Ballston Spa to Celebrate the 41st Annual Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting on December 4

The holiday season returns to downtown Ballston Spa on Friday, December 4, as the Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) hosts its 41st Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting along Milton Avenue. 

First held in 1985, this beloved community tradition continues to bring families, neighbors, and visitors together for one of the village’s most anticipated events of the year.

The parade steps off at 6:30 PM from the north end of Milton Avenue and proceeds south to West High Street. The festivities conclude in Wiswall Park, where Mr. and Mrs. Claus will arrive aboard an Eagle-Matt Lee Fire Company fire truck for the annual lighting of the village holiday tree.

The event will once again support the Toys for Tots Campaign in partnership with the Ballston Spa Community Emergency Corps, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department, and the U.S. Marine Corps. Volunteers will be collecting new, unwrapped toys along the parade route and during the tree lighting ceremony to help bring holiday cheer to local children.

“After 41 years, this parade remains one of the most special traditions in Ballston Spa,” said Dana Womer, Holiday Parade Committee Chairperson. “It’s wonderful to see families return year after year, welcome new faces, and come together to kick off the holiday season. And, of course, Santa arriving by fire truck to light the tree is always a highlight.”

Adding to the evening, the BSBPA’s First Friday celebration will take place the same night. Downtown shops and businesses will extend their hours and welcome visitors with holiday treats, hot cocoa, hot chowder, seasonal activities, and more. Free parking is available throughout the village.

For more information about the Ballston Spa Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting, visit www.ballston.org.