Raleigh parade signals start of holiday season

Saturday morning marks the 66th time the WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade has signaled the beginning of the holiday season in the Triangle.

Posted 5:00 a.m. Nov 20, 2010 — Updated 12:48 a.m. Nov 21, 2010

Saturday morning marks the 66th time the WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade has signaled the beginning of the holiday season in the Triangle.

Approximately 60,000 people lined Hillsborough and Fayetteville streets to see bands, performers and Santa Claus. Parking in city-owned parking decks and metered spaced in downtown Raleigh is free of charge for the day.

The parade started at 9:30 a.m. and was broadcast on WRAL-TV and WRAL.com live.

Live interview with Santa at Christmas parade

WRAL-TV morning news anchors Bill Leslie and Kelcey Carlson hosted the parade, with WRAL's traffic reporter Brian Shrader serving as street-side reporter.

Chart-topping country music star and North Carolina native Jason Michael Carroll was the grand marshal.

The parade featured more than 100 entries, including bands, floats, super-sized balloons, marchers, twirlers and other entertainers.

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