Thousands Line Up for Raleigh Christmas Parade

The weather may have been a little warm, but it sure looked like Christmas in downtown Raleigh Saturday.

The 53rd Annual Christmas Parade rolled down the streets of Raleigh. Marching bands, wide-eyed kids and of course, Kris Kringle paid a visit.

Twenty-five marching bands, almost 50 floats and thousands of people added up to a giant way to ring in the holiday season. The 53rd annual Raleigh Christmas Parade rolled down Hillsborough Street in front of some 80,000 parade watchers. Grand Marshal this year was Doug E. Doug from the Cosby Show.

Jim Payne and Pam Saulsby hosted the WRAL broadcast of the even from the review stand, while it was tough NOT being involved down on the street.

The man of the hour was Santa Claus. Kids of all ages strained to catch a glimpse of Ole St. Nick. The end of this parade has become Raleigh's unofficial beginning of the holiday season.

Today's parade was the first of many holiday parades scheduled in the Triangle between now and Christmas.