Community Parades

SAVE-THE-DATE for Saturday, December 6, 2025

47th Annual Chamber Christmas Parade & Santa Visits 

Held on the first Saturday in December is the Annual Christmas Parade beginning at 11:00am. Parade line up begins at 10:00am at the Wayland VFW Post #7581 and concludes at the Wayland Fire Department. Non-profits are eligible to win a cash prize for decorating according to the parade theme (announced in October). City Police parade rules are enforced and should be reviewed prior to participation.

Parade rules must be agreed upon prior to registering to be in the parade. These can be viewed at the bottom of this page.

Santa Visits:
After the parade, be sure to stop back by the fire station for photos (along with hot cocoa and cookies) with Santa & Mrs. Claus! Parents are encouraged to bring their own cameras Kids are welcome to bring a picture for Santa. The chamber will feature the pictures on our Facebook page throughout December.

Parade Theme & Grand Marshal Press Release:
On Saturday, December 6th, the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce will host Wayland’s 47th Annual Christmas Parade beginning at 11:00am. We are proud to announce Dr. Bruce & Sara Sexton of Wayland as the Grand Marshals who will be leading the parade. This year’s parade theme will be “Candyland.”

“The Chamber of Commerce is honored to annually select the Grand Marshals to lead the 7Annual Chamber Christmas Parade started in 1978. Mr. and Mrs. Sexton are longtime residents of Wayland and true pillars of our community. We couldn’t be more excited to have Dr. Bruce & Sara Sexton serving as our 2025 grand marshals,” stated Denise Behm, Chamber Executive Director.

Dr. Bruce Sexton, DDS, has been a familiar face in the community for decades, serving patients from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo since opening his dental practice in Wayland in 1984. A native of Parchment, Michigan, Dr. Sexton graduated from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry before bringing his small-town values and professional dedication to the Wayland community.

Together, Bruce and Sara devoted 39 years to their locally owned business, Bruce Sexton, DDS. Sara also made her mark in downtown Wayland as the owner of Jolly’s Bar & Grill (now McDuff’s) and as a local realtor, further contributing to the vitality of the community.

Throughout his years in Wayland, Dr. Sexton has been deeply involved in civic life, serving on the Wayland Planning Commission, Wayland City Council, Wayland Lions Club, Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Wayland Union Education Foundation.  Sara’s community dedication included involvement in the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wayland Lions Club.

Married since 1989, Bruce and Sara have built a life rooted in family and community. They are the proud parents of four children, grandparents to five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, all of whom live nearby.

In his free time, Dr. Sexton enjoys reading, traveling, deer hunting and working in his shop. He is also an enthusiastic supporter of the University of Michigan Wolverines. Sara also enjoys traveling and deer hunting as well as music and audio books. Bruce and Sara now enjoy spending winters in Florida.  Above all, both Bruce and Sara cherish time spent with their grandchildren and great grandchildren,

“We are so pleased to have Dr. Bruce and Sara Sexton leading our 2025 Christmas Parade as our Grand Marshals,” said Denise Behm, Executive Director of the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce. “They are true pillars in our community, and we are blessed that they both call Wayland home.”

In addition, the Wayland Boy Scout Troop 97 is encouraging parade spectators to bring non-perishable food items or gently used or new coats, gloves, scarfs, boots, and hats. There will be many Boy Scouts walking in the parade picking up these items along the route. Items can be handed to the Scouts as the walk by. All items will go towards the Wayland Christian Neighbors.

For those interested in a warm beverage or snack prior to the parade, Greenridge Realty office in Wayland will be set up to serve complimentary cookies, donuts, coffee, and hot chocolate to anyone who would like to enjoy something warm while waiting for the parade.

Vehicle line up begins at 10:00am and walkers line up at 10:30. Parade rules must be reviewed prior to registering and can be found in the registration link.

For parade participants, please register here: REGISTER NOW

2025 Christmas Parade Breakfast

The public is welcome to attend the pancake breakfast hosted by the Wayland Area Fire Fighters Association at the Wayland Fire Department from 7:00am until 10:00am the morning of the Christmas Parade. New this year, the Wayland Area Fire Fighters Association will hold a Silent Auction. Bidding will take place at the fire department from 7:00am - 1:30pm. Auction items are currently being updated on the City of Wayland Fire Department Facebook Page.

Enjoy all-you-can eat pancakes, eggs, sausages, biscuits & gravy with coffee, juice or water.

Cash or Checks Donations are accepted, all of which go towards the Wayland Area Fire Fighters Association.

City Police Parade Rules are as follows

By registering for the parade, you agree to the following City Parade Rules

City police parade rules are as follows.
These rules WILL be enforced.
Please do NOT register for the parade until you have read the rules.

A parade entrant which operates a vehicle or other equipment in such a way that can be dangerous (burn outs, careless/reckless driving) to spectators or other parade participants will be removed from the parade, banned from future parades and/or possibly cited by law enforcement.
NO "coal rolling" of vehicles
Four wheelers, all-terrain vehicles, and mini-racers are prohibited except in certain conditions that are pre-approved by the Wayland City Police Department.
Nothing shall be thrown from any moving vehicle.
Handing out candy or other objects is permitted by walkers only.
All dogs in the parade must be kept on leashes and held by someone strong enough to handle them.
All animals participating in the parade must be kept under control.
The parade route is one-way. No parade entrant may reverse direction.
Participants on bikes, scooters, skateboards, skates, etc. must wear a helmet and proper safety equipment. Due to safety, E-Bikes must line up with the floats, not walkers/peddle bikes.
No one may step off a vehicle, float, or any other moving piece of equipment during the parade except in an emergency.
Float riders must be completely on the float with no legs or other parts of the body hanging over the sides of the float.