As the temps drop and the calendar year winds down, the holiday season is just starting! Before your calendar fills up, don’t forget to block off holiday festivities. Check our list for Christmas parades across McHenry County. Next to lighting the Christmas tree, Christmas parades provide a great way for the community to come together to officially celebrate and kick off the holiday season and begin the transition from autumn to winter.
Guide Sponsor
This McHenry Life Guide is brought to you in part by the following sponsor:

Cary-Grove Area Chamber of Commerce and Business Owners invite you to the annual Merry Cary Holiday Parade & Festival.


Want to be a Guide Sponsor? Learn more in our Ad Center.
Our gift to you is the following list of Christmas parades for McHenry County. We’ve broken them out by city and provided a map detailing some point along the parade route…or hopefully, at least in the general vicinity.
It’s challenging to show the parade routes, so you’ll definitely want to check the respective websites for the specific route and timing details, as well as any last-minute changes.
While some of these Christmas parades may be standalone events, others may be combined with holiday Christmas tree lightings, visits with Santa, or other events, so be sure to factor that into your timing as well as your preparations…especially in dressing for the weather and extended time outdoors this time of year.
Missed One?
Please help McHenry Life be the best source of event information in McHenry County.
If you manage or are involved with one of these events, please help us out and go to your Details page and claim your listing. You can do so at no cost and then you’ll be able to add more information, update information whenever and as often as you need to, and add photos and links to your website and social media pages. If you don’t see your event though, then please help us by adding it!
If you don’t manage an event, then help us by following our socials to keep up to date on events, and sharing our guides through your social media accounts and with your friends. Please recommend us to event providers and let them know when you found information about their event on McHenry Life. Finally, if you have some information about these or other events, feel free to use the form below to let us know.
Submit Others, Information, or Corrections
Did we miss one or include one that is no longer relevant? Or maybe you have information to add or do we need to correct our information? We greatly appreciate any help that others can provide. Please provide as much information, including links to other sources, as you can in the form below. Thanks!
McHenry County Christmas Parades
Kick off the 2022 holiday season with a Christmas parade near you! Check the details below before you make all of your plans.
NOTE: we’ve shaded those events below that are as of yet unconfirmed. We’ll continue to update as new information is available.
Cary
Merry Cary Parade & Festival
Date: Sunday, December 4, 2022
Start Time: 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Location: 108 W. Main Street, Cary, IL 60013

Crystal Lake
Festival of Lights Parade
Date: Friday, November 25, 2022
Start Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: N Williams St & Brink St, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
McHenry Life Experiences Newsletter
Want to be in the know, alerted about giveaways, and more?
Be sure to signup for our Experiences email newsletter.
It’s free and we won’t blast you with emails!!!

Fox Lake
Fox Lake Festival of Lights
Date: Saturday, November 26, 2022
Start Time: 5:00 pm

Johnsburg
Holiday Magic Parade & Tree Lighting
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2022
Start Time: 5:30 pm
Location: W Church St & St Johns Ave, Johnsburg, IL 60051
Marengo
2022 Marengo Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Ceremony
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2022
Start Time: 5:00 pm
Location: 132 E Prairie St, Marengo, IL 60152
Get Listed
Are you a McHenry County business, nonprofit, or organization?
Be sure to claim your McHenry Life Directory listing and start making the most of your McHenry Life!

Woodstock
Annual Woodstock Christmas Parade
Date: Sunday, November 27, 2022
Start Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: 100 N Johnson St, Woodstock, IL 60098
As always, all events are subject to change. Please be sure to check the event pages for the specific event for current information.