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WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade Delights Despite Chilly Temps

  • Andrea Osborne
  • November 20, 2012
  • News
See All News
WRAL-TV logo

The Bulltown Strutters
Santa Claus will once again star in the annual WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade on Saturday, November 17th.

slidesView the Slideshow
slidesSee Behind the Scenes

The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade overtook the streets of downtown Raleigh on Saturday, November 17th, and did not disappoint the crowd of around 50,000.   WRAL-TV captured the action live and will replay the event several more times during the holiday season.

For the first time this year, WRAL-TV teamed up with UNC-TV to produce the parade coverage.  UNC-TV brought their remote broadcast truck, a veritable studio, to the event and aired the event live across the state.  WRAL-TV aired the parade live on WRAL and WRAL.com. 

The huge inflatable Nutcracker bobbled and swayed over the crowds on the very windy and chilly morning.  The Kermit the Frog balloon fared a little better as the Red Hat Amphitheater staffers kept Kermit firmly planted on a wooden rolling platform. 

Multiple high school marching bands from across the Triangle viewing area brought holiday tunes.  Dancers, princesses, madrigal singers, clowns, dogs, ponies, and a variety of other entries marched the 1.2 mile route.

Tony Patterson
WRAL-TV’s Tony Patterson works hard to help set up the top-notch parade coverage WRAL will provide.

Behind the Scenes
The parade doesn’t magically arrive on Triangle television sets.  A large array of WRAL-TV staffers work hard, beginning in the wee hours, to make the coverage happen.  See a behind-the-scenes look at the dedicated crew members who brought the WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade to a TV or computer near you.

  • View the Behind the Scenes Slideshow slides
WRAL-TV Float
The WRAL-TV Float makes its way down the parade route.
MIX 101.5 Float
MIX 101.5 personalities ride atop the WRAL-FM float.
Miss the Parade or Want to See It Again?
Catch replays of the parade at 1pm the first four Saturdays in December on WRAL2, plus a special holiday presentation on WRAL-TV at 4pm on Christmas Day.
Santa Claus
Santa Claus makes his annual appearance to end the parade.
Wool E. Bull
Durham Bulls Mascot Wool E. Bull zips down the parade route.

See more of the parade on WRAL.com:

  • Watch Video on WRAL.com
  • Images: Slideshow on WRAL.com
  • WRAL.com Story:  Christmas parade rolls through Raleigh

 

The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade

WRAL-TV Anchors Bill Leslie & Kelcey Carlson commentate the 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade while WRAL-TV’s Stuart Todd captures them on camera.
WRAL-TV is out in full force to bring the WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade to viewers.
WRAL-TV camps out on the corner in front of Capital Bank each year to shoot the parade coverage.
Four planes fly over to kick-off the parade.
The Raleigh Police ride down the street at the beginning of the parade.
The Stars & Stripes lead the parade.
The Sanderson High School Marching Band.
Crabtree Valley Mall, a sponsor of the 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
Crabtree Valley Mall, a sponsor of the 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
WRAL personalities wave to the crowd from the WRAL-TV Float.
WRAL-TV’s Elizabeth Gardner (left) & WRAL-TV’s Jackie Hyland wave from the WRAL float with their children.
Durham Bulls’ mascot Wool E. Bull zips down the route behind the WRAL Float.
The Wakefield High School Marching Band.
Sheriff Donnie Harrison.
Shop Local Raleigh is the presenting sponsor of the 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
Quail Ridge Books marches with Shop Local Raleigh.
Shop Local Raleigh vendors.
Shop Local Raleigh vendors.
Snoopys marches with Shop Local Raleigh.
The Carousel Paints & Their Cowgirls.
Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane.
The Bulltown Strutters.
The Bulltown Strutters.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The Athens Drive High School Marching Band.
The Athens Drive High School Marching Band.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The UNC-TV Float.
The UNC-TV Float.
The UNC-TV Float.
The Oakwood Waits.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The Leesville High School Marching Band.
Wine and Design.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The Wake County Libraries Bookmobile.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The Broughton High School Marching Band.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
Kermit the Frog.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader gets a brief ride with the cast of “A Christmas Carol.”
The cast of “A Christmas Carol.”
Scooby Doo & Shaggy ride on the Time Warner Cable News 14 Float.
Scooby Doo & Shaggy ride on the Time Warner Cable News 14 Float.
The cast of Carolina Ballet’s “Nutcracker.”
A giant nutcracker precariously makes his way down the parade route.
The 93.9 FM Float.
Grand Marshal Emily Minor.
Grand Marshal Emily Minor.
The Enloe High School Marching Band.
The Enloe High School JROTC.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade
The MIX 101.5 WRAL-FM Float.
MIX 101.5’s Lynda Loveland (left) & Vanna Fox on the WRAL-FM Float.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
The Cleveland High School Marching Band.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
The Marching Elites.
The Marching Elites.
The 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade.
Ronald McDonald & Friends.
The Southeast Raleigh High School Marching Band.
The Southeast Raleigh High School Marching Band.
The Salvation Army Float.
The star of the parade: Santa Claus.
The star of the parade: Santa Claus.

