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<b>RALEIGH, N.C.</b> — The leaves are still falling from the trees, but Triangle residents are getting excited about a visitor from the North Pole who'll be stopping by downtown Raleigh next Saturday.

The 2011 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade, presented by the Greater Raleigh Merchant's Association, will step off next Saturday at 10 a.m.

Along with Santa Claus, the parade will star "American Idol" winner and Garner native Scotty McCreery as its grand marshal.

The city of Raleigh's famous 2021 Christmas Parade is back again this year in-person after going virtual last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City officials expect more than 65,000 will attend. Here's your guide for where to park and what events to look out for on Saturday. 


<div class="dembed">{{embed href="video-19992578"}}</div>

<p>Thousands gathered to watch Raleigh's famous Christmas Parade this year.</p>

<p>The Christmas parade — notably the largest parade from Atlanta to Washington, D.C. — featured 115 different themed floats, bands, marchers and twirlers.</p>

<p>The parade started at 9:30 a.m., but many people began arriving to downtown Raleigh to get a good seat at around 5 a.m.</p>

<p>{{anchor_select}}</p>

<p>Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last year's parade was entirely virtual. The parade's sponsor, ShopLocal Raleigh is a long-time supporter of local businesses and was proud to host this parade.</p>

<h4><a id="Parade Route" name="Parade Route">This year's parade route</a></h4>

<p>The parade began on Hillsborough Street at the intersection of St. Mary's Street. It proceeded down Hillsborough Street and stopped at the North Carolina State Capitol.</p>

<p>After hitting the Capitol, the parade will turned onto Salisbury Street, then turned left onto Morgan Street. After turning on Fayetteville Street it continued for several blocks and end at the intersection of Fayetteville and Lenoir streets.</p>

<p> </p>

<h4><a id="Road closures" name="Road closures">Roads that were closed on Saturday morning </a></h4>

<ul>
	<li>Hillsborough Street from West Morgan Street to St. Mary's Street</li>
	<li>St. Mary's Street from College Place to West Morgan Street</li>
	<li>Hillsborough Street from St. Mary's Street to Salisbury Street, and all cross-streets one block in each direction</li>
	<li>West Hargett Street from McDowell Street to Wilmington Street</li>
	<li>Fayetteville Street from Hargett Street to Lenoir Street and all cross-streets one block in each direction</li>
</ul>

<p>These areas were closed off from 6 a.m. to around 2 p.m.</p>

<h4><a id="Free parking" name="Free parking">Free Parking</a></h4>

<p>All city-owned parking decks offered free parking on the morning of the parade:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Parking deck off North West Street</li>
	<li>Parking deck at the block of West Morgan Street and South McDowell Street</li>
	<li>Parking deck at the block of West Hargett Street and South Salisbury Street</li>
	<li>Parking deck off West Hargett Street and South McDowell Street, across from Nash Square</li>
	<li>Two parking decks off the northern portion of South Wilmington Street, one near Beasley's Chicken and Honey and another across from Slim's Raleigh.</li>
	<li>Parking garage on East Martin Street and South Blount Street, across from the Marbles Kids Museum</li>
	<li>Three additional parking decks off South Wilmington Street, one near Red Hat's offices and two across from Duke Energy</li>
	<li>Two parking decks at the intersection of South Salisbury Street and West Cabarrus Street.</li>
	<li>Parking off West Davie Street near Myriad Media</li>
</ul>

<p> </p>

<h4><a id="Where to watch from home" name="Where to watch from home">WRAL-TV coverage </a></h4>

<p> </p>

<p>Saturday morning's broadcast was the 48th annual on WRAL-TV and was be hosted by WRAL News anchors {{a href="external_link-19950959"}}Renee Chou{{/a}} and {{a href="external_link-19973551"}}Jeff Hogan. {{/a}}</p>

<h4><a id="COVID-19 info" name="COVID-19 info">COVID-19 Information</a></h4>

<p>Face masks are required in all businesses and restaurants in the city of Raleigh.</p>

