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Christmas with kids in Casa Grande
Casa Grande has been gathering around a community Christmas tree for a century. Today the Electric Light Parade carries the tradition down Florence Boulevard, with more than 11,500 people watching last year.
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Electric Light Parade and Glow Before the Show
When: Sat, Dec 5, Glow Before the Show 2 to 5 pm, parade 5:45 pm
Where: Downtown Casa Grande, Florence Blvd and Peart Park, Casa Grande
Cost: Free
The story of Christmas in Casa Grande
How Casa Grande celebrates
The big event in Casa Grande is the Electric Light Parade, which the city says has run for more than 30 years. It travels about 1.6 miles along Florence Boulevard through downtown, and the day starts earlier with Glow Before the Show at Peart Park, where families can line up for photos with Santa. The Mayor's Welcome takes place on the City Hall Stage just before the parade, which is free to watch. Community Christmas trees go back much further. The Casa Grande Dispatch mentioned a municipal Christmas tree as early as 1920, when Santa was invited to bring gifts for children.
Christmas last year in Casa Grande
More than 11,500 people attended the Electric Light Parade in 2025, according to the city. The parade is the centerpiece of a free holiday evening, with a sensory-friendly viewing area at the Dorothy Powell Senior Center and a livestream on the city's Facebook and YouTube pages. A People's Choice Award lets viewers vote online for a favorite entry, with voting open after the parade and winners announced a few days later. Downtown streets close for the day, starting as early as 10 a.m. on Florence Street, so families plan ahead for parking.
Fun facts about Christmas in Casa Grande
In 1930, during the Great Depression, Casa Grande held a two-weekend Christmas Festival. Santa met about 400 children at a bandstand at First and Sacaton streets, and a week later returned with gifts for about 600 boys and girls. On Christmas Eve, 800 bags of candy were handed out at the Community Christmas Tree while the crowd sang Silent Night. Downtown was decorated with colored lights furnished by Arizona Edison, and the Casa Grande Dispatch called it one of the merriest events ever staged in town.
Trains and Christmas near Casa Grande
We did not find a heritage railroad museum in Casa Grande, but Arizona has several within a day trip. The Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler is a volunteer yard museum with a Southern Pacific steam engine and Santa Fe passenger cars you can walk through. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale has a model railroad building, rides and a free railroad museum. Phoenix Trolley Museum preserves the city's original streetcars. Check each museum's own page for holiday hours before you go.
- Arizona Railway Museum: A volunteer yard museum with a Southern Pacific steam engine and passenger cars kids can walk through.
- McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park: Free entry with a large model railroad building, a railroad museum and a carousel.
- Phoenix Trolley Museum: Preserves Phoenix's original streetcars, including an electric locomotive.
Traditions today
- Electric Light Parade: A free evening parade on Florence Boulevard that the city says has run for more than 30 years.
- Glow Before the Show: An afternoon at Peart Park before the parade, with photos with Santa.
- Mayor's Welcome: A short welcome on the City Hall Stage just before the parade.
- People's Choice Award: Viewers vote online for a favorite parade entry.
- Sensory-friendly viewing area: A quieter place to watch the parade at the Dorothy Powell Senior Center.
- Community Christmas tree: A town tree tradition that dates back at least to 1920.
A fact for kids
In 1930, Casa Grande handed out 800 bags of candy at the Community Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve while the crowd sang Silent Night.
Questions about Christmas in Casa Grande
What is Casa Grande known for at Christmas?
Casa Grande is known for its Electric Light Parade, a free evening parade down Florence Boulevard that the city says has run for more than 30 years. Over 11,500 people attended in 2025. The town also has a long community Christmas tree tradition that goes back to at least 1920.
How long has the Electric Light Parade been running?
The city says the parade has run for more than 30 years, though it does not give an exact start year. It draws big crowds, with more than 11,500 people attending in 2025. Floats and groups travel about 1.6 miles through downtown.
How many people attend the Electric Light Parade?
The City of Casa Grande reports that more than 11,500 people attended in 2025. Attendance changes from year to year, so treat this as a rough sense of scale. Arriving early helps families find a good spot, and downtown streets close for the day.
Is the Casa Grande parade free?
Yes. The city lists admission to the Electric Light Parade as free, and the glow event before it, with photos with Santa, is also part of the free evening. The parade is livestreamed on the city's Facebook and YouTube pages for families who prefer to watch from home.
What is Glow Before the Show?
