5 Things to Know: The 2023 Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade

This month, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade marks its 77th anniversary and its third year as a nighttime event. The parade arrives on Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. in uptown, and it airs live on WCCB Charlotte’s CW at 6 p.m. As always, the procession features performances, floats, celebrities, marching bands, balloons, and a few surprises. Below, you’ll find more tidbits you need to know about attending this year’s parade, from the route to the Santa’s Winter Wonderland event before the parade:

1. The Route: Along Tryon Street, the parade route starts at 9th Street and ends at Good Samaritan Way. There are plenty of free viewing spots along the route; bring collapsible chairs and get there early for the best spots. You can purchase tickets for the VIP section, a seating area that lines Tryon Street from Levine Avenue to Brooklyn Village. VIP attendees receive a guaranteed seat in a chair in this premium viewing area. No need to arrive early or bring your own chair to get a good spot, but individual seats are not reserved so plan ahead if you want a group to sit together. Purchase those VIP tickets here.

2. Parking: There are more than 50,000 accessible parking spaces around uptown. On Thanksgiving Eve, many of these are available at market rates. Center City Partners points to this tool to discover spots across uptown’s wards. And just a reminder: The parade route is also easily accessible via the LYNX Blue Line, CityLYNX Gold Line, or a Charlotte B-cycle.

3. Volunteering: It takes around 1,000 volunteers to put on this event, and interested parties can sign up through Nov. 14. Volunteer roles include balloon handlers, costume walkers, float captains, float escorts, puppeteers, push cart handlers, and robotic character handlers. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old to be a balloon carrier or walk alone as a costume walker. More info on volunteering can be found here.

4. Santa’s Winter Wonderland: This special event takes place prior to the start of the parade: 3 p.m.-5 p.m. The interactive experience includes a meet-and-greet with Santa himself, one photo with him, a sweet treat and hot beverage, and a reserved seat in front of the Winter Wonderland area in a prime viewing area for the parade. The experience runs $35, and those tickets can be purchased here.

5. More Uptown Fun: You can maximize your parade experience with countless activities elsewhere in uptown. Center City Partners offers some ideas on how to do just that here.

For more information about this year’s event, head to the event’s website.