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

View the Slideshow See 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.

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

The WRAL-TV Float makes its way down the parade route.

MIX 101.5 personalities ride atop the WRAL-FM float.

Santa Claus makes his annual appearance to end the parade.

Durham Bulls Mascot Wool E. Bull zips down the parade route.