Atlantic City officially ushered in the Christmas season this weekend with a festive Holiday Parade and Festival that brought crowds, color, and cheer to Atlantic Avenue.
The celebration began with a lively parade featuring more than 80 floats, marching bands, community groups, and performers making their way along the avenue. The approximately 2½-mile route concluded at O’Donnell Park, where the festivities continued well into the day.
At the park, O’Donnell Park was transformed into a Holiday Village, offering a bustling marketplace filled with local vendors, food trucks, and live entertainment. Families and visitors gathered to enjoy seasonal treats, music, and activities, creating a warm, community-focused atmosphere.
Organizers said the event was the result of nearly two months of planning and coordination, involving dozens of meetings to ensure everything ran smoothly. Safety remained a top priority throughout the celebration, with the city’s Emergency Operations Center activated for the entire event to support coordination between departments and maintain a secure environment for participants and spectators.
City officials credited Atlantic City Police Department Sgt. Brian Shapiro and Assistant to the Business Administrator Jazmyn Rivera as being indispensable to the event’s success, recognizing their leadership and behind-the-scenes efforts.
With strong community participation and a full day of holiday activities, the parade and festival marked a joyful start to the Christmas season in Atlantic City.