🎄✨ 2025 Smethport’s “Ride Into Christmas” Parade - 5th Annual! ✨🎄
The weather might be frightful, but the holiday cheer will be delightful - because Santa’s big ride is almost here!
Engines will roar, lights will glow, and Smethport will shine bright once again for our 5th Annual Ride Into Christmas Parade! 🎅
🕯️ This Year’s Ride - In Memory of Oakley
This year’s parade is held in loving memory of 2-year-old Oakley Hedlund, whose passing in August touched the hearts of the entire McKean County and Bradford communities. 💔
All donations collected will be split between the McKean County Detective K9 Unit and the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of McKean County - two incredible local organizations that protect, serve, and care for our community’s children and families. ❤️🐾
Like always, there is no charge to ride - we simply and gracefully accept donations.
💙 Where Your Donations Go
The Children’s Advocacy Center provides a child-focused environment where a child who has alleged abuse can be interviewed safely, compassionately, and with dignity.
The CAC works closely with law enforcement, prosecution, child protective services, advocates, and medical and mental-health providers to reduce trauma and promote healing.
Your generosity directly supports those efforts - and honors Oakley’s memory by helping other children in need. 💞
👕 Official Ride Into Christmas Shirts!
Show your Smethport Christmas spirit with this year’s official Ride Into Christmas 2025 apparel!
All proceeds from shirt sales go directly toward supporting this year’s event and community donations.
Order yours here: 👉
https://smethport-s-ride-into-christmas-2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/ (link is also in the comment section)
Get your order in early so you can wear it proudly during the parade! 🎅🎽
📍 Parade Line-Up Details
🚦 Line-Up Time: 5:30 PM Sharp!
🏁 Location: West Willow Street (pool side)
➡️ Line up facing west on West Willow.
❗ West Willow will be closed to traffic during line-up - for machines only. No vehicle parking in the park.
🚛 Unloading Areas:
• Water Street side of the park
• West Willow (by the pool)
• Smethport Firehall
🗓️ Event Schedule
📅 Saturday, December 6th
⏰ Line-Up 5:30 PM | Parade Starts 6:00 PM
📍 Downtown Smethport
🍽️ Pre-Ride Tradition:
Join us for dinner beforehand at The Cottage House or one of Smethport’s great local restaurants - the perfect warm-up before engines fire up and the lights roll out!
🎅 Parade Route
This year’s route will finish going east on Main Street, again!
(Full map to be posted soon.)
🎁 Post-Parade Fun at the Firehall!
🍪 Cookies & Donuts for everyone
☕ Hot Chocolate for riders & spectators
🎟️ Riders receive a number & ticket upon arrival for prizes
🏆 Prize drawings
🌟 Thank You, Smethport!
Last year your generosity raised $556.00, split evenly between the Children’s Advocacy Center and the McKean County Detective K9 Unit.
Let’s make 2025 even brighter - for Oakley, for our kids, and for our community. ❤️
Whether you’re riding or cheering from the sidewalks, bundle up, bring your Christmas spirit, and get ready for lights, laughter, and holiday magic that only Smethport can create.
It’s not just a parade - it’s Smethport’s Christmas heartbeat! 💫
