As we enter into the holiday season, it’s time to find a way to get into the spirit! No matter how you celebrate, this season can be downright magical. From bright lights to personal traditions, there’s always something that will melt away the stress and replace it with thrilling memories! If you’re looking for the perfect way to kick off this holiday season, I would love to tell you about one of the best traditions out there: the Winston-Salem Holiday Parade! This annual celebration gives you the chance to embrace the holidays while getting to see everything this great city has to offer!
About the Winston-Salem Holiday Parade
The Holiday Parade was started in 1990 by the Winston-Salem Jaycees. The group of young men wanted to find a way to unite the city’s businesses and organizations by bringing some seasonal joy to the community. While the Jaycees have passed the annual tradition onto the WS Ambassadors, the parade remains a favorite pastime for Winston-Salem residents. The parade brings light to all the wonderful traditions of the season while celebrating the diverse community. The organizers have gone out of their way to ensure this is an inclusive event, inviting in the LGBTQIA+ community while barring discriminatory organizations from entering. The route starts at Poplar and 4th Street before turning right onto Liberty Street and concluding at Corpening Plaza.
The Holiday Experience
The Winston-Salem Holiday Parade features floats and displays from some of the top organizations in the city. Every year, around 15,000 attendees gather on the first Saturday of December to officially ring in the holiday season. While many of the floats decorate for Christmas, you’ll find celebrations of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, and the Winter Solstice. It takes place no matter what the forecast looks like, so make sure you dress accordingly! The parade starts out in the early evening, and most of the displays are decorated with lights to illuminate the parade path. And while the WS Ambassadors encourage people to decorate their floats however they’d like, there’s one rule: don’t include Santa and Mrs. Claus! The jolly couple makes their grand appearance at the very end on the official Santa float.
Specialty
The holiday parade lasts about 60-75 minutes before concluding with the annual Winston-Salem tree lighting in Corpening Plaza. The celebration will include live holiday music and dance performances. There will also be food from some of the best vendors in the city, so come hungry!
Kids Of All Ages Love Watching Or Being A Part Of The Wonderful Winston-Salem Holiday Parade
The Winston-Salem holiday parade offers the ideal way to kick off this magical season. Grab your coat and your favorite people, and come out to celebrate this beloved tradition!
If you’re looking for another way to make this season a little more memorable, I would love to help out! I’m a photographer based in Winston-Salem, and I love being there to document all the major moments in life. I specialize in graduation photos, maternity portraits, and family sessions. If you’ve been considering booking some pictures for this holiday season, I would love to connect so you can decide if I’m the photographer for you. Let’s chat today!
