How to Parade: Everything you need to do it right

Some years, you just can’t make it home — wherever that may be — for Thanksgiving. There’s no need to feel sad and alone. Round up your fellow friendsgiving-goers and take advantage of one of our city’s coolest holiday events, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade. Though in its 69th year, it went through a complete revamp in 2013. Think top-notch floats, giant New-York-style balloons, front-row reserved seating, and even an app for following along and bonus treats along the way.

110,000 people turned out last year — come see why for yourself.

Right Now

• If the thing holding you back from the parade is the thought of camping out and freezing your buns off, there’s finally a solution. Did you know you can pre-purchase front-row seats? Get your tickets here so you can roll up VIP style right before the parade starts. Snag bleacher seats for just $10 or individually reserved spots for $15.
• You can still take it to the next level with your friends by volunteering to maybe carry a giant balloon. It’s not too late to sign up and get your very own parade jacket. Get more details here, and register by November 13.
• For the ultimate friendsgiving day, no cooking required, make your reservations now for the feast at McCormick & Schmick’s ($24.99 for the meal). You’ll get a free Front Row Reserved Seating ticket in front of the restaurant for each member of your party, and you can even duck in for a coffee, hot chocolate, and thawing (er, bathroom) break during the parade.

• To get the full perks of the McCormick & Schmick’s deal, make the reservation with your Landry Select Club membership here. It’s a painless sign-up process if you’re not already a member; there’s a $25 membership fee but you get it back in gift card form. You can also drop by McCormick & Schmick’s Uptown in person (happy hour, anyone?) to get your membership and make your Thanksgiving reservations easily.

The Night Before

• New this year, you can check out the floats in advance and grab a bite from four on-site food trucks at a special preview event. Festivities will be held on S. Tryon between Stonewall and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Wednesday night, November 25, 7-9 p.m.
• Scope out the parking options and make your game plan here. Tryon Street and cross streets will stay open to traffic until 6 a.m. Did you know that you can park in the Discovery Place lot that day for $8 max, with the first hour free?

• Plan to avoid the issue entirely by taking public transit, as the LYNX Blue Line will run a normal schedule. The Stonewall, 3rd Street, and 7th Street stops all provide a quick, one- to two-block walk to the action on Tryon.
• Download the official Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade app for iPhone or Android. You can learn about the performers before they come through (which reality TV show were they on again?), check out the balloons and floats, and catch live streaming of the performances on different parts of the parade route. You can also buy your reserved seating tickets through the app, and check out the Uptown restaurants open Thanksgiving Day. There just might be a few fun surprises for those with the app, too…

Day of Parade

8:00 a.m.

• Enjoy your coffee, and start the bundling-up process (“I can’t put my arms down!”). Head to your nearest LYNX Blue Line stop or one with easy parking, like the Scaleybark station.

9:00 a.m.

• Make your way to your reserved seats, and grab a hot chocolate or more coffee. The anticipation builds.

9:30 a.m.

• The 69th Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade begins. Enjoy the nostalgic favorites from the marching bands going by, and feel like a kid again thanks to vibrant floats, giant balloons, and even “Segwalloons” – balloons wrapped around Segways.

• Look out for Grand Marshal, NASCAR legend Richard Petty, and performances from Benton Blount (“America’s Got Talent”), Beth Spangler (“The Voice”), and Mountain Faith Band (“America’s Got Talent”).
• Wave hi to Santa, who will be bustling in his workshop. How could he not be busy so close to Christmas?

11:30 a.m.

• That’s a wrap! You can’t help but feel ready for the season — and for face-stuffing — after the final floats go by. For those taking advantage of the McCormick & Schmick’s menu, your feast awaits at the 11:30 seating.

The Details
Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade
Thursday, November 26, 2015, 9:30 a.m.
The parade runs north along Tryon Street from Stonewall to 9th St. The performance area is at the intersection of Tryon and Levine Ave. for the Arts. The band competition will be held at Trade and Tryon (where bleacher seats are available for $10, here). You can also catch the parade on WBTV, Channel 3 (CBS) on Thanksgiving Day at 1 p.m.

Need another dining option for an Uptown meal? The Asbury presents its Thanksgiving menu (adults $55) as the official restaurant of the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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All photos courtesy of Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade.