Parade History
The Raleigh Christmas Parade has been a beloved community event since it began in 1939. Shortly after it’s inception, the parade was put on hiatus during WWII before resuming in 1945. The Greater Raleigh Merchants Association has had the honor of organizing the Raleigh Christmas Parade since 1944!
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Why is the Raleigh Christmas Parade held before Thanksgiving?
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Past Parades
2022 – 78th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Sylvia Wiggins, Founder & Director Helping Hand Mission
2021 – 77th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: 82nd Airborne Division
- View Photos (Photographer: RL Photography)
2020 – 76th Raleigh Christmas Parade
For the first time since World War II, the Raleigh Christmas Parade did not take place in its traditional form rolling through the streets of Downtown Raleigh. Instead, viewers gathered around their TVs in Christmas jammies with hot cocoa in hand to watch the 76th Raleigh Christmas Parade Celebration on ABC11 featuring all new original content. There were still performances and community comradery, while audiences enjoyed one tradition that wasn’t canceled due to the Novel Coronavirus. The virtual parade was a joyous celebration for community groups and those watching at home.
- Grand Marshal: First Responders
2019 – 75th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Jessica McDonald of the North Carolina FC & FIFA World Cup Champion
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: RL Photography)
2018 – 74th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Cindy Eckert, self-made serial entrepreneur and founder of The Pink Ceiling
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: Parlez-Vous Photography)
2017 – 73rd Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Raleigh Fire Department in honor of their heroic response to the five-alarm fire in Downtown Raleigh that Summer
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: InBetween the Blinks Photography)
2016 – 72nd Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Roger Krupa in honor of his dedication and years of service to the City of Raleigh and development of the Raleigh Convention Center
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: InBetween the Blinks Photography)
2015 – 71st Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: John Odom
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: Christopher Nieto Photography)
- View Photos (Photographer: Rebecca Walker Photography)
2014 – 70th Raleigh Christmas Parade
Parade balloons return after a 3 year hiatus due to a worldwide helium shortage.
- Grand Marshal: Ira David Wood III, Executive Director of Theatre in the Park, stars as “Scrooge” in their annual production of A Christmas Carol
- Special Appearances: NC State Marching Band
- Watch Parade
- View Photos
2013 – 69th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Justin LeBlanc, NC State Professor, Fashion Designer, and Project Runway contestant
- Special Appearances: Fly over
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: Nancy Thomas Photo)
2012 – 68th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Emily Minor, Nashville Recording Artist
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: Nancy Thomas Photo)
- View Photos (Photographer: Roger D King)
2011 – 67th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Scotty McCreery, Winner of Season 10 of American Idol on May 25, 2011
- Watch Parade
- View Photos (Photographer: Nancy Thomas Photo)
2010 – 66th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Jason Michael Carroll, Country Music Star
- Watch Parade
- View Photos: Marching Bands – Balloons – Floats – Vehicles – Walking Groups – Crowd
2009 – 65th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Glen Wesley, Carolina Hurricanes Player
- Watch Parade
- View Photos: Marching Bands – Balloons – Floats – Vehicles – Crowd (Photographer: Nancy Thomas Photo)
2008 – 64th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Josh Hamilton, Major League Baseball Player, attended Athens Drive High School in Raleigh
- Watch Parade
2007 – 63rd Raleigh Christmas Parade
2006 – 62nd Raleigh Christmas Parade
The Raleigh Christmas Parade returns to Fayetteville Street! After being converted in the 1970s to a pedestrian mall, Fayetteville St. was restored in 2006 to a driveable main street.
- Grand Marshal: Charlie Gaddy, Bob DeBardelaben, and Bobbi Battista – Former WRAL-TV anchors
- Watch Parade
2005 – 61st Raleigh Christmas Parade
2004 – 60th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Justin Gaitlin, World’s Fastest Man
2003 – 59th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Clay Aiken, Singer & Runner-up on the 2nd season of American Idol in 2003
2002 – 58th Raleigh Christmas Parade
2001 – 57th Raleigh Christmas Parade
2000 – 56th Raleigh Christmas Parade
1999 – 55th Raleigh Christmas Parade
1998 – 54th Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Dr. Leroy T Walker, head coach for the North Carolina Central University track team and the first black president of the United States Olympic Committee.
1997 – 53rd Raleigh Christmas Parade
- Grand Marshal: Doug E Doug, actor known for his role of Griffin Vesey on the CBS sitcom Cosby and Sanka Coffie in the film Cool Runnings.