50,000 expected to cheer floats, performers at Charlotte Thanksgiving Eve parade
An estimated 50,000 spectators will cheer on performers and floats at the 79th annual Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade in uptown Charlotte on Wednesday, organizers said.
The free kickoff event to the holidays begins at 5:30 p.m., with a live broadcast on WCCB from 6 to 8 p.m. Spectators will line Tryon Street from Ninth Street to Good Samaritan Way.
The parade features 85-plus units, including 16 marching bands, eight giant cold-air balloons, 12 floats and 46 specialty groups, including five dance teams.
Four Segwalloons — oversized balloon characters — will glide down Tryon on concealed Segways.
Local, regional and national artists scheduled to perform at Legacy Union and Ally Charlotte Center include Dani Kerr, Lisa Trinity, Rob Cole, Josh King, Jack Burns and Maggie Baugh.
The stage area is in the 600 block of South Tryon Street.
Along the parade route, vendors will sell warm drinks, hot dogs, illuminated novelties and other items.
Parade co-grand marshals
Shana Templin and Morganne van Voorhis are co-grand marshals of the parade.
Templin is Novant Health’s Arts in Health facilitator and a cancer survivor. Van Voorhis is an artist, educator and mother who leads the Fine Arts Program at South Piedmont Community College.
Robert Krumbine, parade executive producer, also promises new surprises that he’s keeping under wraps until Wednesday night.
The parade will end by 8 p.m., allowing plenty of time to visit uptown restaurants and museums and Truist Field’s Light the Knights Festival, which includes ice skating, snow tubing, shopping, holiday treats and tens of thousands of lights.