The premiere kick-off to spring is the Blossomtime Festival Grand Floral Parade in downtown St. Joseph. The parade travels 2 ½ miles through St. Joseph main street across the bicentennial bridge into Benton Harbor bringing the twin cities together and the surrounding communities. The Business loop 94 Bicentennial bridge will be closed for vehicles and for marine traffic from 10am to 4pm that day. Downtown Parking will be restricted to make way for the Run for the Buds 5K and the parade.

The Parade averages 125 registered units of floral & animated floats, marching bands, dancers, comic characters, antique cars, clowns, equestrian groups, and the famed Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Motorcycle Drill Team. With Southwest Michigan being the Fruit belt of Michigan, the blessings of the blossoms, the Blossomtime Festival started in 1906, with the Grand Floral Parade tradition began in 1923.

This annual event, the Blossomtime Festival Grand Floral Parade, is Saturday May 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EST. https://blossomtimefestival.org/parade-activities/grand-floral-parade/

Free Trolley rides to downtown! https://swmichigan.org/trolley

Trolley Parking and Stops

Stop 1

Downtown St. Joseph
Corner of Lake Boulevard and Ship Street

In front of the Whitcomb near the Maids of the Mist Fountain

Stop 2

FREE All-Day Parking Lot
211 Hilltop Road, St. Joseph, East Entrance near the railroad tracks

Sponsored by Clark Logic

Stop 3

Fisher Auto Parts
2757 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville

You are invited to visit Southwestern Michigan to observe the beautiful bounty and participate in the day’s activities. Come join Miss and Mr. Blossomtime 2026 and their Courts of Honor, and the lovely community Queens as they preside over the Grand Floral Parade. The Blossomtime Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to the educational development of young people and the dissemination of information for the purpose of educating the general public as to the value and contribution of agriculture to Southwest Michigan. Traditionally we are proud our Blossomtime Royalty’s involvement with the Boys & Girls Whirlpool Golf, Relay for Life, Foster Care party, Shriner’s Hospital, Bark Angels, Flush Out Cancer, March Reading Month and volunteering during the Krasl Art Fair and the Berrien County Youth Fair week.

Sponsored by Four Winds Casino Resort

Admission: FREE

Sponsor: Four Winds Casino