Check-in for this year's Downtown Red Bluff Christmas Parade opens at 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, at the corner of Madison and Oak. By 5:30 the first entry rolls east on Oak, lit up for the theme on the Chamber's entry form, "Stars, Stripes & Christmas Lights." The grand marshals at the front are the Red Bluff VFW and American Legion.
That theme and those marshals tie this parade to the rest of Red Bluff's year. Red Bluff was incorporated in 1876 and Tehama County was established in 1856, so 2026 is the city's 150th year and the county's 170th, and it is also the nation's 250th. The town has been marking that run of anniversaries since spring. The Christmas parade is the last big public event of the year to carry it.
A Theme That Started in April
The phrase on this year's entry form first showed up seven months ago. The Red Bluff Round-Up parade on April 18 was themed "150 years of Stars and Stripes and Hometown Spirit," and it doubled as a celebration of the Red Bluff Fire Department's 150th year. According to North State Parent, 2026 marks 150 years since the city's horse-drawn volunteer fire companies merged into one department. Putty Put, the department's first motorized engine from 1918, was shined up to ride in that April parade.
When the Chamber announced the Christmas parade, the Red Bluff Daily News carried the Chamber's own description of the theme:
"The theme continues to celebrate the anniversaries of Red Bluff, Tehama County, and America."
The parade that opens the holiday season on Main Street is carrying an anniversary theme that began at rodeo time.
Red Bluff's 150th, One Gathering at a Time
Here is how the anniversary year has played out so far, in date order.
- March 31, the city's birthday. The Red Bluff Daily News announced a 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event at the historic Whitt Hall Firehouse, 835 Cedar St., to honor the county's 170th and the city's 150th. On the day, the paper reported, retired fire captain and museum curator Dom Catona welcomed visitors and led tours. Whitt Hall was built in 1906 as Station 2 to speed response times on the west side of town.
- April 11, Kelly-Griggs House Museum. The museum at 311 Washington Street put a 150th Red Bluff Anniversary Celebration on its calendar, with live music, food, vendors, old-fashioned children's games, and tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- April 18, the Round-Up parade. This was the 10 a.m. downtown parade under the "Stars and Stripes" theme, with Putty Put in the lineup. It came during the week of the 105th Red Bluff Round-Up rodeo, which began April 17.
- July 4, Los Molinos. Shasta Scout reported that Red Bluff's Historic Chinatown would join the Tehama County Independence Day Parade for the first time in 118 years. It was part of the Chinese Historical Society of America's Lion Dance Across America, a nationwide salute to the country's 250th birthday. The idea came from 1908 newspaper accounts of Red Bluff's Chinatown marching with the Moo Lung Dragon in that year's Fourth of July parade.
- November 28, Downtown Red Bluff Christmas Parade. The last stop on the list, and the only holiday-season event that carries the anniversary theme by name.
The Tehama County Museum runs the same dates on its home page, marking the county's birthday as 1856 to 2026 and the city's as 1876 to 2026.
Why Veterans Are Leading the Lineup
Last year's parade had a different feel. The Chamber's November 2025 newsletter gave the theme as "Spirit of Christmas" and named Pastor Scott Camp grand marshal, picked for what it called his heart for people and his message of faith and hope. This year the Chamber chose the Red Bluff VFW and American Legion, which matches a "Stars, Stripes" theme in a year that includes the country's 250th.
Last year also set the bar on size. The Red Bluff Daily News reported that around 7,000 people lined downtown on November 29, 2025, according to the Chamber, which counted over 95 entries and called it the most participants yet. Those numbers are the record this year's anniversary edition will be measured against.
Eight Days Left to Put an Entry Together
On Thursday, November 12, there is still time to enter. The Chamber's form says all entries must reach the Chamber office by 3:30 p.m. on November 20, 2026. Clubs, businesses, and families planning a float should know these details from the 2026 entry form:
- Fee: $30 by check payable to the Red Bluff Chamber, or $25 if you register online.
- Delivery: Drop it off at 100 Main Street, mail it to PO Box 850, or email [email protected]. Questions go to 530-527-6220.
- Check-in: Get your lineup number at the southeast corner of Madison and Oak before 4:30 p.m. The parade starts on Madison at Oak at 5:30 sharp.
- Decorations: Every vehicle entry must have a Christmas theme, and the Chamber asks for entries "full of lights and bright."
- Conduct: No alcohol on or around entries or the route, and it is a non-smoking event. Nothing may be thrown into the crowd, though walkers may hand out candy.
Judging also points back to the anniversary. Plaques and prizes of $200, $100, and $50 go to the top three entries for overall presentation, lighting, and theme integration. Theme integration is part of the score, so a float that gets the stars and stripes right has an edge over one that relies on lights alone.
Parade Night From the Curb
The Chamber's event listing sends the parade east on Oak to Washington, north to Walnut, east to Main, then south on Main to Ash Street. The 2025 route followed the same turns but ran south on Main to Sycamore. The listing gives Walnut and Main as the heart of the evening.
The city Christmas tree stands at Pine and Main, according to the Downtown Red Bluff Business Association, which describes its lighting as an annual event. Last year Mayor Kris Deiters led the countdown to light the tree at the start of the parade.
The parade also falls on Small Business Saturday, which the Chamber's 2026 calendar lists for November 28. In 2025 the Chamber encouraged families to come downtown early and shop with Red Bluff merchants before the floats lined up. If you already plan to stake out a spot on Main, an afternoon of downtown errands fills the time before the 5:30 start.
After the Last Float
Two December dates are on the downtown calendar after the parade.
December 12: The Chamber's 2026 calendar lists Pictures with Santa at the Kelly-Griggs House Museum from 10 a.m. to noon. It is the same Washington Street house that held a 150th celebration in April. The calendar was put together early in the year, so call the museum at 530-527-1129 before you go.
December 13: The Red Bluff Masterworks Chorale & Orchestra performs "A Christmas Celebration" at the State Theatre on Sunday at 3 p.m. Admission is free and donations are accepted.
Whitt Hall Fire Museum, where the city's birthday was celebrated in March, gives tours if you call 530-527-1126.
In Red Bluff's early years, its Victorian homes often served as town houses for the area's sheep and cattle ranchers. If you're thinking about what your own piece of Red Bluff history is worth heading into 2027, Monet Templeton would be glad to meet with you after the parade. You can book an appointment or request a home valuation any time.
