ASHEVILLE HOLIDAY PARADE 2019
The 74th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles of WNC, rolls, dances and marches through downtown Asheville on Saturday, November 23rd beginning at 11am. The parade features nearly 100 entries including businesses, nonprofits, school and youth groups, marching bands, and of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
THIS YEAR’S GRAND MARSHAL IS MS. WHEELCHAIR USA, MADELINE DELP
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!
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THIS YEAR’S PARADE THEME IS “PEACE ON EARTH”
Parade entries include a little something for everyone with decorated floats, adoptable pets from area rescue organizations, our Honored Veterans float, live music, performances, and of course, Santa Claus, brought to you by the NC Arboretum’s Winter Lights.
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THE PERFORMANCE STOP IS LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF BILTMORE AND PATTON AVENUES
The parade begins on Biltmore Avenue at South Charlotte Street and the official performance stop is located at the corner of Biltmore and Patton Avenues. The parade ends on Patton Avenue at South French Broad. Represent and smile for the cameras! Parade route pictured below …
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ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME TO GET DOWNTOWN!
Not only will Biltmore and Patton Avenues be closed prior to and during the parade, some side streets will also need to be closed off. ART bus routes have to be detoured around the parade as well. For these reasons, the City encourages everyone to plan ahead, allow plenty of time to get downtown, whether by bus, bike, car or on foot. The following routes will be affected by detours:
NORTH: N, N1, N2 and N3
EAST: E1, E2 and 170
SOUTH: S1, S2 and S5
WEST: W3, W4 and S5
After you have planned your trip, use the City’s Transit App to track when your bus will arrive. To better understand the detours the buses will take, visit …
www.ashevillenc.gov/departments/transit/servicealerts
Or call ART at 828-253-5691
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NEED A PARKING SPOT? THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT!
There will be several streets blocked prior to the parade, starting from 7:00am-3:00pm, which will funnel even more traffic into the parking garages. The Asheville Downtown Association encourages parade attendees to use the Asheville Transit System and City of Asheville parking garages. The Asheville City Government maintains a page with real time information about available parking spots in the city parking garages.
Streets Impacted by the Parade HERE
Find a Parking Spot HERE
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IT DOESN’T END THERE!
Go for a walk! Adding to the holiday fun is the Asheville Downtown Association’s Holiday Windows Contest. Downtown businesses decorate their windows in keeping with the “Peace on Earth” theme.
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WAIT, THERE’S MORE! THE NIGHT BEFORE THE PARADE, COME ENJOY THE DOWNTOWN LOCAL LIGHTS LIGHTING CEREMONY AND PICTURES WITH SANTA!
The Asheville Downtown Association is once again partnering with Winter Lights at the North Carolina Arboretum and the City of Asheville to bring festive holiday lights to Pack Square and Pritchard Park in Downtown Asheville. On Friday, November 22 from 5-7pm they will host the Downtown Local Lights lighting ceremony, as well as offer FREE photos with Santa and Mrs Claus. They’ll light up the park at 6pm after a brief ceremony, and also have free crafts with the LEAF Easel Rider.
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HAVE FUN! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
(Photo Sources: Asheville Downtown Association and Asheville City Government)
