Updated Sep 17, 2023 - News

The Raleigh Christmas Parade is back on

Zachery Eanes

Flowers left along the route of the Raleigh Christmas Parade last November. Photo: Axios

The Raleigh Christmas Parade is back on after the city and the parade's organizer came to a compromise to remove automobiles from this year's event.

Driving the news: Last Thursday, the city said it denied a special event permit for this year's Christmas Parade out of "an abundance of caution" and respect for the family of Hailey Brooks, an 11-year-old girl who died after being struck by an out-of-control truck during last year's event.

On Friday, however, the city reversed course and said it came to an agreement to continue the parade — an annual tradition going back more than 70 years — without automobiles.

State of play: The parade is scheduled for Nov. 18, according to Greater Raleigh Merchants Association, the organizer of the event.

"The 2023 event will not include motorized vehicles or floats, but still promises to be one that's entertaining for all ages," Jennifer Martin, an executive director of Shop Local, which runs the parade for the GRMA, said in a statement.

What happened: After the city announced its denial of the parade's permit, the Brooks family released a statement saying it had asked the city to hold the parade but with increased safety measures, ABC11 reported.

The Brooks family is pushing for a new bill in the N.C. legislature to require parade organizers to inspect vehicles used in the parade and drivers to be at least 25 years old.
The bill passed in the state House earlier this year but has not been voted on by the Senate.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new developments.

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The Raleigh Christmas Parade is back on

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