<p>The city of Raleigh strongly encourages the use of face masks in outdoor spaces when social distancing is not possible but masks outside are not required.</p>

<h4><a id="Special memorial float for U.S. soldiers" name="Special memorial float for U.S. soldiers">Remembering our troops</a></h4>

<p>The 82nd Airborne Division of Fort Bragg was honored by the Christmas Parade Grand Marshal. The event showcased13 Fort Bragg paratroopers and a helicopter flyover. Two Apache helicopters and one Black Hawk Med Evac helicopter zoomed over the city to honor the 19,000 82nd Airborne troopers at Fort Bragg.</p>

<p>The paratroopers in the parade escorted a float with 13 American Flags on it to honor those who lost their lives during the recent U.S. withdraw from Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The Deputy Commanding Officer of the Division, Col. Shane Morgan, joined the parade.</p>

<h4><a id="Post-parade fun" name="Post-parade fun">Events after the parade</a></h4>

<p>There were plenty of holiday-themed happenings in downtown Raleigh on Nov. 20 after the parade ended.</p>

<p>Runners were able to race through Dorothea Dix Park lit up with holiday lights as a part of WRAL's Night of Lights 5K</p>

<ul>
	<li>Red Hat Amphitheatre's Ice Skating rink opened Saturday</li>
	<li>North Hills {{a href="external_link-19359183"}} hosted a Holiday Shop and Stroll from noon to 4 p.m. {{/a}} Later that night, North Hills held its annual tree lighting from 4 to 7 p.m. The village was filled with local artisans and live music.</li>
	<li>Pop-up Raleigh hosted a holiday market at Trophy Brewing &amp; Taproom on Maywood Avenue.</li>
	<li>The Merry Moore Market with more than 50 vendors was held at Moore Square Park in downtown Raleigh on Saturday night</li>
</ul>

<h2><a id="Parades of the past" name="Parades of the past">Parades of the past</a></h2>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

<h3> </h3>

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<h3> </h3>

Heather Leah

Your guide to Raleigh's 2021 Christmas Parade 

Raleigh Christmas Parade  

McCreery said he has fond memories of attending the Christmas parade as a boy. 

"It was always fun, and it’s a good time for the community, so it’s cool to be a part of it," he said.

Approximately 60,000 spectators are expected to crowd downtown sidewalks for the Christmas parade, which is the largest one between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. It features more than 110 entries, including bands, fantastic floats, super-sized balloons, marchers, twirlers and entertainers.

WRAL people broadcasting the parade and riding on the float will be using Twitter to share their experiences. Follow along with Kelcey Carlson (@WRALKelcey), Bill Leslie (WRALbleslie) and Brian Shrader (@WRALtraffic) for street-side updates starting at 6 a.m.

The parade audience – on the street and at home – is encouraged to join the conversation using #WRALparade. Share your photos and parade memories, and you just might see them as part of our news coverage.

WRAL.com web editor Kathy Hanrahan talks with Santa at the WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade in Raleigh.

Live interview with Santa at Christmas parade

WRAL.com will once again have a live "Santa Cam." Web editor Kathy Hanrahan will march alongside Santa as he makes the trip downtown. She'll be talking to the big man about what this year's top toy requests are, and she will take your questions for him via Twitter. Use the hashtag #WRALparade.

We'll also have the full parade broadcast on TV and WRAL.com starting at 10 a.m. You can watch also <a href="https://www.wral.com/Raleigh-Christmas-Parade/8528121/">watch parades from previous years on demand any time</a> on WRAL.com.

By Saturday afternoon, we'll have a slideshow of images of the bands and performers and the parade crowd. If you go, <a href="https://www.wral.com/report-it/4519353/">share your photos</a> to include them in our online gallery.

Raleigh getting excited for Christmas parade

Raleigh Christmas Parade on November 22, 2008_47

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