Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade - Charlotte On The Cheap

Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade is back for 2019, for its 72nd year. It’s bigger and better than ever.

It’ll step off Thursday, November 28th, 2019, at 9 a.m.

The parade will head on Tryon Street from 9th Street to Stonewall Street.

Look for updates on the Facebook event.

Please also check out our list of 50+ free things to do Thanksgiving Weekend!

Parade Performances

The performance area will be located in front of the Duke Energy building, 550 S. Tryon Street.

Performers include:

Abby K
Ansley Burns
Brooke McBride
Curt Keyz
Greg Cox
Laurel & The Love-In
Montana Modderman
Noel Friedline & Maria Howell
Nolan Neal
Vinny Esposito — Split Second Sound

Parade Highlights

Grand Marshal: Former Carolina Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart
Honorary Marshal: Former Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith
More than 100 organizations participate in the parade
44 specialty units
15 floats
12 marching bands
Eight balloons, including a 50-foot-long version of The Muppet Show character Animal
Seven “segwalloons,” cold air balloons wrapped around Segways, a patent-pending design unique to Charlotte (see below!)
One 5-foot-6 walking turkey, Queen Charlotte

Segwalloons at the Thanksgiving Day Parade

There will also be Segwalloons (Ground-level character balloons that cover Segways.) If you’re not a Charlotteean (or even if you are) you might be asking “What are Segwalloons?”

Segwalloons are a Charlotte original. Introduced at the 2013 Thanksgiving Day Parade, they are a cross between balloons and Segways. The design allows the driver to interact with the crowd in a unique way. The original two Segwalloons were an elf and a snowman. Since then they’ve taken different forms, including Colonial characters, which are also in operation on Meck Dec Day.

You will find Segwalloons only in Charlotte.

Marching Bands

Ashe County High School Marching Band
Bailey Brass “Master” Band
Bailey Concert Band of United House of Prayer
Caroline Korean Drum and Dragon Champion Tae Kwon Do
Drills of Hope Marching Thunder
Independence High School Marching Band
Mallard Creek High School Marching Band
Myers Park High School Marching Band
Seed and Feed Marching Abominables
UNCC Marching Band
United House of Prayer Charlotte District Marching Band
West Charlotte High School Marching Band

Reserved seats for the Thanksgiving Day Parade

The parade, of course, is free to attend, but you can also purchase tickets for some prime seating.

Reserved seating is available along the parade route. Tickets are $25 to $35.

Breakfast with Santa and VIP Bleacher Seat is $35.

The Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV

The parade will air on WBTV on Thanksgiving Day at 1 p.m. and again on Christmas morning.

Parking for the Thanksgiving Day Parade

To find parking in Uptown Charlotte, use this parking map from Charlotte Center City Partners. But know that some of parking lots on the map might not be available the day of the parade, and prices at some of them can vary wildly when there are major events.

Consider instead taking the light rail. Not only will you need need to worry about finding a spot to park, but the price of tickets will not go up!

These stations are all short walks from the parade route: