A week of Christmas parades in DeSoto County
Dec 1, 2024- Monday begins a week of parade celebrations to welcome the holiday season in DeSoto County. The four cities in the county and the Town of Walls will all hold Christmas parades, which begin with Hernando on Monday, and continue on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The Hernando Candyland Christmas Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. The parade route, shown here, will start on Commerce Street near Mt. Pleasant Road, then head west toward the Courthouse Square. After rounding the courthouse, participants will then return on Center Street before breaking up at Hernando Baptist Church. It’s the 65th year for the Hernando Christmas Parade.
The rest of the communities in DeSoto County plan to welcome the holiday season with parades on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Southaven will hold its Candy Cane Lane parade on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 10 a.m., which is a change from past years when the parade was an evening event. The parade will head from Southpoint Church and continue down Stateline Road (Main Street) to end at City Hall, which for the day is coined as Santa’s Workshop. That’s where the elves will have family fun for everyone. Cookies and cocoa, games, crafts for the kids and even pictures with Santa. Music, food trucks, craft vendors will be on hand. It’s the 44th year for the Southaven Christmas Parade.
The Town of Walls gets into the Christmas spirit with its Christmas parade, set for 12 noon on Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade will start and end at Walls Elementary School.
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, Olive Branch will hold its annual Christmas Parade. The theme this year is “Red, White & Blue”, in remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day. The route will be the same as last year and the lineup will be at the Olive Branch High School at 12:30 p.m. with the parade starting at 2 p.m. It’s the 47th year for the Olive Branch Christmas parade.
The Horn Lake Christmas Parade will begin Saturday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. The lineup will begin at Horn Lake Middle School (north parking Lot) Parade Route and the parade will step off at 6 p.m. from the middle school south parking lot on to Nail Road. The parade will head west, turn on to Tulane Road and enter Latimer Lakes Park. That’s where a Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place after the parade. The parade theme will be “Toys, Trains & Candy Canes.”
Olive Branch will also hold a Community Tree Lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5 on the front lawn of City Hall, 9200 Pigeon Roost Road. A new community tree will be lit and there will be live music, selfies with Santa on the Wesson House Stage, a Candy Lane, holiday treats, and more. Activities begin at 5 p.m. with the tree lighting held at 7 p.m.
