This year’s “Once Upon a North Port Holiday” themed parade, sponsored by Quality TV, begins at the corner of Morandi Avenue and Sumter Boulevard and travels south to City Hall Boulevard before making it way past the City Center Front Green. To prepare for the parade, road closures and detours will begin at 2 p.m. Traffic will be impacted as follows:
Detours
- The Northbound lanes of Sumter Boulevard between City Center Boulevard and Lorri Circle will be closed from 2 p.m. until parade completion, at approximately 7 p.m. Northbound traffic will be diverted to utilize one lane of the Sumter Boulevard, Southbound side during this time.
- All traffic approaching Sumter Boulevard from the East will remain in the Southbound lanes of Sumter Boulevard and be diverted South towards Price Boulevard, starting at 2 p.m. until parade completion, at approximately 7 p.m.
- All traffic approaching Sumter Boulevard from the West will be required to utilize Hansard Avenue to enter Sumter Boulevard and be diverted North towards I-75/Tropicaire Boulevard; between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. until approximately 7 p.m.
- Eldron Avenue will remain open throughout the parade. As part of the Price Boulevard closure, traffic will be detoured utilizing the Salford Boulevard to La France Avenue detour route, U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), and Sumter Boulevard. Signs are placed throughout the detour route to direct drivers.
Closures
- Starting at 9 p.m. on Dec. 5, all traffic on both sides of the City Center Front Green, Rue Berryman Street and Main Street will be closed for the event. Please plan appropriately for drop-off or pick-up of event attendees. Road closures will impact access to the event site Dec. 6.
- On Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. all roads entering the City Center Campus will be closed to vehicular traffic in preparation for the parade. These roads will remain open for pedestrians. All City Center Campus entry and exits will reopen at approximately 7 p.m., following the conclusion of the parade.
- Also, on Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. the following intersections will be closed:
West of Sumter Closures:
- Morandi Avenue at Sumter Boulevard
- Morandi Avenue at Dongola Street
- Sylvania Avenue at Sumter Boulevard
- Sylvania Avenue at Dongola Street
East of Sumter Closures:
- Morandi Avenue at Sumter Boulevard
- Morandi Avenue at Crittendon Street
- Sylvania Avenue at Sumter Boulevard
- Sylvania Avenue at Crittendon Street
Event Access
Due to the ongoing Price Boulevard closure, attendees traveling to the event are encouraged to utilize I-75/Tropicaire Boulevard or U.S. 41 as their primary entry points to access Sumter Boulevard. These routes will provide the most efficient access to the event area and help minimize congestion near the construction zone and parade staging area.
Parking
When determining where to park, please keep in mind that there will be several road closures and detours to ensure a safe experience for all attendees.
Parking is available at:
- Morgan Family Community Center, 6207 W. Price Blvd. Entrance to and exit from the parking that the Morgan Family Community Center will not be restricted due to road closures or detours. Complimentary shuttle service will be provided from the Morgan Family Community Center to the City Center Green.
- The City Center Campus, 4970 City Hall Blvd. Vehicular access to the City Center Campus closes at 4 p.m. and will not reopen until after the parade passes and the road closures and detours have been cleared, approximately 7 p.m.
- We’d like to thank the two property owners of the lots adjacent to The Gallery and the Florida Cancer Center off Price Boulevard for providing free overflow parking. We appreciate Command and Control Construction for allowing the use of their site as they prepare for their upcoming groundbreaking. Attendees are encouraged to use these two locations if primary event parking areas reach capacity. Clear signage will direct drivers, and the lot is within convenient walking distance of the City Center Campus.
- Walmart Neighborhood Market on Sumter Boulevard is generously sponsoring additional parking spaces for event attendees. We kindly ask that guests avoid using the spaces reserved for online order pick-up, as vehicles parked in those spots may be subject to towing.
Watching the Parade
Spectator viewing is available along Sumter Boulevard between Morandi Avenue and City Hall Boulevard, as well as the City Center Front Green. For your safety, spectators will not be permitted in the medians along Sumter Boulevard.
Parade and Festival Safety Alerts & Updates
The City of North Port encourages all event attendees to opt in for real-time updates and safety alerts by texting PARADE25 to 888-777. This free service provides important information straight to your phone, including traffic notices and any changes that may impact the event.
The City will also be sharing key announcements, photos and event coverage using the hashtag #Poinsettia2025. Attendees are invited to join the conversation on Facebook and follow along by using the hashtag and visiting @NorthPortParksAndRec or @TheCityofNorthPort-Government throughout the event.