I have to agree with Harry Richman as he crooned the Harold Arlen tune back in 1932: I really do love a parade. Something about the intersection of music, art and pageantry grabbed my attention from the first parades I saw in the 70s and then marched during the early 80s. On Friday, December 6, I was excited to visit the latest WIVK Christmas parade.
I’ve marched a Knoxville Christmas parade once as a Pride of the Southland Band member and another as a faculty member assisting the directors of the high school at which I teach. Whether it’s a grand event like Knoxville’s or a small-town celebration in my hometown of Bluff City, TN, Christmas parades are always joyful, filled with smiles and applause, and a perfect way to spark holiday cheer.
Before we get to this year’s event, I was reflecting on all of these parades across the decades and their significance. That reflection led me to a fascinating glimpse into Knoxville’s history of celebrating the Christmas season through this cherished tradition. I came across a remarkable piece of footage preserved by TAMIS (Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound), showcasing Knoxville’s first Santa Claus parade in 1928 (video footage linked here). As I watched, I noticed the same smiles, joy, and excitement that continue to define Christmas parades nearly a century later—though this time, captured in true Roaring ’20s style.
The 1928 Santa Claus Parade appears to be the first Christmas parade in Knoxville. That we have footage of that parade is somewhat of a Christmas miracle. I spoke with Eric Dawson, Head of the McClung Historical Collection, about the footage. For context, Dawson noted that the first Macy’s parade had just kicked off in New York in 1924, and cities around the United States were copying its success. Just four years later, Knoxville’s first Christmas parade with a fairy tale theme featured 31 merchant floats, music, and of course, Santa himself.
Dawson told me that having a lens into any event nearly a century ago is rare, but having footage of a first event is nearly impossible to find. The video was captured by Adolph Schmid, a Knoxville real estate agent. The new format of 16MM had been invented by Eastman Kodak just a short five years prior. Prior to 1923, 35MM was the only way to capture footage by home users. Dawson said that 35MM was prohibitively expensive. When 16mm was created, it opened film to another socioeconomic group.
Dawson noted that Schmid’s reels are primarily family related; however, he chose to go downtown and capture the parade that year. Since acetate often eats the film, it is amazing we have this lens into a Knoxville Christmas from long ago. Dawson also noted that, due to budgetary issues, the parade halted in 1966, finally returning from its hiatus in 1969. Jennifer Johnsey of Cumulus Media confirmed that WIVK took over as sponsor in 1974. Additional footage of parades across the years is available here.
So, I set out, like Schmid did nearly a century ago, to capture this shared holiday event. My technology is far more advanced with the passage of time; however, the spirit of the season hasn’t changed from those early days. Let’s take a look at this year’s parade.
51st Annual WIVK Christmas Parade 2024
The parade route this year followed Gay Street, ending at the Mill and Mine. Due to the high number of participants, staging took place across four areas on the southern end of downtown. According to the WIVK parade line-up, the parade featured 115 groups. Dino Cartwright and Heather Harrington were the emcees of this year’s parade, and it promptly kicked off at 7:00.
The Grand Marshall for 2024 was Todd Helton, former player with the University of Tennessee national champion baseball team and 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. Eight high school bands from around the region brought a festive soundtrack to this year’s parade. The weather was clear but cold for this year’s event, setting a tone for the holidays and left me ready for some hot chocolate. Surprisingly, I did not need all of the cold weather gear that I brought with me.
The Knoxville Police Department Motorcycle Officers and the Greene County Air Force ROTC lead the parade off through Gay Street.
Marching Bands, Music and Dance
Eight total marching bands participated in the parade, ranging in distance from nearby Fulton, West, South Doyle and Central High Bands to further distances like Claiborne County and The Pride of the Sequatchie. First up were the Knoxville West High School Marching Band.
Following West were the Fulton Falcon Marching Band from just up the road in North Knoxville, playing a festive “Feliz Navidad.”
With the Fulton Band came an art project between Fulton art students and the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Designed to tackle snow in the coming winter, the TDOT snow plow was painted by Fulton students and will be deployed on Broadway to help keep the roads clear. Fulton students and TDOT recently unveiled the snow plow at Fulton, and the parade was the first public appearance.
Shortly after Fulton came the Karns High School Fightin’ Beaver Band from West Knoxville. Emcees announced that Karns was the largest band of the evening.
Joining the parade next from over an hour away in New Tazewell, TN were the Claiborne High School Marching Band.
The Concord Christian School Pride of the Den Marching Band was near the mid-point of the parade.
Representing South Knoxville, the South-Doyle High School Marching was next.
Traveling the farthest distance, the Pride of the Sequatchie Valley Marching Band from Dunlap, TN, over two hours away, entertained the crowd.
Finally, further north on Broadway, the Knoxville Central Marching Band finished out the bands for the evening.
In addition to the marching bands, various dance groups appeared in the parade.
The Dogwood Elementary Strummers group demonstrated their skills with stringed instruments.
Floats, Groups and Characters
If I had one complaint about this year’s parade, it would be that I wish there more floats. I enjoyed all of the groups who participated, but the spectacle of any parade for me personally has always been the float. I enjoyed seeing every one of the groups who took the time to plan, build and decorate a float this year. Here are a few of the ones I enjoyed.
The Tennessee High School Rodeo Association float introduced me to this organization based in Bolivar, TN.
As I drive through downtown often, Cruze Farm has a consistent line out the door onto Gay Street. Their iconic red and white plaid can’t be missed in their float.
Speedy from Central City Heating and Air Conditioning brought a snow storm to Gay Street.
Christmas Vacation has become a perennial favorite movie for me. The Tennessee Theatre will be doing a screening just a few days after the parade (December 14). Many people, including myself, attend holiday parties themed around the movie, and the movie was well represented in the parade.
Current Watersports created a Whoville float on a boat, complete with a surfing Grinch.
Christmas and Christmas parades are truly for all ages. I loved that South High Senior Living gave their residents an opportunity to participate in the parade.
Pageant winners have long been a part of parades. Representatives from Miss Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley Fair pageants greeted parade attendees.
Urban Guy and I both captured multiple more entries into the parade. At the end of the article, you can view a gallery with additional photos.
Parade Attendees
The spirit of a parade is always driven by the people attending. As I went back to the people Schmid captured on 16MM at the start of this article, I saw the community coming together to celebrate a shared holiday experience. Events like these give us a sense of community, belonging and our moment in time. Here are a few of the faces I captured. I was able to get names for some; others were just quick photos as they prepared for the parade or to go to their next holiday moment after.
Though I don’t know the numbers, the parade must have an impact on businesses around the downtown area. I saw shoppers seeking out food, lots of hot chocolate and shopping for holiday gifts in stores on Gay Street and around Market Square
Goodbye till 2025
Santa finished the parade up. Urban Guy was able to capture a new angle on Santa finishing up the parade as well as the size of the crowds.
Additional Photos
Urban Guy and I captured several additional photos and are making them available in the Gallery below.
