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Gadsden sets Christmas parade for Dec. 5; tree lighting and ice rink to open before Thanksgiving

Office of the Mayor, Gadsden City · October 30, 2025

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Summary

Mayor Craig Ford announced the city will hold its annual Christmas parade on the first Friday in December (Dec. 5 this year), and that the Christmas tree lighting and the Riverside Park ice-skating rink will open the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The mayor said the city purchased bumper boats for additional rink entertainment.

Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford announced that the city’s Christmas parade will be held on the first Friday in December (Dec. 5 this year) and that the Christmas tree lighting and the ice-skating rink at Riverside Park will be held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

""We've already planned our Christmas parades December 5 so if you're always wondering when the Christmas parade is we're going to now make it a tradition that Gadsden's Christmas parade is going to be on the first Friday in December,"" Ford said, adding the tree lighting will be held the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to accommodate family visitors.

Ford said the city will open the ice-skating rink at Riverside Park (the event he called "Christmas on Macusa"), and that the city purchased bumper boats that will be available on the ice prior to the tree lighting. He encouraged residents to bring relatives who are in town for the holiday.

No permits, road-closure procedures or detailed operating hours were announced in the Mayor’s Minute; Ford presented dates and promotional details rather than formal policy actions.