Santa Claus was escorted by marching bands and lighted floats in the Midwest’s largest nighttime Christmas parade.

The parade features almost 80 floats, over twenty marching bands from Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan high schools. Spectators can begin putting out their chairs and blankets along College Avenue or on the sidewalk starting at noon Tuesday and you must stay with your stuff.

Tuesday night brings what’s billed as the largest nighttime holiday parade in the Midwest. The Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade will move along College Avenue starting at 7 p.m. You can start saving a seat along the parade route at noon,

In front of 80,000 spectators, the City of Appleton hosts the biggest and the best nighttime Christmas parade in the Midwest.  The parade begins at the corner of State Street and College

The countdown to Christmas is on, and Appleton is getting an early jump on the holiday spirit with the return of a beloved tradition.