WIVK Christmas Parade to Delight Downtown Crowd on Dec. 2

Communications Director

Kristin Farley
[email protected]
(865) 215-2589

400 Main St., Room 691
Knoxville, TN 37902

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WIVK Christmas Parade to Delight Downtown Crowd on Dec. 2

Posted: 11/30/2016
Christmas ParadeA local rising star may outshine Santa Claus at the 44th annual WIVK Christmas Parade.

Country singer Emily Ann Roberts, finalist on NBC’s “The Voice,” will serve as grand marshal of the parade, which steps off at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, in downtown Knoxville. The first parade entrants will reach the 42-foot-tall Christmas tree with synchronized LED lighting located at the Krutch Park Extension by 7 p.m. 

Marching in the parade are 115 businesses, bands and community groups, including Zoo Knoxville, Southern Gospel quartet Kingdom Heirs, the Cruisin’ Cone vintage ice cream truck, and marching bands from Fulton, West, Grainger and Carter high schools, as well as several school color guards. The Gentle Barn and HonorAir Knoxville are both first-time participants in the annual parade. 

The parade route begins on Howard H. Baker Jr. Avenue at Hall of Fame Drive and continues on to Church Avenue to Gay Street, Gay Street to Jackson Avenue, and then Jackson Avenue into the Old City. This year’s WIVK Christmas Parade is presented by 865-HVAC.

Due to many First Friday events as well as the opening night of “Cinderella” at the Tennessee Theatre, parade attendees are encouraged to arrive early in order to park and find the perfect place to watch the parade. The most convenient parking for early arrivers is at the State Street, Locust Street, Market Square, Walnut Street or Dwight Kessel garages downtown.

The following road closures and temporary no-parking zones will be in effect:

• The eastbound lane of Howard H. Baker Jr. Avenue between Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive will be closed from 5-8 p.m. Friday.

• Roads will be closed along the parade route, starting at 6:45 p.m. Friday, including Gay Street between Cumberland and Depot avenues. Streets will reopen as soon as the parade has completed its route. 

• There will be a temporary no-parking zone on Gay Street between Jackson and Cumberland avenues, starting at 5 p.m. Friday. This includes the 100 block of Gay Street.

• Market Street between Union and Church avenues and Union Avenue between Walnut and Gay streets also will be closed during the parade, and temporary no-parking zones will be in effect.

Be on the lookout for downtown businesses participating in the Window Wonderland holiday display contest, the Elf on the Shelf Adventure scavenger hunt, and the Peppermint Trail of Treats. Complete details are available at DowntownKnoxville.org

Keep up with all holiday happenings downtown by downloading the Knoxville Special Events app. And when you share your photos on social media, tag them with #christmasinthecity and #knoxpeppermint for maximum sharing.

Another holiday tradition continues on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m. at the Bijou Theatre, when Knoxville Parks and Recreation Department presents a free holiday concert by the Knoxville Community Band. The Community Band is made up entirely of volunteers who play because they love music. Anticipate a range of tunes from Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" to Christmas medleys and carols. 

Learn more about Christmas in the City events