Main Street Texarkana Announces Theme for 42nd Annual Christmas Parade

Main Street Texarkana invites the community to celebrate the start of the Christmas season at the 42nd Annual Main Street Texarkana Christmas Parade, scheduled for Monday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m. Historic downtown Texarkana will come alive with marching bands, imaginative floats, vintage vehicles and the grand arrival of Santa Claus. This free, family-friendly event showcases the heart of the city, highlights downtown’s historic charm and brings neighbors together for an evening of lights, laughter and holiday cheer.

Main Street Texarkana staff and volunteers are hard at work organizing the 2026 Christmas Parade to wrap up America’s 250th. Main Street Executive Director Ina McDowell shared her thoughts on choosing this year’s theme.

“In the context of America’s 250th anniversary, we wanted to concentrate on shared American traditions,” said McDowell. “I believe one of the most important and personal traditions is the idea of coming home to spend time with family at Christmas, so our theme this year is just that, ‘Home for the Holidays.’”

Entrants will be judged on how well their float depicts this year’s theme. Floats will be judged in one of three categories: Marching Band, Non-Commercial, or Commercial. Trophies will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in these individual categories.

Applications for the 2026 Main Street Texarkana Christmas parade are available online beginning October 5. Early registration entry fees are $35 for non-commercial/non-profit entries and $55 for commercial entries. Entrants may pay online at mainstreettexarkana.org or drop off completed applications with appropriate fees to The Perot Theater, 221 Main Street in downtown Texarkana. The deadline for early registration is November 9. Entries made after November 9 incur an additional $20 fee per entry. The final registration deadline is November 20.

For more information about the parade or to enter a float, visit MainStreetTexarkana.org or contact Main Street Texarkana at [email protected].