Two Parades on December 12: Ormond Beach's Home for the Holidays and Palm Coast's Starlight Parade

Saturday, December 12 is a busy night on this stretch of the coast. The City of Ormond Beach holds its 35th annual Home for the Holidays nighttime parade, and the City of Palm Coast holds its Starlight Parade the same evening. Both are free, both are built around a tree or a light display, and both start around 6 p.m. Here is what each city has posted for 2026, so you can pick one or plan around both.

Ormond Beach: Home for the Holidays parade and tree lighting

The city's own page lists the parade for Saturday, December 12, 2026, with the tree lighting at City Hall at 6 p.m. and the parade starting at 6:30 p.m. City Hall is at 22 S. Beach Street. This year's theme is Stars, Stripes and Holiday Lights, in honor of America's 250th birthday.

The route runs about a mile and a half on the mainland side of Ormond Beach. It starts at Division Avenue and Ridgewood Avenue (US 1), heads north to Granada Boulevard, turns east to Beach Street, then turns south and ends at the review area in front of City Hall. Expect live music, floats, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Admission is free.

If you want to march or enter a float, the city's entry deadline is Monday, November 16. Applications go to parade@ormondbeach.org. The city's page doesn't list parking or road closures, so call Community Events at (386) 676-3241 before you drive in.

Palm Coast: Starlight Parade at Central Park

Palm Coast's event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. at Central Park in Town Center, with the parade itself starting at 6 p.m. The earlier hours are the draw if you have small kids. The city lists 17 food trucks, live entertainment and a Parks and Recreation tent with holiday photos, letters to Santa and Grinch games. Santa's Village is open from 4 to 5 p.m.

The city's page doesn't give a route, closures or parking, so check the event page the week of the parade. The Rotary Club of Flagler County's Fantasy Lights display, now in its 21st year, is also running in Central Park that night. The city lists it nightly through December 30, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Can you do both?

Not really. The Palm Coast parade starts at 6 p.m. and the Ormond Beach parade at 6:30 p.m., in two different cities. Here is how I would split it:

• Choose Palm Coast if you want the full evening: food trucks and Santa from 4 p.m., the parade at 6, then a walk through Fantasy Lights afterward.
• Choose Ormond Beach if you want a tree lighting and a parade in a downtown-style setting along Granada Boulevard, finishing at City Hall.
• Split the weekend: the Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade is the week before, on Saturday, December 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the Intracoastal Waterway, and Fantasy Lights runs every night through December 30.

Planning tips for a parade night

• Arrive early. Both events are free and both draw crowds.
• Bring a folding chair or blanket and a light jacket. December evenings cool off quickly after sunset.
• Parade routes close roads. Ask each city about closures and parking before you go.
• Check the organizer's page the day of the event. Dates, times and routes can change, and weather can affect outdoor events.

What these events say about the two towns

I get asked what daily life is like in Palm Coast compared with Ormond Beach. A parade night is a fair preview. Palm Coast's version centers on Town Center and Central Park, a planned, newer part of the city with a large open green. Ormond Beach's winds through an older mainland downtown grid and ends at City Hall. If you are weighing the two, go to one of them and look around. Notice the streets, the parking, and how far you are from the beach and the Intracoastal. You will learn more in an evening than from a listing page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the December 12 parades free?

Ormond Beach lists its parade as free to attend. Palm Coast's Starlight Parade page does not list an admission charge, though food trucks sell food and drinks. Check each city's page for the latest.

What time should I arrive?

For Palm Coast, the festivities start at 4 p.m. and the parade at 6 p.m. For Ormond Beach, the tree lighting is at 6 p.m. and the parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Arriving at least 45 minutes early gives you time to park and find a spot.

Can I enter a float or group?

In Ormond Beach, entries are due Monday, November 16, by email to parade@ormondbeach.org. Palm Coast has an online float registration form on its Starlight Parade page.

Thinking about living near these events?

If a parade night makes you curious about calling this area home, I am happy to show you around Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Ormond Beach in person. Start with my moving to Palm Coast guide, or call or text me at (386) 627-3612 and we will set up a time to tour.