The Air Comfort Solutions Holiday River Parade will take place the day after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 28 at 6 p.m. This year the parade celebrates the 125th Anniversary of Oklahoma City’s Founding and the historic Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. A family tradition, the river parade has become the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season in Oklahoma City. New this year is title sponsor, Air Com
fort Solutions. “We are honored to be a part of this long standing tradition which annually kicks-off the holiday season,” stated Ron Gregory, owner of Air Comfort Solutions. “On behalf of our employees and their families, we invite the community to join us for this free family holiday event on the Oklahoma River.”
This year the parade festivities will include “Santa’s Elves Ski Show,” a parade of boats, the arrival of Santa and a spectacular fireworks show. All activities will take place in the Boathouse District, located at 700 South Lincoln Boulevard. Limited free parking is available in the Boathouse District. In addition, parade spectators are also invited to enjoy “Santa’s Adventures” beginning at 1pm in the Boathouse District. There is a charge for “Santa’s Adventures.”
Anyone with a boat can enter the parade, and there are no entry fees to participate. Entry forms can be found on the parade website at www.okcparade.com. Boat entries must be appropriately decorated and participants must abide by all parade rules. Parade entries may request a $100 stipend to help cover the costs of decorations. Former Oklahoma City Mayor Andy Coats will serve as the Grand Marshal of the parade. During his term in office Mayor Coats created the Oklahoma City River Authority which is known today as the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority. Mayor Coats will be honored for his contribution to the Oklahoma River and for his years of public service. The Air Comfort Solutions Holiday River Parade attracts 10,000 people annually to the shoreline of the Oklahoma River. The inaugural parade took place in 2004 to officially open the Oklahoma River and to celebrate the completion of the MAPS 1 initiative. Due to construction of the new shoreline, the parade was not held in 2010. The City of Oklahoma City and corporate sponsors provide the support needed to produce the free community event. Net proceeds from the Air Comfort Solution Holiday River Parade benefit the Oklahoma River Foundation. The foundation was established in 2004 and is managed by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The past nine Holiday River Parades have generated over $800,000 for the Oklahoma River Foundation Fund. The funds will be used for future improvements on the Oklahoma River including the river’s 14-mile trail system
