The community is invited to join Downtown SLO for the largest holiday parade on the Central Coast on Friday, December 5, 2025! This year’s theme is, “Candy Cane Lane,” as voted on by Downtown SLO’s Instagram followers in July 2025. Parade participants are encouraged to decorate their floats with inspirations of gumdrops, lollipops, sugar, spice and everything nice!
The Annual Downtown SLO Holiday Parade has drawn thousands to downtown San Luis Obispo since 1976. Held on the first Friday in December, the parade has become a much-loved holiday tradition along the Central Coast for locals and visitors alike. Nearly 90 decorated floats, marching bands, vehicles, dancers and more will march in the parade. Information regarding the route, accommodations, and more can be found at DowntownSLO.com/Parade. The parade will occur rain or shine!
Lights, Sights & Family Fun in Mission Plaza. Friday, November 28, 2025
Mission Plaza is the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo, and the centerpiece for all of the holiday magic throughout the district. Families and friends can visit Santa at Santa’s House, ride the Classic Carousel, take photos in front of festive decorations, walk through animated, lighted displays, experience a nightly music-synced light and snow show and explore brand-new light activations along the creek!
Holiday Plaza & Santa’s House Opening Day Celebration. Friday, November 28, 2025, 1 p.m.
Families can watch Santa ride into Mission Plaza on a firetruck and enjoy a live performance from the SLO County Band, celebrating the opening of all the fun in the Plaza.
Light Up The Plaza!, Friday, November 28, 2025, 5 p.m.
The community is invited to join Downtown SLO, the City of SLO, sponsors, and community partners to “switch on” the lights in the Plaza, ushering in the start of the 2025 holiday season.
Classic Carousel
Children can ride the Classic Carousel in Mission Plaza beginning Friday, November 28, 2025. Hours of operation will run in tandem with Santa’s House hours. Guests can purchase one ride for $4, or three rides for $10.
Festive Photo Spots & Holiday Tree
The community is invited to experience larger-than-life lighted backdrops and displays that sparkle during the day and dazzle at night! The giant decorated tree, walk-through ornament, photo wreath, sit-in sleigh, giant SLO letters and more offer the perfect backdrop for holiday photos with family and friends!
Dazzling Light & Snow Show
The Broad Street end of Mission Plaza will be home to the walk-through animated light tunnel, visitors can stop by in the evenings for a music-synced light and snow show that incorporates both the tunnel and other elements of the Plaza. The nightly show will happen every 30 minutes, subject to change based on special events at the Mission or in the Plaza.
Creekside Light Activations
This year, the San Luis Obispo Creek walk, adjacent to Mission Plaza, will also be sparkling with overhead pathway lights, focused fixtures to brighten and bring depth to the creek waterbed and holiday pattern projection on the Warden Bridge.
Santa’s House, Open Friday, November 28 to Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Presented by Adventist Health.
Santa will once again fly from the North Pole to his winter residence in Mission Plaza, families are invited to meet him, recite their wish list and pose for photos. Guests can purchase one of three photo packages: take-your-own ($10), printed souvenir photo ($15), or a combination of both ($20).
Santa’s House schedule:
● Thurs–Sun | 1–6:30 p.m.
● *Tuesday, December 23, 2025 | 1–6:30 p.m.
● *Wednesday, December 24, 2025 | 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Santa’s House hours are subject to change due to rain or inclement weather conditions. Downtown SLO is actively recruiting volunteer elves to assist with Santa’s House operations throughout the season. Those interested can fill out the form at SLOHolidays.com.
Letters to Santa
Children can find the mailbox outside of Santa’s House and mail their wishlist to the North Pole by Thursday, December 18, 2025, for a response back from Santa.
Shop Local All Season Long
Downtown SLO encourages locals to choose downtown businesses when shopping for gifts this holiday season. A directory of locally-owned businesses in downtown San Luis Obispo can be found at DowntownSLO.com/ShopSmall.
Thanksgiving Weekend: Black Friday & Small Business Saturday | November 28 & 29, 2025
Customers who shop at participating local businesses can receive a free “Shop Local” tote bag or pin during Thanksgiving Weekend. Downtown businesses will also offer promotional sales or specials this weekend, the perfect time to check holiday shopping off the to-do list! More information about how to participate will be shared as the date approaches. Shoppers can enjoy free garage parking all Thanksgiving Weekend (Thursday to Sunday).
Buy Local Bonus, Begins Friday, November 28, 2025
Shoppers can get rewarded for buying local, those who spend $100 or more at locally-owned retailers can earn a $25 gift card to another local business. Those interested can learn more at SLOCity.org/BuyLocalBonus. Buy Local Bonus is a program by the City of San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.
Free Parking Garage Days
The City of San Luis Obispo is offering free parking in all three downtown parking garages on the following days:
● Thanksgiving Weekend: 11/28, 11/29, 11/30
● Every Sunday in December: 12/1, 12/8, 12/14, 12/22, 12/29
● Christmas Eve/Day: 12/24, 12/25
● New Year’s Eve/Day: 12/31, 1/1
More information about parking downtown can be found at SLOCity.org/Parking.