As it has for the past seven decades, Lansdale Borough will usher in the holiday season with its big —
and wildly mis-named — Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 18.
Lansdale’s 72nd Mardi Gras Parade, according to organizer Discover Lansdale, kicks off at 1 p.m. at Mitchell Street, marches East down Main and wraps up at Memorial Park, where performing groups this year for the first time will have up to two minutes to perform for the judges. Awards will be presented in each parade category.
With the 2023 theme of "Holiday Melodies,” a large number of special musical performances will be on display, along with the usual parade of dozens of fire trucks from numerous local companies and other emergency equipment, classic cars, local organizations and businesses, and much more.
And, as is traditional, the parade also welcomes Santa to town. He'll be carried by the fire department that won the previous year’s "Best Dressed” award. (Because of this honor, Discover Lansdale reminds entrants that no other Santas are allowed to be carried in the parade.)
Organizations, businesses and groups who want to join in the parade
can register online by clicking here, or by
filling out this downloadable form and emailing it to
[email protected] or mailing it to Discover Lansdale, PO Box 1112, Lansdale PA 19446.
The deadline for entries has been extended to this Sunday, Nov. 5.
Information on parade-day sign in, marshalling location and step off time will be sent a week before the event via email, so entrants are asked to make sure their email address is correct and clearly printed on the form. Community groups and nonprofits are welcomed free of charge. Commercial entries are considered a separate class of entrant, with a registration fee this year of $100.
Those new to this unique tradition can read about the parade’s origins and christening at
discoverlansdale.org/lansdale-mardi-gras-history.html, and get more information on the 2023 parade at
www.discoverlansdale.org/mardi-gras-parade.html.
