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Christmas with kids in Appleton
In Appleton, Christmas starts at night on College Avenue. A parade that local business owners began in 1970 now draws about 80,000 people, and a little spruce planted by neighbors in 1943 grew into a 63-foot Christmas tree.
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Timber Rattlers Holiday Lights
When: Nightly, Nov 13 to Jan 2, 5 to 8 pm
Where: Fox Cities Stadium, Appleton
Cost: Tickets listed from under $10 to $25
The story of Christmas in Appleton
How Appleton celebrates
The Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade is the city's signature tradition. Local business owners started it in 1970, and it has been canceled only once, in 2020, because of the pandemic. The city bills it as the biggest nighttime Christmas parade in the Midwest, and it is shown live on CBS 5. Before the parade, runners take part in the Santa Scamper, a one-mile race created by Bruce Chudacoff, whose children picked its name. On the same night, neighbors on River Drive light a tree that began in 1943, when Earl Wichmann and George Johnson planted a five-foot spruce.
Christmas last year in Appleton
The parade returned on Tuesday evening, November 25, 2025, to College Avenue with the theme Christmas in Toyland. It started at 7 p.m. at State Street and College Avenue and headed east to Drew Street. About 80 units took part, including floats, vehicles, walkers and animals, along with more than 20 marching bands from northeast Wisconsin and upper Michigan. Roughly 80,000 people came to watch, and the Santa Scamper ran that evening. Families could set up chairs and blankets along the route after noon, and spots were first come, first served.
Fun facts about Christmas in Appleton
The River Drive tree grew from five feet in 1943 to 63 feet tall by 2010, lit with 44 strings of about 1,100 white bulbs. Early Santa Scamper runners got dilly bars, a hat and a Burger King Whopper coupon, and were asked to bring food for St. Joseph's Food Pantry. TubaChristmas, where tubas and euphoniums play carols, was first organized in Appleton in 1990. And ACES Xavier's Christmas Stars show had a 500-member cast in 2010, mixing holiday music, dance and acting.
Traditions today
- Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade: A nighttime parade on College Avenue with floats, marching bands and animals, held since 1970 on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
- Santa Scamper: A one-mile race that runs ahead of the parade, started by Bruce Chudacoff.
- River Drive Christmas Tree: A neighborhood tree on the ravine above the Fox River, lit the night of the parade and grown from a five-foot spruce planted in 1943.
- TubaChristmas: A concert of tubas, baritones and euphoniums playing carols, first organized in Appleton in 1990.
- Christmas Stars: A holiday show of music, dance and acting with a 500-member cast, put on by ACES Xavier as a fundraiser.
- Horns a Plenty Christmas: More than 80 young horn players perform carols the Saturday before Christmas to raise scholarships.
A fact for kids
Appleton's River Drive Christmas tree started as a spruce just five feet tall in 1943, and by 2010 it had grown to 63 feet tall and was covered in white lights.
Questions about Christmas in Appleton
When did the Appleton Christmas parade start?
The Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade started in 1970, when local business owners created it. It has been canceled only once, in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today the city bills it as the biggest nighttime Christmas parade in the Midwest, and it is held on College Avenue the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
How big is the Appleton Christmas parade?
In 2025, about 80,000 people came to watch roughly 80 units, including floats, vehicles, walkers and animals, plus more than 20 marching bands from northeast Wisconsin and upper Michigan. The city calls it the biggest nighttime Christmas parade in the Midwest, and CBS 5 airs it for a wider audience.
What was the Appleton Christmas parade like last year?
The 2025 parade on Tuesday, November 25 had the theme Christmas in Toyland. It began at 7 p.m. at State Street and College Avenue and went east to Drew Street. About 80 units and more than 20 bands took part, and roughly 80,000 people watched along the route.
What time does the Appleton Christmas parade start?
In 2025, the parade started at 7 p.m. It begins at State Street and College Avenue downtown and heads east on College Avenue to Drew Street. Families were allowed to set up chairs and blankets along the route after noon, but had to stay with them. See our Appleton Christmas events guide on this page for this year's time.
Why is the Appleton parade held at night?
The Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade is a nighttime parade on College Avenue, and the city bills it as the biggest nighttime Christmas parade in the Midwest. It is held on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the same evening as the River Drive tree lighting, and in 2025 it began at 7 p.m. with warm coats and blankets along the route.
