A look at the Asheville Holiday Parade #avlparade
We attended our first holiday parade as a family this weekend – my son’s first parade ever. He’s 3, so it really wasn’t a good time before this year. He just wouldn’t have understood what was going on and I don’t think he could have sat that long.
He was smitten with the marching bands, loved the dance teams, was good with the cheerleaders and tolerated the cars with no real theme. He did get excited about Christmas trees….about the first two or three that he saw. He kept asking for more instruments. Parades need more marching bands. The end.
One of the cool things about this particular parade? Our grand marshal was Caleb Johnson – the latest American Idol. (I don’t watch the show anymore, but I think it’s neat that he won – and he’s a graduate from the same high school I attended. Small world.)
Some photos from our time at the parade. (Also, we told Lucas that we’d see Carol and we were determined to stick it out until we saw her. She was with float 99, and that was about two floats before Santa. The very, very end. The things we do for young love.)
A few observations:
Parades are really long. We really should have been closer to the start of the parade, versus after their performance area. We were sitting there for over 2 hours.
My son received about 3 pieces of candy – this included me asking for a candy cane from one person, and Carol giving him a piece of candy. Four pieces, if you count the one lollipop a kid next to us offered him. The kids all around us were handed candy, and people just kept skipping over him. It was odd. And annoying. He really wanted a candy cane!
The crowds were tolerable. Getting to a parking space was insufferable, but once we were walking around, I expected more angry people. It wasn’t that way at all. People were nice about the four of us and helped maneuver the stroller so Lucas could see. Must be the holiday spirit and people were being nicer?
Nap time should never, ever be messed with. Ever. We didn’t eat lunch until 2:20 and the boy went down for his nap at almost 3 – he is usually down by 1. It was not fun.
When was the last time you attended a parade? It’s been several years for me. There’s a great one in my grandma’s hometown in Pennsylvania. Small town, best festivals.
No candy canes for the munchkin??!!! booooo!!!!
I haven’t been to the parade in a few years, but I used to be part of the TV coverage and work it.
2 hours is a LONG time or a parade. I can’t even tolerate watching them on Thanksgiving Day and I don’t have to fight the crowds to go to the bathroom! BUT, that was one fine Santa though. I can’t believe his elves weren’t doing a better job passing out the candy canes though – bad Santa!!
At our parades, they generally just throw handfuls of candy as they ride down the street on their floats. Therefore, young kids don’t get any because the bigger kids grab them so fast. There are a lot of annoying things about parades, but they are a lot of fun too. My daughter will be dancing in one in a few weeks!
How fun! That looks like a great parade. My kids have always enjoyed a good parade.
Oh parades are fun but most of the ones we went to were at Disney World. We did stumble across one in St. Augustine, FL one December but of course we were in short sleeve T shirts. Weather was so nice. I love Asheville, we really need a trip back. Hope you link this up with our Small Victories Sunday linkup. I would love to share posts about one of my favorite places to visit!
Oh, how fun! It looks like a great parade! And his FACE!!! How cute!!!
What a fun parade. Beautiful weather is always good, too!
Its been a long time since I attended a parade…My son who is 5 just missed his chance this year for the Christmas parade in our town due to another engagement we had.. ah well, may be next year! Your pics look amazing š Looks like everyone had a good time!
I don’t even remember the last time I attended a parade in person. I do watch the Macys Parade on TV lol. I’m not into crowds at all so I tend to shy away. I’m glad that little boy gave your son a candy cane!
That’s so fun you have a holiday parade! We only do Memorial Day and St. Patrick’s Day here. I’d love to see a Christmas/Thanksgiving one though!
What a beautiful parade. I’m not sure if our city is having one but would be nice to attend one this year with my toddler.
I had to come see this because of your hard work with the pictures! It was worth it, they’re great. š
We’ve never been to a parade here. Isn’t that weird? Actually, I maybe went to a town’s Fourth of July parade out on the Hamptons in LI, NY forever ago when a friend’s nephew was in it!
Otherwise nada.
And I’m NOT a Caleb fan. I did watch the show last year – Harry Connick Jr is all I have to say about that – but not a fan. But hey, local celeb and all – it’s cool.
I haven’t been to a parade in a long time. I sometimes miss them but then I remember how cold it is outside and not go.