HISTORY & MISSION 

The Carolinas' Thanksgiving Day Parade has evolved over more than six decades as a regional tradition and highlight of the Holiday Season. Founded in 1947 by four local businessmen to attract holiday shoppers to downtown Charlotte, the Thanksgiving week events have become so much more. The Parade and its ancillary events are produced by an independent, volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization, Carolinas' Carrousel, Inc.

The Carolinas' Carrousel, Inc. is committed to enhancing the regional area's community life through quality family-oriented entertainment. The organization’s events officially announce and celebrate the beginning of the holiday season. In addition, it promotes artistic excellence through awards to area high school students and marching bands. The Carolinas' Carrousel, Inc. also exists to offer business, industry and the local citizenry the opportunity to participate in showcasing the region and to encourage academic excellence in the future leaders of the area.


Giving Back – Carolinas’ Carrousel, Inc. is proud to lend its support to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. Parade attendees will have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many in need throughout our region by making a donation to Second Harvest on Thanksgiving Day. Along the parade route will be opportunities for spectators to drop off donations of canned and pre-packaged food to this great cause and help thousands of people right here in our community.

Want to get more involved?

Parade participation
Sponsorship opportunities
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Some Historic Parade Milestones:

1947 First "Charlotte Christmas Festival" was held in early November. Among key founders were John Belk and George Ivey. That year's twilight parade drew a crowd of 125,000.
1950 Name changed to Carolinas' Carrousel. 500,000 people watch popular cowboy star, Hopalong Cassidy lead the parade.
1952 Date changed to Thanksgiving Day so schoolchildren and workers could attend.
1954 First daylight parade.
1957 Santa's float breaks down, leaving Santa behind.
1961 Wettest Carrousel on record.
1967 Scholarship awards program was started.
1968 Twenty-seven (27) minutes of the parade were nationally broadcast on CBS.
North to South route is adopted to take advantage of sunlight for television.
1981 Marching Band competition was added to the Parade format.
1982 Scholarship awards increased in Representatives Division.
1998 Scholarship awards increased in Representatives Division.
Marching Band Scholarship awards
added to the program.
2000 Robert L. Maddox Music Scholarship established ($2,000).
2007 Parade celebrates its 60th anniversary. Charlotte-based retailer Belk becomes the parade’s presenting sponsor. Scholarship program is re-named the John M. Belk Scholarship Fund.
 

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Carolinas' Carrousel, Inc. -- P.O. Box 34644 -- Charlotte, NC 28234
Phone - 704.525.0250 -- Fax 704.525.0230
 
info@carrouselparade.org
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