RAIN OR SHINE! The official word from the city about the weather … “Yep, it’s going to rain on our parade. We understand that the forecast is dreary, but the parade has happened for 73 years in all kinds of weather. We anticipate that participants will modify their entries to accommodate the weather. The parade will likely be shorter than usual as well, but we encourage you to don your raingear and cheer on the folks who have worked hard on their entries.”

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The Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles of WNC, rolls, dances and marches through downtown Asheville on Saturday, November 23 beginning at 11am. The parade features more than 100 entries including marching bands, dance and cheer squads, youth sports, nonprofits and businesses. This year’s parade theme is “Peace on Earth.”

The Asheville Holiday Parade is produced by the Asheville Downtown Association, in partnership with the City of Asheville.

The 2019 Grand Marshal is Madeline Delp, Ms. Wheelchair USA 17/18. Madeline is a graduate of UNC Asheville and a resident of Buncombe County. She learned at a young age that sometimes almost losing your life can be the catalyst to truly finding it in a way you never had before.

Madeline is an entrepreneur, speaker and pageant “roll-model” who loves to chase bold adventures. At just 10, she suffered a T-10 spinal cord injury, and since has climbed Mt. Rushmore and traveled the world. Madeline continued her passion of inspiring empowered living by founding a nonprofit organization called Live Boundless, which helps to deliver wheelchairs to medically underserved countries around the world. Her next adventures include being the first woman in a wheelchair to compete in Miss North Carolina USA and traveling to the Philippines and Ecuador for wheelchair delivery projects – along with shark cage diving in Florida!

Parade entries include a little something for everyone with decorated floats, adoptable pets from area rescue organizations, marching bands, performances, and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The parade’s official performance stop is located at the corner of Biltmore and Patton Avenues, but attendees will find great viewing areas all along Biltmore and Patton Avenues. The parade ends on Patton Avenue at S. French Broad.

Parking is available in City of Asheville and Buncombe County parking garages, as well as surface lots throughout downtown.

2019 sponsors include: Bojangles of WNC, The City of Asheville, Apple Tree Honda (Grand Marshal Float Sponsor), The North Carolina Arboretum’s Winter Lights (Santa Float Sponsor), Mills Manufacturing (Honored Veterans Float Sponsor) Asheville Sun Soo Martial Arts, Geico, Kudzu Brands, Aloft Asheville Downtown, WLOS ABC 13, My40, Mix 96.5, Star 104.3, The 828.com, 99.9 Kiss Country, Asheville Color & Imaging and IMA Photo & Images.