Glow Before the Show is the afternoon event before the parade, held at Peart Park from 2 to 5 p.m. in the 2026 listing. Families can get photos with Santa, and the city says you need to be in line by 4:30 p.m. Check the city page for updates.
Where is the parade route?
The parade travels along Florence Boulevard through downtown Casa Grande, about 1.6 miles in total. The city page lists the start as Florence Blvd. from Colorado Street to 2nd Street. Several streets close on parade day, so check the final route map on the city page.
Is there a quiet place to watch the parade?
Yes. The city plans a sensory-friendly viewing area at the Dorothy Powell Senior Center, with doors opening at 5 p.m. This is helpful for children who find loud sounds and crowds hard. Accessible viewing areas are also planned, and more details are posted on the city page.
What happened at Christmas in Casa Grande last year?
In 2025, more than 11,500 people attended the Electric Light Parade, according to the city. The evening included the parade, a Mayor's Welcome and a People's Choice Award vote. The city also livestreamed the event, and a sensory-friendly viewing area was available at the Dorothy Powell Senior Center. See our Casa Grande Christmas events guide on this page for this year's options.
When did Casa Grande get its first Christmas tree?
The earliest mention we found is a municipal Christmas tree in the Casa Grande Dispatch in 1920. Santa Claus was invited to visit and bring gifts for children. The same article also mentions a 1912 dance, and it is a good starting point for learning how the town celebrated long ago.
What was Christmas like in Casa Grande in 1930?
During the Great Depression the town held a two-weekend Christmas Festival. Santa met about 400 children at a bandstand, returned a week later with gifts for about 600 children, and 800 bags of candy were handed out on Christmas Eve. The newspaper called it one of the merriest events ever staged.
Who recorded Casa Grande's Christmas history?
The history comes from a Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine article that cites the Casa Grande Dispatch. It mentions a 1912 dance, a 1920 municipal tree and the 1930 Christmas Festival. It is a good story to share with kids who ask how people celebrated long ago.
How can I explain the history to my kids?
Tell them that nearly 100 years ago the town gathered around a Community Christmas Tree, sang Silent Night and handed out bags of candy. Today it gathers again, with lights and floats on Florence Boulevard. Kids often enjoy comparing the old bandstand scene with the modern parade.
What should we bring to the Electric Light Parade?
Bring warm layers, because desert evenings can be cool, plus blankets or chairs and snacks. Be in line for Santa photos by 4:30 p.m. if you want one. Streets close as early as 10 a.m., so plan your parking and a meeting spot in case your group separates.
Can I vote for a favorite parade entry?
Yes. The city runs a People's Choice Award. In the 2026 listing, voting opens at 6 p.m. on parade night and closes at 11:59 p.m. the next day, with winners announced three days after the parade. Kids can help pick a favorite float.
Is the parade good for toddlers?
It can be, with planning. The parade begins at 5:45 p.m. and covers about 1.6 miles, and crowds are large. The afternoon Santa photos and the sensory-friendly area may suit little ones better. See our Casa Grande Christmas events guide on this page for other options.
Where can I find this year's Casa Grande Christmas events?
See our Casa Grande Christmas events guide on this page for current kid-friendly options. The City of Casa Grande also posts its Electric Light Parade page and library programs. Dates change each year, so confirm times with the host before you go.
Does the Casa Grande library have holiday programs?
A local magazine has listed holiday programs at Casa Grande libraries in past years, including Santa photos at the main branch during the parade day in 2022. Programs change each year, so check the library calendar and see our Casa Grande Christmas events guide on this page.
Are there train attractions near Casa Grande?
We did not find a heritage railroad museum in Casa Grande, but Arizona railroad museums are a day trip away. The Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler has a Southern Pacific steam engine and passenger cars, and McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale has rides and a model railroad building.
What is the Arizona Railway Museum?
It is an all-volunteer yard museum in Chandler with Southern Pacific steam engine 2562, copper mine locomotives and Santa Fe passenger cars that visitors can walk through. It is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., September to May only. Confirm holiday hours first.
What is a good Christmas tradition to start in Casa Grande?
Make the Electric Light Parade your yearly kickoff. Arrive in the afternoon for Glow Before the Show, get a photo with Santa, then stay for the parade. Each year, ask your kids to compare it with the 1930 festival and pick a People's Choice favorite together.
Sources
- Electric Light Parade (2026), City of Casa Grande
- A Brief History of Casa Grande Christmas Cheer, Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine
- Community holiday events (2022), Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine