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City Confirms: No Cookeville Christmas Parade This Year
Cookeville, TN — For the second consecutive year, Cookeville will not hold a Christmas parade. City officials confirmed that no city-led or city-sponsored parade is planned for 2025, marking another year without one of the community’s most beloved traditions.
In a message to Highlands Insider, Mayor Laurin Wheaton said,
“The City of Cookeville will not be organizing a Christmas parade this year. Our vote last year was for the 2024 season only.”
City Councilman Ali Bagci signaled agreement with Wheaton’s statement.
Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter shared that a local business had shown interest in hosting a parade this year but later decided not to move forward with those plans.
Last year’s parade was canceled twice — first on the scheduled date and again on the rain date — due to heavy rain that made it unsafe for participants and spectators. In 2023, the event also faced organizational challenges as responsibilities shifted between community groups.
Traditionally, the Cookeville–Putnam County Chamber of Commerce managed parade entries and coordination, while the city provided traffic and safety support. That partnership ended in 2023, and no replacement organization has stepped forward for the 2025 season.
While the city will not be leading this year’s effort, officials emphasized that the decision does not close the door for future collaborations or private organizers who may wish to revive the tradition.
“We may not have floats this year,” said Highlands Insider publisher Clarissa Williams, “but we still have faith, family, and the light of Christmas that brings everyone together. That’s something no cancellation can take away.”
For now, Cookeville’s Christmas celebrations will continue through neighborhood lights, church programs, and community events that keep the focus on unity, generosity, and the joy of the season.
One highlight of this year’s festivities will be the “Happy Birthday, Jesus” celebration — a joyful event coordinated across multiple churches and ministries in Cookeville and hosted at the new Putnam County Convention Center on Tennessee Avenue. The event is free and open to everyone, offering families an opportunity to gather, sing, and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.
👉 Watch for our upcoming feature story on the Happy Birthday, Jesus celebration — including photos, interviews, and a behind-the-scenes look at how this community event is bringing light and joy to Cookeville this season.