Behind the Scenes at the 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade

It’s early and it’s bitter cold, but WRAL-TV’s Tony Patterson’s smile reflects the attitude of WRAL. We love a parade!
WRAL-TV’s Tim King makes sure the stage is set for great coverage.
WRAL-TV’s Kevin Davis will have the coldest, but best, seat in the house for the parade.
WRAL-TV is out in full force to bring the WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade to viewers.
WRAL-TV is out in full force to bring the WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade to viewers.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish, the parade coverage producer, snaps a shot of WRAL-TV’s Tony Gupton (left) & Charles Braswell getting set up.
WRAL-TV’s Stuart Todd gets a quite respite before the action begins.
WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett is ready for another year of great parade coverage.
WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett (left) & WRAL-TV’s Tony Patterson check all their connections.
WRAL-TV’s Steve Hammel (right) checks in with WRAL-TV’s Debbie Bare.
WRAL-TV’s Jim Rothschild (r to l), Pete Sockett, Steve Hammel & Debbie Bare hold a meeting of the minds before the parade starts.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… WRAL-TV’s Steve Hammel (left) & WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett do some goofing off for the camera.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Mory (left) checks in with Ralph from Gregory Poole. Ralph has become a WRAL fixture at the parade since he brings the generators every year.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Mory (left) checks in with Ralph from Gregory Poole. Ralph has become a WRAL fixture at the parade since he brings the generators every year.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish gets set to check out the preparations inside the broadcast truck.
All parade camera angles, and current programming, are displayed inside the production truck.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish & WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett pose for a shot in front of the UNC-TV mobile production truck. This is the first year WRAL has partnered with UNC-TV to produce the parade coverage.
WRAL-TV’s Stuart Todd (left) & WRAL-TV’s Tim King get a final camera check.
WRAL-TV’s Stuart Todd vies for an anchor seat. Maybe Bill Leslie will run the camera for him?
WRAL-TV’s Rodney Martin needs to find his coat!
WRAL-TV anchors Bill Leslie & Kelcey Carlson are ready to commentate the parade for WRAL viewers.
WRAL-TV photographers Keith Baker (left) & Richard Adkins spend a final few moments in the warmth before the parade starts.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish (l to r), Tony Gupton, Pete Sockett & Mike Mory find a spot in the sun.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader is ready to roll.
WRAL-TV’s Tony Patterson checks out his camera.
WRAL-TV’s Keith Baker checks his camera angle.
The WRAL crew on the street does a practice run.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader (r to l), Richard Adkins & Michelle McNeil do a practice run.
WRAL-TV’s Keith Baker mans his perch.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Upchurch (front) & WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett enjoy the calm before the action.
The parade is about to start as WRAL-TV’s Kelcey Carlson & Bill Leslie take their seats, and WRAL-TV’s Tim King checks in with the various cameras.
WRAL-TV captures WRAL-TV on TV as Richard Adkins shoots footage of Brian Shrader interviews the folks on the WRAL float.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader catches a brief ride on the WRAL float.
WRAL personalities wave the crowd.
Wool E. Bull rides in the parade, too.
Covering the parade sometimes means being in the middle of it: WRAL-TV’s Richard Adkins braves bands and more to get close-up shots.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader does moving interviews during the parade, literally, as he & WRAL-TV photographer Richard Adkins march alongside their interviewees.
The bobbling Nutcracker swings a little too close for comfort to WRAL-TV’s Kevin Davis on his lofty camera perch.
The Nutcracker looms even closer to WRAL-TV’s Kevin Davis but luckily misses him.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader captures an interview with parade Grand Marshal Emily Minor.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader takes a spin atop the MIX 101.5 float with all the WRAL-FM personalities.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader interviews WRAL-FM’s Lynda Loveland on the MIX 101.5 float.
WRAL-TV’s Keith Baker follows the action with his camera.

