Raleigh Christmas Parade kicks off the holiday season

Best of 2017 Raleigh Christmas Parade video

The parade began at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of St. Mary's and Hillsborough streets, and featured 115 local bands, floats, entertainers and, of course, the arrival of Santa Claus. Bill Leslie, Renee Chou and the WRAL team narrated all the parade floats and entertainers live from Edenton Street in downtown Raleigh, while Sky 5 offered an aerial view.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets for the spectacular show, while thousands more watched from home. The event annually ranks as one of the largest parades on the East Coast.

Some first-timers came from as far away as Greensboro, while others like Courtenay Carruthers grew up coming to the Raleigh parade. But this was her first time back in years.

"Well, I don't want to date myself, but the floats that are in the air—they weren't there when I came," Carruthers said.

The parade, put on by the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, is always held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to jumpstart holiday shopping.

With all the floats and performances, parade watchers might have a hard time picking a favorite, but sisters Mia and Jordann Burgess knew what they liked.

"(I liked) whenever they showed the balloons and the ponies and the dogs," Mia said.

But her sister liked the music.

"I really like the marching bands," Jordann said. "They're perfect."