What is the Santa Scamper in Appleton?
The Santa Scamper is a one-mile race that runs ahead of the Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade. Bruce Chudacoff created it, and his children chose the name. In 2010 it was the 27th annual race, and runners were asked to bring a nonperishable food donation for St. Joseph's Food Pantry.
What is the River Drive Christmas tree?
It is a neighborhood Christmas tree on River Drive, in a ravine that overlooks the Fox River. Residents have kept the tradition alive for almost 70 years as of 2010. The original five-foot spruce was planted in 1943 by Earl Wichmann and George Johnson, and it is lit the night of the parade.
How tall is the River Drive Christmas tree?
By 2010, the River Drive tree stood 63 feet tall and was lit with 44 strings of about 1,100 white bulbs. It started as a five-foot spruce in 1943, so it has grown more than 50 feet. The lighting happens on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the night of the Downtown Appleton parade.
Who planted the first River Drive Christmas tree?
Earl Wichmann and George Johnson planted the original five-foot spruce in 1943. The tree stands in a ravine on River Drive that overlooks the Fox River, and neighbors have kept lighting it ever since. By 2010 it had grown to 63 feet tall, and it is lit the night of the Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade.
What is TubaChristmas in Appleton?
TubaChristmas is a concert where tubas, baritones and euphoniums play Christmas carols together. Nick Keelan first organized it in downtown Appleton's City Center in 1990, and it later moved to the Fox Valley Lutheran High School auditorium. The 2010 concert was the 20th in Appleton, and the carols are played by the whole group at once.
What is Christmas Stars in Appleton?
Christmas Stars is an ACES Xavier production that mixes holiday music, dance and acting. In 2010, it was in its 17th year with a cast of 500 members, and it serves as a fundraiser. The show is a good fit for kids who like to watch singing, dancing and a big stage production.
What is Horns a Plenty Christmas?
It is a scholarship event for young horn players, held the Saturday before Christmas and hosted by the Fox Valley Horn Club. More than 80 horn players perform carols together. The performance raises money for scholarships, so the music helps support young musicians in the Appleton area.
Is the Appleton Christmas parade on television?
Yes. CBS 5 (WFRV-TV) airs the Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade live and in rebroadcasts, reaching more than 100,000 viewers, and it can also be streamed online. That is helpful if the weather is chilly or little ones are too tired to stay out for the whole parade.
What marching bands are in the Appleton parade?
More than 20 marching bands from northeast Wisconsin and upper Michigan marched in the 2025 parade. Roughly 80 units in all took part, so the bands share the route with floats, vehicles, walkers and animals. For kids, the drums and horns are often the loudest part, so ear protection can help young children.
How can I explain the Appleton parade to my toddler?
Tell your toddler it is a big nighttime parade where the whole town waits for floats, bands and animals to go by. Bring blankets and warm clothes, since it is held in late November. Counting the floats and marching bands is an easy game, and the 2025 parade had about 80 units to count.
What is the Christmas in Toyland theme?
Christmas in Toyland was the theme of the 2025 Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade on College Avenue, which took place on Tuesday, November 25. The theme gave families a toy-box idea to talk about with kids while they watched the floats and more than 20 marching bands go by.
Where is the best place to watch the Appleton Christmas parade?
Anywhere along College Avenue between State Street and Drew Street works, since the parade follows that route. Families may set up chairs and blankets after noon on parade day, but they must stay with them, and spots are first come, first served. Arriving early helps because about 80,000 people come to watch.
Where can kids see a big Christmas tree in Appleton?
The River Drive tree is the city's best known neighborhood tree. It stood 63 feet tall by 2010 and is lit the night of the Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade. For this season's confirmed lighting time and viewing spots, see our Appleton Christmas events guide on this page.
Is there a Christmas parade in Appleton this year?
Yes. The Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade has been held since 1970 on College Avenue, and in 2025 it took place on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It has been canceled only once, in 2020. For this season's confirmed date, time and route, see our Appleton Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Appleton?
Kids can see lights along College Avenue during the evening parade, and the River Drive tree glows with about 1,100 white bulbs on its 44 strings of lights, as of 2010. Our Appleton Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's confirmed dates and places for lights.
Sources
- Downtown Appleton Christmas parade returns to College Avenue, WBAY
- Going to the Appleton Christmas parade? Here's what you need to know, Kaukauna Community News
- Year After Year, Fox Cities Magazine