Behind the Scenes at the 2012 WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade

It’s early and it’s bitter cold, but WRAL-TV’s Tony Patterson’s smile reflects the attitude of WRAL. We love a parade!
WRAL-TV’s Tim King makes sure the stage is set for great coverage.
WRAL-TV’s Kevin Davis will have the coldest, but best, seat in the house for the parade.
WRAL-TV is out in full force to bring the WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade to viewers.
WRAL-TV is out in full force to bring the WRAL Raleigh Christmas Parade to viewers.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish, the parade coverage producer, snaps a shot of WRAL-TV’s Tony Gupton (left) & Charles Braswell getting set up.
WRAL-TV’s Stuart Todd gets a quite respite before the action begins.
WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett is ready for another year of great parade coverage.
WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett (left) & WRAL-TV’s Tony Patterson check all their connections.
WRAL-TV’s Steve Hammel (right) checks in with WRAL-TV’s Debbie Bare.
WRAL-TV’s Jim Rothschild (r to l), Pete Sockett, Steve Hammel & Debbie Bare hold a meeting of the minds before the parade starts.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane… WRAL-TV’s Steve Hammel (left) & WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett do some goofing off for the camera.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Mory (left) checks in with Ralph from Gregory Poole. Ralph has become a WRAL fixture at the parade since he brings the generators every year.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Mory (left) checks in with Ralph from Gregory Poole. Ralph has become a WRAL fixture at the parade since he brings the generators every year.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish gets set to check out the preparations inside the broadcast truck.
All parade camera angles, and current programming, are displayed inside the production truck.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish & WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett pose for a shot in front of the UNC-TV mobile production truck. This is the first year WRAL has partnered with UNC-TV to produce the parade coverage.
WRAL-TV’s Stuart Todd (left) & WRAL-TV’s Tim King get a final camera check.
WRAL-TV’s Stuart Todd vies for an anchor seat. Maybe Bill Leslie will run the camera for him?
WRAL-TV’s Rodney Martin needs to find his coat!
WRAL-TV anchors Bill Leslie & Kelcey Carlson are ready to commentate the parade for WRAL viewers.
WRAL-TV photographers Keith Baker (left) & Richard Adkins spend a final few moments in the warmth before the parade starts.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish (l to r), Tony Gupton, Pete Sockett & Mike Mory find a spot in the sun.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader is ready to roll.
WRAL-TV’s Tony Patterson checks out his camera.
WRAL-TV’s Keith Baker checks his camera angle.
The WRAL crew on the street does a practice run.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader (r to l), Richard Adkins & Michelle McNeil do a practice run.
WRAL-TV’s Keith Baker mans his perch.
WRAL-TV’s Mike Upchurch (front) & WRAL-TV’s Pete Sockett enjoy the calm before the action.
The parade is about to start as WRAL-TV’s Kelcey Carlson & Bill Leslie take their seats, and WRAL-TV’s Tim King checks in with the various cameras.
WRAL-TV captures WRAL-TV on TV as Richard Adkins shoots footage of Brian Shrader interviews the folks on the WRAL float.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader catches a brief ride on the WRAL float.
WRAL personalities wave the crowd.
Wool E. Bull rides in the parade, too.
Covering the parade sometimes means being in the middle of it: WRAL-TV’s Richard Adkins braves bands and more to get close-up shots.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader does moving interviews during the parade, literally, as he & WRAL-TV photographer Richard Adkins march alongside their interviewees.
The bobbling Nutcracker swings a little too close for comfort to WRAL-TV’s Kevin Davis on his lofty camera perch.
The Nutcracker looms even closer to WRAL-TV’s Kevin Davis but luckily misses him.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader captures an interview with parade Grand Marshal Emily Minor.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader takes a spin atop the MIX 101.5 float with all the WRAL-FM personalities.
WRAL-TV’s Brian Shrader interviews WRAL-FM’s Lynda Loveland on the MIX 101.5 float.
WRAL-TV’s Keith Baker follows the action with his camera.
PrevPreviousWRAL-TV’S 24th Annual Coats For The Children Community Service Project Provides Warm Winter Clothing and New Toys for Families in Need
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