WEST CHESTER, PA — Named “Best Family Friendly Event” by Main Line Today for a 4th consecutive year, the elves at the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce are already busy preparing for the 2026 West Chester Christmas Parade by opening applications for participants and sponsors.
The kickoff of a month full of free holiday festivities during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester, this year’s West Chester Christmas Parade will be held Friday, December 4th with 6abc meteorologist Adam Joseph and B101 radio host Kathy Romano returning as emcees of both the parade and tree lighting that precedes it. Along with Santa, America250 will make a holiday splash.
“West Chester is almost as old as our country, so it’s fitting that our region’s flagship hometown Christmas parade will be more glittering than ever as we cap off a year of our nation’s birthday celebrations with a holiday spin at this year’s West Chester Christmas Parade,” said Laurie Ryan, President of the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce. “We invite businesses to light up an entire block of historic, downtown West Chester from November through January as parade participants begin submitting applications this week.”
Title sponsored for a sixth year by Chester County Hospital, which has agreed to return in 2027 as well, the West Chester Christmas Parade attracts approximately 20,000 attendees of all ages each year.
“This cherished West Chester tradition continues to bring our community together year after year, and we’re honored to serve as parade title sponsor once again,” said Karen Pinsky, MD, CEO of Chester County Hospital. “As we also celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s parade is a meaningful reminder of the shared traditions and community spirit that have shaped our nation for generations—values we’re proud to uphold as part of Penn Medicine’s 275-year legacy of care.”
A brand new float for Santa and more marching bands and performative elements than ever are in the planning stages for parade night, which starts December 4, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. with the official lighting of West Chester’s stunning 28-foot-tall Christmas tree with live musical performances. New last year on the lawn of the Historic Chester County Courthouse, the majestic tree is adorned with 150 individual branches and 20,000 white LED lights.
The holiday parade follows at 7 p.m. under the 100,000 twinkling lights of professionally decorated borough blocks sponsored by local businesses. Businesses and organizations are invited to sponsor decorated borough blocks with branded signage from November through January starting at $2,500 to help support the Chamber’s goal to draw visitors to West Chester’s more than 75 restaurants and 65 boutiques during Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester.
Premium block sponsors include Del Vacchio Landscapes & Christmas Décor, Aqua PA and West Pharmaceutical Services. Half-block sponsors include CTDI, Fred Beans Ford of West Chester and Scott Auto Group/Scott Honda of West Chester. Quarter-block sponsors include Arthur Hall Insurance, a Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency, LLC; BeautyMark West Chester, Dave’s Automotive Repair Enterprises, Gawthrop Greenwood – Attorneys at Law, the Golf Zone Family Fun Center, Millers Insurance Agency and Pegasus Technologies, with special sponsor PECO.
The 2026 West Chester Christmas Parade will once again hold a marching band competition, as well as a competition for “Best Commercial Parade Float” and “Best Nonprofit Parade Entry.” Applicants for the West Chester Christmas Parade are invited to visit www.GreaterWestChester.com to fill out the 2026 Parade Application Form as early as possible, since the maximum number of performers may be reached before the August 16, 2026 application deadline. Applications are reviewed by the parade committee on a rolling basis, with priority for local performer entries.
Businesses and organizations may also sponsor a parade element. The parade will provide a sponsor banner that will lead the performers, as well as four tickets for the VIP location for parade viewing. Two to four business employees may walk in the parade, leading the professional performers as the sponsors are recognized in media appearances and on parade night.
This year Santa’s float is once again sponsored by Lamb McErlane PC and Treehouse Group, and the VIP area is sponsored by Alexander Catering and Café Gourmino. Parade support sponsors include JDog Junk Removal, and Blue Dog Printing & Design is the print sponsor. As Chester County Hospital Lights Up Holiday Weekends in West Chester unfolds throughout the holiday season, photos with Santa are sponsored by M&T Bank, the Toy Drive Breakfast is sponsored by WSFS, and Santa on a Fire Truck is sponsored by Tolsdorf Oil Lube Express.
For more information, visit https://www.greaterwestchester.com/lightsupchristmasparade.html or contact the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce at 610-696-4046, info@gwcc.org.
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