ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Asheville Downtown Association has announced details for the Asheville Holiday Parade, which will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 across downtown Asheville.
The parade lineup will begin at the intersection of Biltmore Avenue and Hilliard Avenue. All public parking garages will remain accessible throughout the parade.
Before the parade begins, attendees can participate in the Onesie One Miler, a one-mile downtown dash designed for runners in pajama accoutrement. Find more information here.
Parade philanthropy
This year’s presenting parade sponsor is Bojangles. The Grand Marshal is Cheryl Antoncic Suess, co-owner of Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ and founder of the Bear’s Foundation, an initiative which provides mental health services to local food industry workers free-of-charge.
“The Grand Marshal is someone who is a downtown champion or an Asheville champion selected for their service or contribution to the community over the last year,” explained Hayden Plemmons, executive director of the ADA. “We recognize them by having them be one of the first couple entries in the parade, and they kick us off and serve as the leader of the parade.”
Suess was selected especially for her work in the community following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
“Following Hurricane Helene, Cheryl played a pivotal role in leading Bear’s partnership with World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross, serving more than 1.5 million hot meals across Western North Carolina,” ADA wrote in a press release. “She helped identify local distribution hubs, mobilize volunteers, and sustain meal service well beyond the initial disaster response —embodying the spirit of compassion and resilience that defines Asheville’s community.”
The ADA has launched their own community initiative with the parade. Attendees are invited to be a “Holiday Hero” by shopping at and supporting local businesses during their time downtown. Guests are also encouraged to contribute non-perishable food items to the Buncombe County food drive.
“With more than 15,000 people expected to attend, spending just $10 each at local shops or restaurants could create a $150,000 boost to the Downtown economy,” the ADA wrote.
Can’t attend in-person? No problem
For those who cannot attend the Asheville Holiday Parade live, the event will be recorded and streamed on WHEE-TV in partnership with the broadcasting program at Western Carolina University.
However, to make transit easy as possible, parade attendees are welcome to utilize free shuttle service from Coxe Avenue to the parade, courtesy of Gray Line Trolley.
For more information, visit www.ashevilledowntown.org/winter-calendar/asheville-holiday-parade.