City of Gainesville’s Daylong Holiday Festivities Begin Saturday
More than 110 dance troupes, marching bands, floats and community groups will make their way down University Avenue in the 2024 A Very GNV Holiday Parade. Media personality and four-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal will appear as its grand marshal.
The parade is the first of several city events downtown this Saturday to usher in the holiday season. All events are free and open to the public.
2024 A Very GNV Holiday Parade
- When: Noon-2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7
- Start: intersection of W. University Avenue and W. Sixth Street
- End: 620 E. University Ave. (ACPS Admin Bldg.)
- When: 1-3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7
- Where: Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave.
- When: 5-8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7
- Where: The Historic Thomas Center, 302 N.E. Sixth Ave.
Traffic impacts
- N.W. Sixth Street between W. University Avenue and N.W. Eighth Avenue will serve as the staging area for parade entries and will close at 7 a.m. Saturday until the final entry enters the parade route.
- University Avenue from W. Seventh Street to E. th Street will close at 11 a.m. Saturday and reopen gradually as the final entry travels the parade route.
- Buses along certain Regional Transit System (RTS) routes will experience delays Saturday. Visit the City’s RTS website for details.
#GNVholidayparade is the official hashtag of the parade. Neighbors are invited to tag the city when posting photos online, using @GainesvilleFL on Facebook; and @gainesvillefla on Instagram.The parade will be livestreamed on the city’s Facebook page. It will be recorded for replay on Community 12TV, and the city’s YouTube channel, and available on demand after the event on GNV TV through Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.