Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade

Lighted floats, marching bands, giant balloons and Santa down Tryon Street, the evening before Thanksgiving. Free from any curb.

What it is

Charlotte’s holiday season starts here: lighted floats, marching bands, giant balloons and Santa’s arrival down Tryon Street in Uptown, a tradition that dates to the 1940s and now runs the evening before Thanksgiving.

Plan your visit

Free from any curb. The crowd starts claiming spots along Tryon two hours ahead, and the Blue Line is the way in, since the streets close. Bring chairs and a blanket; a late-November evening turns cold once the sun drops. Make a night of it with dinner from our Uptown eating guide.

Know before you go

The parade moved from Thursday morning to Wednesday evening in recent years. Confirm the date and start time on the parade’s site.