Christmas parades roll into WNC
Snowflakes sprinkle the high peaks, while a stiff breeze cascades into the valleys. Elaborate decorations are being put up in downtowns across Western North Carolina. It’s that time of the year — Christmas is around the corner and the region is gearing up for their annual parades.
Bryson City
Held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in downtown Bryson City, the parade will celebrate 38 years, complete with floats, marching bands, homecoming queens and more. The theme is “A Smoky Mountain Christmas”. Parade entry applications are due by Wednesday, Dec. 5. Line up will be at 1 p.m. the day of the event on Veteran’s Boulevard.
www.greatsmokies.com or 800.867.9246.
Canton
Taking place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, the theme is “Christmas in Dixie.” Though the deadline to enter commercial floats has passed, individual floats can still throw their hat into the ring. The parade route begins on Blackwell Drive, goes through downtown Canton and wraps back around to Blackwell Drive. Float line up will be at 5:30 p.m.
www.cantonnc.com or 828.235.2760.
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Cherokee
The parade will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in downtown Cherokee. The parade begins by the Bear Zoo, to U.S. 441 North, ending by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Floats, bands and Santa will be present. A Christmas bazaar and band concert will follow the parade.
Franklin
With a theme of “A Country Christmas”, the parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25. Franklin Chamber of Commerce invites all to participate in a food drive collecting canned goods and non-perishable items to be donated to CareNet. The parade will be lining up behind People’s Department Store and Macon Furniture Mart and along Church Street. The route will begin by pulling out on the top of Town Hill beside Town Hall and will proceed down Main Street, turning left at the Old Town Hall Building onto Porter Street, then left onto Palmer Street and onward to Highlands Road.
www.franklin-chamber.com or 828.524.3161.
Highlands
The Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. The annual downtown Christmas Tree Lighting event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. It will include a visit from Santa, Christmas caroling and refreshments. If members of the community want to donate cookies to the lightning ceremony, please bring them to the Visitor Center Friday, Nov. 23, or before 4 p.m. Nov. 24.
Maggie Valley
With a theme of “Welcome Home for Christmas,” the parade and Food Drive to benefit Haywood Ministries will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. The parade will proceed along U.S. 19, beginning at the Ghost Town parking lot and ending at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Non-perishable food will be collected at Maggie Valley Police Department and Town Hall until Nov. 30, with more donations being collected along the parade route. Parade entries are due Friday, Nov. 30. All entries must arrive at Ghost Town parking lot by 4 p.m. Dec. 1 to line up.
www.maggievalleypd.com or 828.926.4950.
Sylva
With a theme of “A Storybook Christmas”, the parade will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. The event will start from the Sylva Fire Department at 3 p.m., with line up beginning at 1:30 p.m. All vehicles/floats will enter on Harold Street, located beside Appalachian Funeral Home. Walkers and band members will meet in Bryson Park before the parade to line up. The parade will end at Mark Watson Park. Applications and parade fees must be turned in to the Town of Sylva by Monday, Nov. 26.
Waynesville
The parade will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in downtown Waynesville. The theme this year is “Dreaming of a White Christmas.” The route will start on Walnut Street, turn onto Main Street and proceeds south on Main Street.
828.456.3517 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.downtownwaynesville.com.
