- December 17, 2025
The Daytona Beach Fire Department at the parade. Courtesy of the Daytona Beach Fire Department
Santa Claus road along in a Christmas ambulance for the Daytona Beach parade, instead of a sleigh. Courtesy of Daytona Beach Fire Department
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry presented checks to multiple schools who receive 'A' ratings this year. Pictured: Champion Elementary School Principal Steffan Mallory with Mayor Henry. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
After the parade, the city had its annual fireworks show. Courtesy of the City of Daytona Beach
Several schools participated in the parade for the first time. Pictured: Palm Terrace Elementary. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
One of the cars decorated for the Daytona Beach Christmas parade. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
AIB had several trucks and members in the parade. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
The Daytona Beach Police Department decorated an armored vehicle for its float. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
The Grinch at the Daytona Beach Christmas parade. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
Children receive candy from parade walkers. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
Several schools participated in the parade for the first time. Pictured: Mainland High School. Photo courtesy of Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach’s annual Dashing through Daytona Christmas parade had 63 participants this year.
Daytona Beach Communications Manager Susan Cerbone said several schools participated in the parade for the first time. Mainland High School, Westside Elementary. Palm Terrace Elementary, Champion Elementary, Campbell Middle School all participated in the parade and Turie T. Small Elementary. Seabreeze High School and Beachside Elementary also sent representatives.
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry presented each school, which received ‘A’ ratings this year, some for the first time, with a check in honor of their accomplishment. Cerbone wrote in an email the elementary schools were given a $1,500 check, the middle schools a $2,500 check and the high schools a $5,000 check. According to Henry’s Facebook page, he presented Seabreeze High School with a $10,000 check.
The parade takes around nine months of preparation to complete, Cerbone told the Observer, and requires staff across multiple departments – including communications, public works and event planning, among others – to organize.
Not including staff time, the parade alone cost Daytona Beach $10,000, Cerbone wrote in an email. The annual after-parade fireworks cost $4,700 from the city’s redevelopment department.
