WRAL-TV To Cover Raleigh Christmas Parade Live and in HD

WRAL-TV will once again broadcast live from the Raleigh Christmas Parade and will continue the tradition of airing the parade in high-definition. The two-hour broadcast begins at 10:00am on Saturday, November 23, 2002.

Due to construction on the Hillsborough Street bridge, the parade route will be altered slightly, beginning at the corner of Morgan and Boylan Streets, rather than Hillsborough and St. Mary’s.

WRAL-TV will also have a float in the parade with on-air personalities. Durham Bulls mascot Wool E. Bull will ride the float, as well. Anchors Bill Leslie and Laurie Clowers and Trafficologist Mark Roberts will host the television coverage.

Planning is underway for our live coverage of the Raleigh Christmas Parade! Due to major construction on the Hillsborough Street Bridge, the parade route will begin on the corner of Morgan and Boylan Streets, rather than Hillsborough and St. Mary’s. This will not impact our broadcast area. Randy Mews is producing our two-hour, live coverage Saturday, Nov. 23.

One hundred and twenty-five floats make up the 58th Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade, including floats, bands, clowns, twirlers, dancers, walking units and of course, Santa Claus. The parade winds 1 ½ miles in downtown Raleigh, ending at the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center. Approximately 80,000 people are expected to line the parade route.

The first parade took place in 1940, and has taken place annually, with the exception of a few years during WWII, ever since.