Asheville -- August 27, 2026: The Asheville Downtown Association is inviting community groups, businesses, and schools to participate in the 80th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade, scheduled for Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 11 a.m. in Downtown Asheville. This year's theme, “A Vintage Holiday,” encourages participants to bring nostalgic charm and cheer to the celebration of decades of local tradition.
The parade, presented by Bojangles, calls upon the community to creatively interpret the "Vintage Holiday" theme, which celebrates 80 years of holiday tradition in Downtown Asheville. Organizers are looking for entries that evoke the spirit of holidays past, inviting participants to draw inspiration from specific decades such as the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, or 1970s, or any era that makes the holidays feel timeless.
A wide range of vintage-inspired entry ideas are encouraged to bring the theme to life. These include depictions of 1950s holiday storefronts, floats adorned with old-fashioned ornaments and tinsel, displays featuring vintage cars, and scenes reflecting Victorian holiday charm or mid-century décor. Participants might also find inspiration in nostalgic holiday movies or classic winter wonderlands, all designed to showcase the city's historical and cultural memory.
Businesses, nonprofits, schools, community groups, and performance organizations are all encouraged to apply. The Asheville Downtown Association has opened online applications for the event, and interested participants must submit their materials by the deadline of Friday, October 9, 2026. The parade typically features nearly 100 entries, including marching bands and large balloons, making it one of downtown's largest annual events.
The procession is expected to follow its traditional route, beginning on Biltmore Avenue at Charlotte Street, traveling north, and including a performance stop at Biltmore Avenue and Patton Avenue (Pack Square). It then continues west on Patton Avenue, concluding at French Broad Avenue. This longstanding event is a centerpiece of the "Winter in Downtown Asheville" programming, drawing visitors and supporting local businesses while fostering civic morale.
In keeping with tradition, the Asheville Downtown Association’s annual Winter Window Display Contest will share the parade theme of “A Vintage Holiday.”
Downtown storefronts are encouraged to join the celebration by transforming their windows with vintage-inspired holiday displays. From retro ornaments and nostalgic toys to classic department-store windows, aluminum trees, handmade decorations and scenes inspired by holidays gone by, businesses are encouraged to have fun with the theme and help create a festive experience throughout Downtown Asheville.
Participating storefronts should have their windows decorated by Saturday, November 21, allowing Downtown to come alive with “A Vintage Holiday” just as the 80th Annual Asheville Holiday Parade makes its way through the city.
Information about parade applications, the Winter Window Display Contest and holiday programming in Downtown Asheville will be available through the Asheville Downtown Association.