Schenectady officials announce grand marshal of annual holiday parade

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Schenectady County officials gathered at Proctors Theatre on Tuesday to announce this year’s Schenectady County Holiday Parade Grand Marshal. The 56th annual parade will be led by Schenectady Shares.

Schenectady Shares is an all-volunteer initiative that works to combat food insecurity throughout the county. The organization was founded in 2023 and has since collected tens of thousands of pounds of food and personal hygiene products, as well as tens of thousands of dollars.

“Schenectady Shares embodies the spirit of community that this parade is all about,” said Gary Hughes, chair of the Schenectady County Legislature.

In partnership with Schenectady Shares, the county will be collecting non-perishable food and hygiene items until the end of October. The donations will stock pantries throughout the county and can be dropped off at over 70 locations, including all nine public library locations and the county office building.

This year’s Schenectady County Holiday Parade will take place on November 22, stepping off at 5 p.m. Families and other attendees will be able to watch intricate floats, decorated fire trucks, marching bands, dance troupes and Santa Clause make their way down the streets of downtown Schenectady.

A pre-parade party will also take place on State Street at 3 p.m., including a performance by Sydney Worthley. A sensory-friendly room will also be open in Proctors’ GE Theatre for those with sensory sensitivities who want to watch the parade.

Holiday parade registrations are now open and can be submitted on the Schenectady County website. Parade updates can also be found online.