Music, dance, and holiday cheer fill the air as Durham holds its annual Christmas Parade

Saturday morning, thousands of people lined the streets in Downtown Durham for their annual Christmas Parade. The festive event featured marching bands, dance groups, dazzling floats, and of course, a visit from Santa Claus himself.

WRAL's Ken Smith and Keely Arthur were on hand to kick off the live broadcast, bringing viewers all the excitement and fun of the parade.

The WRAL float, featuring familiar faces from your TV screens, rolled down Main Street, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Over 100 participants, including bands, drill teams, non-profit organizations, and Santa filled the streets with holiday cheer. At the helm as Grand Marshal, Mayor Williams added to the festive atmosphere.

While the parade brought joy to the streets, safety remained a top priority. Parade participants were instructed not to walk directly in front of floats, and all vehicles underwent thorough inspections by police to ensure safety.

Despite the behind-the-scenes safety measures, the focus of the day was on celebrating the holiday season.

Spectators young and old lined the streets, cheering and waving at the parade participants. Many shared their excitement about the event.

"We live in a small town in Tennessee where our parades are very small," said Johanna Montgomery, a visitor from Tennessee. "My kids are having a blast seeing all the different floats and the parade."

The joy and excitement on the faces of the spectators were undeniable.

"My family is visiting from out of town, and I wanted to show them what the parade is all about," said Edna Morales, parade-goer. "It helps me get into the Christmas spirit,"

Tramikia Terry who also attended the parade said. "I brought my kids and niece, and we all enjoy it. It's become part of our Christmas tradition."

WRAL is a proud community sponsor of the annual parade.