Christmas parade scheduled for Dec. 14
KILLEEN, Texas (Dec. 4, 2024) – Killeen’s annual ‘Holiday Under the Stars,’ two-weekend event begins Friday, Dec. 6 with the traditional tree lighting ceremony.
Mayor Debbie Nash-King and Santa will be on hand to light the tree in Historic Downtown at the Santa Fe Plaza on East Avenue D starting at 6 p.m. There will be performances by Shoemaker High School Choir at 6 p.m. and Ellison High School Choir at 6:30 p.m. The tree lighting occurs right at 7 p.m., then Lady Songbird Jinda will close out the night performing at 7:30 p.m. There will be a Selfie Station in the Carlson’s Merry Meet Up area and food and craft vendors will be available.
The next morning, the Centex Race Series continues with the Jingle Bell Dash 5K at the Andy K. Wells Hike & Bike Trail on Saturday, Dec. 7. Participants may register for the race onsite prior to the 8 a.m. start.
Saturday, Dec. 14, the Festival of the Holidays will be held from 4-8 p.m. in Downtown Killeen on Avenue C and 4th Street. It features holiday-themed arts and craft vendors, food vendors and more. There will be a Brightspeed Holiday Fun Zone and Americans United Chill Zone.
The 61st annual Christmas Parade will also be held Dec. 14, and will run through Downtown Killeen. The parade theme is “A Whoville Celebration!” and begins at 6 p.m. on West Avenue D at North 2nd Street. The parade will culminate at the intersection of West Church Avenue and North College Street.
Visit www.killeentexas.gov/downtownevents for more information about “Holiday Under The Stars.”
Due to the events, downtown streets will be blocked. On Dec. 6, Avenue D will be blocked from the Santa Fe Plaza to Gray Street starting at 10 a.m. and starting at 2 p.m., the Avenue D closure will extend from 4th Street to Gray Street.
On Dec. 14, the parade route will be blocked starting at 8 a.m. The closures include College Street from south of the railroad tracks to Sprott Avenue. Avenue D from College Street to North Gray Street, North Gray Street from Avenue D to Sprott Avenue, and Sprott Avenue from Gray Street to College Street. Additionally, Tank Battalion Avenue will be blocked at Root Avenue.
