CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade will be held Thursday, November 28th at 9am.
Former Carolina Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart will serve as Grand Marshal of this year’s Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Jonathan Stewart
Several streets will be closed due to the parade. Beginning at 10am on Tuesday, November 26th Tryon Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Stonewall Street will be closed and Levine Avenue of the Arts between Tryon and Church Streets will be closed until Thursdsay, November 28th at 6pm.
On Wednesday, November 27th at 9am Tryon Street between 9th and 11th streets will be closed and 10th Street between College and Church Streets will also be closed. Phifer Street between College and Church will be closed until Thursday, November 28th at 2pm.
On Thursday, November 28th at 7am Tryon Street between Morehead and 11th streets will be closed including cross streets between College and Church streets.
The parade will include eight giant balloons including a 50-foot-long version of the Muppet Show character Animal, as well as an all-star youth cheerleading ensemble, 12 marching bands, performances from regional and national bands, community floats, and the annual arrival of Santa Claus.
Novant Health signed on as title sponsor of the parade six years ago in an effort to provide financial support to the parade.
“The parade has been a tradition for many Charlotte families, including my own, for decades,” said Jesse Cureton, chief consumer officer for Novant Health. “Novant Health is proud to sponsor one of the best parades in the country, ensuring that future generations can enjoy all of the magic it has to offer as we kick off a healthy holiday season.”
This year’s parade will also welcome former Carolina Panther Steve Smith as its honorary Grand Marshal.
The parade will travel south along Tryon Street for a “Mile of Smiles” from 9th Street to Stonewall Street.
Nearly 3,500 people from over 100 different organizations will participate in the parade as musicians in cars, on floats, in marching bands, or as volunteers walking the parade route in costumes, handling the giant balloons or as parade marshals.
