There’s nothing quite like a small-town Christmas parade to start your holidays off on a whimsical and joyous note, so plan to start your day on Saturday, December 6, at 10:00 A.M. at Highlands’ annual Christmas Parade, which marches down Main Street in all its glowing holiday finery.
Sponsored by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands NC, this parade embodies our small-town Christmas spirit and is a delight for all ages.
Long before the 10:00 A.M. march begins, families line the sidewalks bundled against December’s chill, armed with thermoses of cocoa and coffee, and waiting on the faint sound of a siren indicating that the magic is about to begin.
Soon, the first entrants roll into view- police cars, fire trucks, homemade floats lovingly crafted with hours of volunteer labor and brimming with hometown pride; animals of all kinds; vintage cars; motorcycles; bagpipers; the Highlands High School Homecoming court, cheerleaders and athletic teams; Smokey the Bear; veterans’ groups; the crowd-pleasing well-rehearsed dancing darlings from the Mountain Garden Club; and a live marching nativity scene complete with wise men leading camels.
The sounds of the season will be ringing all along the parade route as we’ll be joined by both the Franklin High School Band and the Rosman Tiger Band. Nothing beats the excitement of a marching band providing the heartbeat of the parade, elevating the procession into a vibrant celebration filled with sound, movement, and joy.
But the most touching moments are often the simplest – an elderly veteran waving from a decorated jeep, the residents of the Eckerd Living Center smiling from their gayly decorated van, volunteers handing out candy, tiny tots riding atop floats or in cabs of tall trucks. Each entry tells a story, not of grandeur, but of togetherness – neighbors celebrating what we’ve built together.
When Santa and Mrs. Claus finally arrive at the end of the parade, children’s eyes shine with wonder as he calls out a jolly “Merry Christmas!” and waves from his perch. The moment feels timeless, like a page from a storybook brought to life.
In a world that often moves too fast, Highlands’ Christmas Parade reminds us all that joy doesn’t need to be grand, it just needs to be shared. And here in Highlands, Christmas feels exactly as it should: bright, hopeful, and full of love.
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