Anything that lasts 50 years – a marriage, a career, a community event – has reached a big-deal milestone.

When Lake Geneva’s Electric Christmas Parade steps off on Saturday, December 6, it will mark half a century since the event debuted in 1975. The 2025 parade is presented by Visit Lake Geneva, in partnership with the City of Lake Geneva and the Lake Geneva Jaycees. Kunes Chevrolet GMC of Lake Geneva is the parade sponsor, providing for amenities such as winners’ prizes.

We sat down with two members of Stephanie’s Visit Lake Geneva team – Deanna Goodwin, vice president for marketing, communications and development, and Brie Pacey, events manager – to talk about the history and what’s planned for this year’s lighted parade.

The chamber of commerce has been involved since the beginning. When the chamber merged with the visitors bureau to form Visit Lake Geneva about 10 years ago, Deanna explained, “Visit Lake Geneva continued to do it. Same thing with Concerts in the Park, Winterfest and all of our signature events that are carryovers from the chamber days.”

The event has scored major growth, attracting more than 10,000 spectators and nearly 100 parade entries each year. Rain, snow or whatever comes – the only cancellation occurred in 2020, for Covid – the parade will step off at 5 p.m. Saturday, December 6, and wind its way through downtown Lake Geneva. The parade starts on Broad Street and proceeds west on Main Street to Cook Street.

“We’re challenging all the floats to consider (the 50th) in their design and their theme, for this the golden anniversary,” Deanna said, noting the organization wants to honor the history without stepping on entrants’ creativity.

The parade is judged, awarding Best of Show honors to a for-profit entry and a nonprofit entry. Judges include Visit Lake Geneva’s recent community Impact Award winners. The sponsor stand is located in front of Geneva Stage on Broad Street, where Stephanie and her longtime Discover Wisconsin co-host Rick Rose serve as emcees and announcers.

Brie is one of the newer members of the team, and this is just her second year as lead organizer for the event. In fact, she explained, she was a kid “in the audience watching years ago.”

She said it takes a very large team to make the parade perform flawlessly for the thousands who attend. Jaycees members line up the floats and make sure the launch and timing stay on schedule. Public Works staff prepare the route, block off all intersections and, if necessary, plow snow. Police and emergency responders discreetly create thorough arrangements for public safety. Visit Lake Geneva Ambassadors are stationed along the route to keep interactions smooth with audience members. Visit Lake Geneva’s staff operate “all hands on deck” to walk the parade route, prepared to deal with any issues.

Here’s what to expect, according to Deanna and Brie.

There will be at least four marching bands; dozens of creative floats sponsored by businesses and nonprofits; vintage cars; lively dancers; horses and dogs; Lake Geneva Balloon Company’s fire-breathing airship; decorated boats and trailers and flatbeds, even a lighted cement truck.

Last year’s Best of Show winners – GenaSnoers for nonprofit; Mars Resort and Luna Roofing (tie) in for-profit – are back again to defend their titles. More than a dozen rookies are entering, hoping to take down the champs.

It’s crowded, so Visit Lake Geneva encourages parade-goers to come early to get a desired spot along the parade route. Many shops will be open late for convenience. Restaurants and pubs are busy both before and after the parade, so reservations are recommended. Downtown parking is free, but there’s no parking along the parade route after 2 p.m.

Expect the parade to last a little more than one hour.

We asked Brie and Deanna what they find most gratifying. “The lights. The camaraderie. Of course the candy,” Brie said, with a wide smile. “And the Christmas spirit, with Santa and Mrs. Santa coming down from the North Pole.” (Spoiler alert: The Santa family actually arrives with help from the Fire Department.)

“With 50 years of doing this we have a segment of our population that came as a child, or they brought their children, now they’re seeing their grandchildren witness this recycling of a beautiful family tradition,” Deanna told us.

Both women asked us to be sure to thank the City of Lake Geneva, the Jaycees and Kunes Lake Geneva, along with all the volunteers who work to keep the event happy and safe. Think about it, though. That’s what happens in good communities. People step up. Good things happen only because good people do the work. Lake Geneva is blessed.

See you at the 50th Electric Christmas Parade.