Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade is back for 2016, for its 69th year. It’s bigger and better than ever. Like last year, it’s traveling north on Tryon Street. It will step off from Stonewall and Tryon at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, November 24th, 2016, and head north to Tryon and 9th Street.
Grand Marshal is Grammy Award winner and Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton, a graduate of South Mecklenburg High School who has performed all over the world. Hamilton is followed by Angwish, Carter Faith Jones, Dave Koons & The Koyotes, Kristina Lachaga, Kristy Lynn, One Leg Rooster, Taylor Dean, Teresa Guidry, Tryon and Tyler Mingo.
Dozens of live entertainment artists will be performing on the stage at Tryon and Levine Avenue of the Arts. 14 local and regional marching bands will be performing. There will be 25 giant balloons and 14 floats. You can buy a front row seat for $20, or bleacher seats for $15. Front row seats will line Tryon Street between 4th and 5th Streets, and bleacher seats will be at the intersection of Trade and Tryon. Click here to buy tickets.
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.
Plan your parking with this Center City parking map.
Also, get the Novant Health Thanskgiving Day Parade App.
Street Closures
- Levine Avenue of the Arts between South Tryon and Church Streets – 10 a.m. Tuesday, November 22. The closure of Levine Avenue of the Arts will allow the installation of parade seating. This portion of Levine Avenue of the Arts will re-open by 8 p.m. Thursday, November 24.
- South Tryon Street between MLK and Stonewall Street – 6 p.m. Tuesday, November 22. The closure of this portion of South Tryon Street will allow the installation of the performance stage and parade seating. This section of South Tryon Street will re-open by 8 p.m. Thursday, November 24.
- Tryon Street Bridge between Morehead and Stonewall Streets – 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 23. The closure of the bridge will allow parade floats to line up. This portion of the parade route will re-open at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 24.
- Tryon Street from 3rd to 9th Street – 8 a.m. Thursday, November 24. This closure will block the entire parade route along Tryon Street. This portion of the parade route will re-open at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 24.
- Hill, Stonewall and Phifer Streets – 6 a.m. Thursday, November 24. These closures will allow parade staging and disbanding. Hill and Stonewall Streets will re-open at 2 p.m. Thursday, November 24. Phifer Street will re-open at 6 p.m.
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