2025 Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular is Sunday. Here’s What to Know
The Beloved Event Returns This Weekend
STAMFORD — With the holiday season fast approaching, a major parade organized by the Stamford Downtown Special Services District and the City of Stamford is returning once again this Sunday, November 23.
From preparation and floats to logistics and performances, here’s what to know.
Balloon Inflation Party
On Saturday, November 22, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, the area around Hoyt Street and Summer Street will be the scene for the annual Point72 Giant Balloon Inflation Party.
At the event, which has been hosted in partnership with Stamford-based Point72 Asset Management since 2014, attendees will get to see the balloons up close while enjoying a selection of music and greeting with various clowns and cartoon characters as well as Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Among the 2025 performers will be Flippenout Extreme Trampoline show, a unique entertainment team comprised of “top athletes from North America including Olympic Medalists, National Champions, National Team Members, Ninja Warriors, professional action sports athletes, Olympic Hopefuls, and top tier show professionals,” according to their website.
Stamford Downtown stated in an announcement that Flippenout Extreme Trampoline will show off their skills at the party before appearing in the parade the following day.
Attractions and Floats
Organizers with Stamford Downtown are expecting a crowd of more than 100,000 spectators to stretch out along the parade route.
The popular Stamford Public Schools float will feature 2025 Teacher of the Year George Rigakos of Westover Magnet School and 2025 Paraeducator of the Year Ronnie Griggs of Stillmeadow Elementary School under the theme of “Empowering Without Powers.”
In addition to fan favorites like Clifford the Big Red Dog, Curious George, Elmo, Jonathan the Husky, Mr. Potato Head, Oscar the Grouch, Rudolph, Shrek, and Super Grover new balloons, including Ariel the Zoonicorn, Bumble the Abominable Snowman, and Neko Good Fortune Cat will also make appearances.
Performances will be provided by Fairfield County Pipes & Drums, the New York Police Department Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Band, and high school marching bands from Brentwood, Westhill, Uniondale, and Wyandanch.
There will also be new additions to the parade for 2025, including Ballet Folklórico de las Américas (BFAmericas), the Ballet School of Stamford, and the Pride of Port Chester High School Marching Band.
Other talented groups taking part are Center Stage Dance Studio, City Center Dance Performing Company, Dance on the DL, Locust Performing Arts Center of Stamford, and The Pulse Performing Arts Studio, the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard, and Santa Clause.
Colin Cosell, public address announcer for the New York Mets and New York Riptide, will be back to serve as master of ceremonies for the parade.
Logistical Details
The parade itself will kick off at noon on Sunday, going from Summer Street toward Broad Street before turning onto Atlantic Street and Federal Street, and is expected to last about two hours.
All downtown parking for the parade is free. This includes several parking lots, such as Bell Street, Bedford Street, Government Center, Summer Place, UConn Parking, and other nearby garages. A list with the streets closed for the parade route is available here.
As of publishing, the National Weather Service forecast predicts a high of 46º and a low of 32º while partly cloudy for Sunday.
Sponsors for the 2025 parade are 600 Washington, The Ashforth Company, Cacace, Tusch & Santagata, Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP, Charter Communications, Cross Insurance Greenwich, CT Transit, Cummings & Lockwood LLC, Deloitte, F. D. Rich Company, First County Bank, George Comfort & Sons, Inc., Hoffman Investment Partners, KPMG LLP, NBCUniversal Syndication Studios, New England Investment Partners, Point72, Primo Brands Corporation, Reckson, RMS Companies, RXR, Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, Stamford Health, The Stamford Hotel, Stamford Town Center, Stamford Urby, Synchrony, UConn Stamford, and WIN Waste Innovations.
Additional support is provided by the Department of Economic and Community Development, and Office of Tourism as well as media partners Hey Stamford!, Star 99, WEBE 108, and WICC.
To learn more information about the parade, go to stamford-downtown.com/events/parade-spectacular. Check out photos from last year’s edition here.
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