ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — As the end of November approaches, it feels like the holiday spirit is in the air. Literally, if you count the snow on the forecast.
The city of Asheville must feel it too. At 11 a.m. this Saturday, Nov. 23, at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, the season starts in festive fashion with the Asheville Holiday Jamboree.
The jamboree will be held in place of the traditional holiday parade. However, there will still be festive floats in attendance. The decorated procession will be docked all along Pack Square and the slated parade performers will instead take to the stage on the green.
The float booths will be open until 3 p.m.
“I’m really excited to see folks come out and celebrate the kick-off to the holiday season as well as a celebration of the resiliency of Asheville,” said Hayden Plemmons, executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association. “Really, turning this into a Thanksgiving jamboree where we thank all of our heroes, and first responders, and volunteers and those who really showed up in response to Hurricane Helene.”
While the jamboree and its parade incarnations are a time-honored tradition in Asheville, there will be a few features new to the celebration.
“We’re excited to bring a holiday market,” said Plemmons. “This will be the first time we’ve had a holiday market associated with the parade or jamboree.”
The market will begin with the jamboree festivities and extend until 5 p.m. that evening.
There will also be two special guests at the event.
The first is Bojangles, the presenting sponsor of the jamboree. The chicken chain will host photo opportunities, giveaways and food at “Bojangles Terrace,” the temporarily rechristened Reuter Terrace, between South Market St. and South Spruce St.
The second is none other than Santa Claus himself.
“We’re thrilled to invite Appalachian Santa to be present. He is quite the entertainer,” Plemmons said.
Families are invited to come get their photo taken with Saint Nick between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
For more information, visit the Asheville Downtown Association website at www.ashevilledowntown.org/events/holiday-parade.