The two ends of Mill Creek's Holidays on Main are about six hundred address numbers apart. Santa sits for photos at The Forum, 15121 Main St., and the day closes with a tree lighting at Jewelry Source Plaza, 15603 Main St. In between, the Santa Parade heads south down Main Street and connects the two.
The City of Mill Creek and the Mill Creek Chamber of Commerce are hosting the event on Saturday, December 5, 2026, from noon to 6 p.m. across Town Center. Treat the whole afternoon as a slow walk south and it gets a lot easier to plan. The schedule moves from north to south, the restaurants are clustered by block, and the parade ends one block before the stretch of Main Street the city has started planning to rebuild.
The Schedule, Listed by Address
The city's 2026 event page gives a street address for each activity. Put them in order and the day runs like this:
- Noon to 4 p.m.: Santa's Snowflake Village at The Forum at Town Center, 15121 Main St., hosted by the Chamber.
- 1 to 3 p.m.: Santa photos, also at The Forum.
- 4 p.m.: The Santa Parade starts at the former L.A. Fitness, 15024 Main St., and heads south on Main.
- The parade's end: Jewelry Source Plaza, 15603 Main St.
- 5 p.m.: The city's Tree Lighting Ceremony at Jewelry Source Plaza.
The parade starts about a block from The Forum. A family that finishes Santa photos by 3 p.m. is already near the start line, with an hour to spare before the floats move. The tree, though, is at the far end of the route, so watching the lighting means walking south while the parade does.
The 4 p.m. parade and 5 p.m. lighting match last year's schedule for Saturday, December 6, 2025. This year the city also lists the start and end addresses, so you can pick your viewing spot with a map. If you'd rather be in the parade than watch it, the city links to a 2026 Santa Parade application from the event page.
Three Days Left to Get a Seat on the Royal Court
One part of this year's parade is brand new. The city is choosing its first Mill Creek Royal Christmas Court, and the members will ride together in the Santa Parade on December 5.
Applying takes a letter, not a form. The city asks applicants to cover three things:
- What they love most about Mill Creek
- How they're involved in the community
- What makes the holiday season special to them
Court members also get a free breakfast from La Palmera on parade day, plus other chances to represent the city through the holiday season.
The deadline is November 15, 2026, which is this Sunday. You can mail letters to City Hall North at 15720 Main St. or drop them in the outdoor mailbox at City Hall South, 15728 Main St. If the mail can't get it there in time, the drop box will.
Where to Eat Along the Route
Town Center's restaurants line the same stretch of Main Street the parade covers, from the 15000 block down to the 15600 block. The Mill Creek Town Center dining directory lists the places below. Sorted by block, they line up with each part of the day.
| Stretch of Main St. | Listed in the Town Center directory | Where it fits in the day |
|---|---|---|
| 15021 to 15130, the parade start and The Forum | Thai Rhapsody and Zeeks Pizza at 15021; Bequest Coffee Company at 15111, Suite A-105; Blazing Onion Burger Co. at 15115; The Lodge Sports Grille at 15117, Suite B-101; Azul Restaurant & Lounge at 15118, Suite 100; Visible Coffee Roasters at 15118, Suite 700; Kafé Neo at 15130 | Coffee before the Snowflake Village opens, lunch between photos and the parade |
| 15217 to 15224, mid-route | FROST at 15217, Suite 106; DIY Tea Lab and Just Poke at 15224, Suite 101; DeVine Wines & Wine Bar at 15224, Suite 107; La Palmera Family Mexican Restaurant at 15224, Suite 202 | A stop while you follow the floats south |
| 15402 to 15418, the 15400 block | China City at 15402, Suite 101; Saw Mill Cafe at 15409; Cold Stone Creamery at 15415, Suite D-105; Hot Iron Mongolian Grill at 15418, Suite 101; Claypit Cuisine of India at 15418, Suite M-107 | Close to the end of the route, a short walk from the plaza |
| 15517 to 15603, the finish | Starbucks at 15517; Tablas Woodstone Taverna at 15522; MoMo Sushi at 15603, Suite 102; SOLID Modern Teriyaki at 15603, Suite B-104 | Dinner after the 5 p.m. lighting without moving the car |
The north end has the most coffee, with three roasters and cafes within a few doors of The Forum. MoMo Sushi and SOLID Modern Teriyaki share an address with Jewelry Source Plaza at 15603 Main St., so a dinner reservation there puts you right next to the tree. Plenty of others will be trying to eat on Main Street that evening too, so a table at the south end is worth booking before you head out at noon.
The Building at the Start Line
The city's event page calls 15024 Main St. "the former L.A. Fitness." Club Studio Fitness lists that address as an upcoming location, "Mill Creek - Main St. (Coming Soon)," with a VIP list sign-up and no opening date.
That makes the start line easy to find on December 5. Floats line up at a building known for its old tenant and branded for its next one, a block from the Forum, where the afternoon's activities are already underway.
Where Main Street Goes After 15603
Jewelry Source Plaza is close to the south edge of the Town Center most locals know. City Hall North sits just past it at 15720 Main St. That's where a much larger planning area begins.
The Everett Herald reported that the Mill Creek City Council voted 5-2 to approve the South Town Center Subarea Plan. The plan covers 82 acres running east to west from North Creek to Bothell-Everett Highway and north to south from City Hall North to the QFC on 164th Street. According to the city, the plan sets zoning and design standards for a future mixed-use neighborhood. It does not approve any specific development project.
The plan includes a large central park. Speaking to the Herald, community development and planning director Jeff Ryan called the park "the community's heart" and said he pictures parade routes ending there, along with festivals and concerts. The North Creek Trail runs through the area, and Ryan told the Herald that keeping it was one of the community's main concerns during planning:
"We want to try to create an urban space that really embraces the forest as part of that experience."
The Herald also reported that redevelopment would focus on Mill Creek Boulevard and Main Street, and that at least 70% of ground-floor space there would have to be commercial. Mayor Stephanie Vignal told the paper that residents keep asking for a lively downtown core.
For this December, the parade ends at 15603 Main St. and the crowd gathers on the plaza. The block just past it is where the city has started planning for future parades to keep going.
More Holiday Dates on Main Street
- Heroes' Cafe Giving Tree and Sock Drive: Beginning on Veterans Day, the city invited visitors to Mill Creek City Hall to pick a gift tag for a veteran from the tree. The city has details on the giving tree page.
- Mill Creek Chamber Holiday Party: Thursday, December 10, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m., at La Palmera, 15224 Main St., Suite 202. The Chamber's event page has the details.
La Palmera shows up three times this season: it's on the dining list, it's making breakfast for the Royal Court on parade day, and it's hosting the Chamber party five days later.
The Erickson Group watches Main Street the same way neighbors do, one storefront and one city plan at a time. If you live near Town Center or the South Town Center area and wonder how this year's changes affect what your home is worth, ask for a free home valuation. Greg will walk you through the numbers before or after the tree lighting.
