The 80th Asheville Christmas parade is 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, downtown, themed A Vintage Holiday. Last year's route, road closings and parking.

Last checked Oct. 22, 2026. Updated each year. Facts on this page come from the Asheville Downtown Association and the City of Asheville. City of Asheville customer service: 828-251-1122. Asheville Rides Transit: 828-251-5691.

The Asheville Holiday Parade returns to downtown on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, the Asheville Downtown Association has announced. The association produces the parade with the City of Asheville. It has said the 2026 route, schedule and entry details will be announced closer to the day, so the route, closings and parking below are from the 2025 parade and will be replaced when the 2026 plan is out.

Who to call

  • Parade questions and entries: Asheville Downtown Association
  • Street closings and city services: City of Asheville customer service, 828-251-1122
  • Bus detours: Asheville Rides Transit, 828-251-5691
  • Emergency: 911. Police non-emergency: 828-252-1110

Asheville Christmas parade 2026: date, time and theme

The 2026 parade is the 80th annual Asheville Holiday Parade, the association said when it opened applications. It is presented by Bojangles, and the theme is “A Vintage Holiday.” Downtown storefronts in the association’s Winter Window Display Contest use the same theme and are to have their windows decorated by parade day.
Date Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026
Time 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the association’s calendar listing shows
Theme A Vintage Holiday
Edition 80th annual
Where Downtown Asheville
Cost to watch Free
Organizer Asheville Downtown Association, with the City of Asheville

Community groups, schools, nonprofits and businesses enter floats, decorated vehicles and performances. Applications to march in 2026 closed Friday, Oct. 9. Volunteer details are to come on the association’s event page.

Last year’s route

From the city’s 2025 parade notice:

  • The parade started on Biltmore Avenue at Hilliard Avenue, outside The Orange Peel.
  • It went north on Biltmore Avenue to Patton Avenue, then west on Patton Avenue and ended at French Broad Avenue.
  • The official performance stop was at the corner of Biltmore and Patton avenues. There are viewing spots all along both streets.

The city posted a route map with the 2025 notice.

Road closings in 2025

  • North and South Pack Square closed at 7:30 a.m. for the judges’ area. No parking, and towing was enforced.
  • The parade route closed at 8 a.m., also with no parking and towing enforced.
  • Charlotte Street stayed open all day.
  • Streets reopened after 2 p.m., once street sweeping and cleanup were done.
  • Partial closings covered Patton Avenue between Pearl Street and Broadway, Biltmore Avenue between Patton Avenue and South Charlotte Street, Haywood Street between College Street and Patton Avenue, Hilliard Avenue between South Lexington Avenue and Biltmore Avenue, and parts of Otis, College, Broadway, Eagle and South Market streets.
  • Streets crossing the route, among them French Broad, Asheland, Coxe and Lexington avenues and Church and Grove streets, were open to local traffic only.

Parking

All city and county garages stayed open in 2025, reached by side streets:

  • Pack Square Garage from South Market Street
  • Wall Street Garage from Otis Street
  • Aloft/Biltmore Garage from South Lexington Avenue
  • Buncombe County Courthouse Garage from College Street
  • Health and Human Services garage from Coxe Avenue off Sears Alley
  • Rankin Avenue and Harrah’s Cherokee Center garages from Rankin Avenue. Both charged an $11 special event rate from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

More on downtown parking and buses: getting around Asheville.

Before and after the parade

In 2025 the “Onesie One-Miler” race ran along the route at 10:30 a.m. before the parade, South Slope businesses held an Elf Hunt from 1 to 4 p.m., and Santa posed for photos at Asheville Yards from 2 to 4 p.m., the city said. The 2026 extras will be added here when they are announced.

Tree lighting and holiday lights

  • Winter Lights, the outdoor light display at The North Carolina Arboretum, runs Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, according to the arboretum. Tickets and nightly times are on its site.
  • The city and downtown groups had not posted 2026 tree lighting dates when this page was checked. We will add them, with times and places, as soon as they are published.

What this means for you

  • Parade day is Saturday, Nov. 21. Plan for downtown closings from early morning to midafternoon.
  • Park in a garage off the route; on-street parking along the route is towed.
  • Check this page in November for the 2026 route and tree lighting times.

More: things to do in Asheville this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Asheville Christmas parade in 2026?

The Asheville Holiday Parade is Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, in downtown Asheville, according to the Asheville Downtown Association. In 2025 it ran from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

What is the theme of the 2026 Asheville Holiday Parade?

A Vintage Holiday. The 2026 parade is the 80th annual Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles, the Asheville Downtown Association said. Applications to be in the parade closed Friday, Oct. 9.

What is the Asheville Holiday Parade route?

In 2025 the parade started on Biltmore Avenue at Hilliard Avenue, near The Orange Peel, went north to Patton Avenue, then west on Patton Avenue to French Broad Avenue. The 2026 route had not been announced when this page was checked.

Where do I park for the Asheville Holiday Parade?

All city and county parking garages stayed open for the 2025 parade, reached by side streets: Pack Square Garage from South Market Street, Wall Street Garage from Otis Street and the Rankin Avenue and Harrah’s Cherokee Center garages from Rankin Avenue.

When does Winter Lights open in Asheville?

Winter Lights at The North Carolina Arboretum runs Nov. 13, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, according to the arboretum.