Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade facts for kids
The Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade, previously known as the " Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade" from 2013 until 2020, Carolinas' Carrousel Parade and in 2008 and 2009 as the Carolinas' Thanksgiving Day Parade, is a Thanksgiving Day parade held in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina the night before Thanksgiving Day. The parade was founded in 1947, and in 2013 Novant Health became the parade's title sponsor, taking over sponsorship from Belk. It was moved from Thanksgiving Day to Thanksgiving Eve in 2021.
Starting in 1967, Carolina's Carrousel, Inc. has held a scholarship program for students recognizing those with outstanding academic achievements and community involvement. From 1998 to 2012 scholarships were also awarded to outstanding marching band students. The Carrousel Queen title was awarded to the high school senior girl with the top scholarship in the program; however, the title was changed to Carrousel Scholar in 2011.
Traditionally, Carolinas' Carrousel Parade was one of the few Thanksgiving Day parades held in the afternoon as opposed to the morning (although the first several parades were held in the evening). However, the parade was moved to mornings beginning in 2008. The parade is the largest gathering of Carolinians and has been named as the fourth-largest in the United States, with an estimated 100,000 spectators. The parade is also televised with tape-delay on CBS 3. In 2016, it was streamed live on the station's web site.
History
Carrousel Parade
- 1947: The parade was founded by local businessmen to attract shoppers to uptown Charlotte and has since become a staple holiday event in uptown Charlotte.
- 1950: The parade moves to Thanksgiving Day.
- 1967: The impact of the parade continued with the creation of the scholarship program by Carolina's Carrousel, Inc. that awarded outstanding high school students in the region.
- 1968: CBS broadcasts the parade, which moves to the morning for this reason, as part of its Thanksgiving coverage.
- 1981: A marching band competition was added to the parade.
- 2005: The parade nearly doubled the number of floats to 23, and board members were hoping to find a way for the parade to be televised nationally.
- 2007: The light poles in uptown Charlotte prevented the parade from being able to support the large parade balloons. Therefore, to improve the parade, the 2007 event had 104 floats and entertainment such as dancers. In 2007 the parade also celebrated its 60th anniversary and the introduction of a new sponsor, Belk who then became the title sponsor in 2010.
- 2008: For the first time since 1968, the Parade started at 10 a.m. rather than in the afternoon (the earlier start time attracted a much larger television viewing audience than in past years and was deemed a huge success). Also in 2008, travelmuse.com named Charlotte's parade as the 4th largest in the nation.
- 2012: The U.S. News & World Report included the parade on its list of "America's Best Thanksgiving Day Parades."
