If you are in town for Thanksgiving this year, your Wednesday evening plans should be happily “set” as the Novant Health Thanksgiving EVE Parade returns to light up the night on Tryon Street once again.
A Charlotte tradition since 1947, The Novant Health Thanksgiving Parade takes place each year in Uptown as the official kick-off to Charlotte’s holiday season. In 2012, it was named by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Thanksgiving Parades.
The Details
The parade will step off on Wednesday, November 23 at 5:30 pm and will air live on WBTV starting at 6:00 pm. The event moved from turkey day morning to Thanksgiving Eve last year in 2021 with huge success, as at least 100,000 people lined Tryon Street to enjoy the night’s festivities. If you’re looking to get out of the house one last time (or get the family and guests out of the house) before the stuffing begins, this is your answer.
The Parade will feature local, regional, and national talent and performers as well as your favorite floats, larger-than-life balloons, marching bands, and dance units.
This year’s Parade Grand Marshal is Olivia Reardon, representing the Olivia Strong Foundation. Olivia’s battle with pediatric cancer inspired the Reardon family to create and fund, The Olivia Strong Foundation, which recently gifted $500,000 to Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital with a commitment to ending childhood cancer and ensuring kids with pediatric cancer can remain kids.
The Parade is free and open to the public, and you can find your favorite viewing spot on the parade route on Tryon Street between 9th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The VIP SEATS
You can also reserve your own curb VIP seat(s), for just $35 so that you and yours can enjoy an unobstructed view of the entire Parade from the first banner to Santa himself. You can purchase your VIP tickets HERE.
Even Better, Santa’s Winter Wonderland
Experience the magic of the holidays as part of your Thanksgiving Eve Parade outing with tickets to Santa’s Winter Wonderland. Santa’s Winter Wonderland will take place before the parade from 3pm to 5pm at Two Wells Fargo, 301 S. Tryon St., inside the Wells Fargo Atrium.
Santa’s Winter Wonderland ticketholders will receive:
– A magical Winter Wonderland experience
– A meet and greet with Santa Claus and free photo
– Your choice between hot chocolate or coffee
– One cookie (Flavors: chocolate chip, peanut butter, salted caramel)
– Your choice between a fresh fruit cup or Rice Krispie treat
– A reserved seat in the nearby VIP seating area to watch the parade
SANTAS WONDERLAND TICKETS HERE
The Volunteers are YOU
If you are truly looking for an unforgettable Parade experience, consider becoming a member of the team or a Parade cast member. Parade organizers are looking for volunteers to walk as costumed cast members in the Parade, handle the larger-than-life balloons, or as Parade marshals. To sign up as a volunteer, or for more information about the Parade, visit the Parade website at www.novanthealththanksgivingparade.com
