Wheeled vehicles make a welcome, and cautious, return to the Christmas parade
The 80th annual Raleigh Christmas Parade drew thousands of people to downtown Saturday as motorized vehicles from sports cars to pickups pulling floats returned after a shocking fatal accident two years ago.
Parade-goers lined up 10 deep and more along the 1.4 mile route cheering the marching bands, miniature ponies, floats with local dignitaries, a cavalcade of people in costumes ranging from pandas to Darth Vader, and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus’ arrival on a red sleigh at the end.
The weather was crisp but sunny. A noticeable difference from past years was the lengthier gaps between participants, a precaution added after dancer Hailey Brooks, 11, was killed by an out-of-control pickup truck while performing in the 2022 parade. The 2023 parade, which was nearly canceled, went on without any vehicles.
Zy’leer Williams, 5, of Raleigh had the Christmas spirit from the get-go as the first marching band from Broughton High School made its way down the route. He somehow managed to hold onto his cellphone and keep his red Santa hat atop his head as he jumped and danced with reckless abandon.
“This is his third parade and he’s been dancing ever since,” said his mom, Shakeila Williams.
His older sister Promise, 10, was more low-key, studying the various attractions to figure out how she might be performing in the parade some day.
Helen and Chris Batty of Wilson got the family together at 6 a.m. to drive to Raleigh for a primo spot along Hillsborough Street. It paid off when a troupe of costumed characters including the Grinch and the Mandalorian, cruising the route on motorized one-wheeled skateboards, high-fived their sons Henry, 9, and George, 5, and daughter Maggie, 7.
“It’s definitely an improvement from last year,” Helen Batty said of the vehicles’ return to the parade. “We understand why they did it, but we love it this year.”
Others didn’t have to work so hard to get to the front line. Joe Perry and Tara Overfield of Cary and their three young children, Maddy, Erie and Xander, were front and center when country artist George Birge opened the parade with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Perry surmised no one wanted to be behind the TV cameraman shooting the performance.
They hadn’t gone to the parade during the pandemic, so this was a first for their kids.
At the start of the route, Lulu Rivera of Durham and her three children, Maria, 12, Abby, 10, and Luis Jesus, 3, found an open spot in the sun after others left. They were excitedly awaiting a Mexican dance group, but they enjoyed the miniature horses and twin yellow Chinese dragons that dueled down the route, courtesy of the Chinese American Friendship Association of North Carolina.
Though many bundled up because of the chilly weather, it wasn’t cold enough for snow, unless you were sitting in front of The Avenue, a bar at the corner of Glenwood and Hillsborough streets. It had a bubble machine on the roof blowing small soap suds out onto the parade route, adding a little bit of winter to the festivities.
It was a bit much for Tina Grady and her mom, Tracy, who have been going to the parade for roughly 30 years.
“OK, thank you, that’s enough,” Tina said as she pulled her hood over her head.
That spot might be open next year.
This story was originally published November 23, 2024 at 2:47 PM.