Asheville Holiday Parade set for Saturday; American Idol Caleb Johnson is grand marshal

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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caleb1It’s parade time, people. Press release here:

The Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles, rolls, marches, and dances its way through downtown Asheville with nearly 100 entries from area nonprofits, schools, marching bands, and businesses. 2014 American Idol winner, Caleb Johnson, will serve as Grand Marshal for the parade on Saturday, November 22, beginning at 11 am.

The parade starts on Biltmore Avenue at South Charlotte Street, turns west on Patton Avenue, and ends at South French Broad Avenue. The performance stop is located near the Vance Monument at the corner of Biltmore and Patton Avenues.

The Grand Marshal float, sponsored by Mission Health, will lead the parade along with the Honored Veterans float, sponsored by Goodwill of NWNC. The Santa float, sponsored by Deerfield Retirement Community, concludes the parade. Other parade highlights include the always-popular Hillcrest High Steppin’ Majorettes and Drum Corp, the Amazing Pubcycle peddled by the Blue Ridge Roller Girls, and Off the Wagon Dueling Piano Bar.

Following the parade is Ingles JingleFest in the U.S. Cellular Center from noon to 5pm. Caleb Johnson will stop by Ingles JingleFest for a meet and greet with area fans and sign autographs from 2-3pm.

Ingles JingleFest will also feature nonstop entertainment with performances from many of the groups that participated in the parade, along with inflatables and bouncy houses.

Families will also be able to have their children’s photo taken with Santa, courtesy of Icon Media Asheville. Plus, Macaroni Kid and Asheville Flyer will set up a craft station for young children. New this year at Ingles JingleFest, is the handmade craft market, with 25 local crafters selling everything from blown glass to knitted goods.

A native of Asheville, Caleb Johnson’s first album Testify pays tribute to his lifelong obsession with Southern soul, classic rock, and heavy metal. Johnson’s versatility is on display tearing through blistering barnburners, blues-soaked rock numbers, and heart-on-sleeve ballads.

After flooring his fellow Erwin High School classmates with a jawdropping performance of a Creedence Clearwater Revival song at the school’s talent show, Johnson formed the band, Elijah Hooker, and began playing venues around downtown Asheville and beyond.

Johnson credits his Southern roots with defining his music. “Being from the South is something that gets into your blood and your soul, and I think that comes out very clearly in my music,” he says.

Parking for the Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles, and Ingles JingleFest can be difficult and we encourage attendees to use the Asheville Transit System, Asheville Redefines Transit.

The Asheville Holiday Parade and Ingles JingleFest are sponsored by Bojangles of WNC, Ingles Markets, Mission Health, Aloft Asheville Downtown, Renaissance Asheville Hotel, Kudzu Branding, Duke Energy, TD Bank, Holston Gases, Asheville Eye Associates, Goodwill of Northwest NC, Deerfield Retirement Community, Mills Manufacturing, IHeartMedia Asheville, Mix 96.5, Star 104.3, 105.9 The Mountain, 99.9 Kiss Country, WLOS News 13, Asheville Scene, Asheville Citizen-Times, WNC Parent, The Laurel of Asheville, MY40 WMYA, Asheville Color & Imaging, Macaroni Kids, and Asheville Flyer.

For more information on the Asheville Holiday Parade, presented by Bojangles, and Ingles JingleFest, visit ashevilleparade.org or facebook.com/ashevilleholidays.

For more information on Caleb Johnson and his debut album, Testify, visit calebjohnsonofficial.com.

 

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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1 Comment

  1. Curious November 22, 2014

    How is Caleb Johnson’s career going? Is his music selling? Where is he based now?

    Reply

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