: The City of Venice annual holiday parade is managed and organized by City staff, partners and volunteers. Parade units are comprised of residents, visitors, businesses and organizations who have donated their time to make the parade the community event that it is. City prohibits the throwing of candy and trinkets to spectators from floats for everyone's safety. These items may be walked to/hand delivered from parade participants to spectators.