The Lebanon Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade & Festival takes over Historic Downtown Lebanon on Saturday, Dec. 5. This is the 37th year, admission is free and it’s one of the easiest ways to kick off the holiday season with kids. Dozens of decorated horse-drawn carriages roll through downtown, twice.
Parade Times
The daylight parade starts at 1 p.m. The candlelight parade starts at 7 p.m., with the carriages lit up after dark. If your little ones fall apart after dinner, the afternoon parade is the safer bet. If you can make the late one work, the evening parade is the one worth staying up for.
The Festival
The Christmas Festival and Market runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., so there’s plenty to fill the hours between parades. Expect food trucks, local vendors, holiday shopping and photos with Santa. Downtown Lebanon’s shops are open too, which is either a perk or a hazard depending on your budget.
Reserved Box Seats
General admission is free, but if you’d rather not stake out a curb spot, the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce sells reserved boxes along the parade route. Boxes are on Broadway Street between Mulberry and Silver streets and measure 10 by 6 feet, which is enough room for a family or small group. Chairs aren’t provided, so bring your own. Reserve a box through the Chamber’s reserved box and parking registration page.
Collector’s Ornament
The Chamber sells a signature collector’s ornament for the parade, made by BrickHouse Designs in Lebanon. Pre-orders go through the same Chamber registration page as the reserved boxes. You’ll need to create an account with your email address before you can check out.
Parking and Shuttles
Expect a crowd, and plan to park a few blocks out. The Chamber posts a downtown Lebanon public parking map and an event shuttle map. Reserved parking is sold through the same registration page as the boxes. For entertainment schedules and parade route updates, check the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce’s carriage parade page.
Lebanon Horse Parade
Known as the Lebanon Horse Parade, the Lebanon Horse Drawn Carriage Parade & Christmas Festival in Lebanon, Ohio, is hosted by The…
