City of Gainesville’s daylong holiday festivities begin Saturday

Published on December 02, 2025

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More than 100 floats, dance troupes, marching bands and community groups will travel along University Avenue in the 2025 A Very GNV Holiday Parade Saturday, Dec. 6. 

The theme of this year’s parade is “homegrown talent” featuring Gainesville’s own nationally acclaimed theatrical producer/director Marion J. Caffey and award-winning saxophonist Emmanuel Garilus who will serve as co-grand marshals.

The parade also will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Star Center Theatre, marking a milestone in teaching and empowering young performers in the community.

City officials encourage neighbors to come downtown where parking is free every weekend (except in the SW Parking Garage at 105 SW Third St. and in spaces designated for another entity or purpose). 

Saturday’s parade is the first of several city events downtown and all are free and open to the public:

2025 A Very GNV Holiday Parade (rain or shine)

  • When: Noon-1 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6
  • Start: Intersection of W. University Ave. and W. Sixth St.
  • End: 620 E. University Ave. (ACPS Admin Bldg.)

Holiday Kids’ Dance Party 

  • When: 1-3 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6
  • Where: Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave.
  • When: 5-8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6
  • Where: The Historic Thomas Center, 302 NE Sixth Ave.

Traffic impacts

  • NW Sixth Street between W. University Ave. and NW Eighth Ave. will serve as the staging area for parade participants and will close at 7 a.m. Saturday until the final unit enters the parade route.
  • University Avenue from W. Seventh Street to E. Seventh Street will close at 11 a.m. Saturday and reopen gradually as the final unit travels the parade route.
  • Buses along certain Regional Transit System (RTS) routes will experience delays Saturday. Visit the city’s RTS website for details.

We’d like to take a moment to give a very big thank you to the generous sponsors of the 2025 A Very GNV Holiday Parade!

Platinum ($10,000)

Cox Communications

Gold ($5,000)

GFL Environmental

Pavlov Media

Santa Fe College

Sapphire ($1,500)

Ajax Building Company

Charles Perry Partners, Inc.

Children’s Trust of Alachua County

eda

Gainesville Housing Authority

Gainesville Regional Utilities

Oelrich Construction

Scorpio Construction

Trimark Properties

UF Health

 

#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.

(Note: The “GNV” in A Very GNV Holiday Parade is pronounced “GEE-en-vee.”)

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