Downtown Knoxville kicks off the holiday season with the WIVK Christmas Parade

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 2024 holiday season is here and Knoxville has some festive events planned for Friday.

Dogwood Arts and the Old City Neighborhood Association will host the First Friday Block Party. As a result, Jackson Avenue will remain closed between State Street and N. Central Street from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m

The 51st Annual WIVK Christmas Parade begins Friday evening in downtown Knoxville. Enjoy the sight of lights, marching bands, dancers, over 100 floats and more.

2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Todd Helton, a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Central High School, will serve as the parade’s grand marshal. Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon will also participate in the parade, along with vehicles and floats from the Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville Fire Department, Public Service and the Office of Special Events.

The parade route begins at 6:45 p.m. at the intersection of Main Street and ends at 8:00 p.m. at Magnolia Avenue. According to the City of Knoxville, Gay Street between Main Street and Magnolia Avenue will be closed at 6:15 p.m.

The city said people should be aware of downtown street closures and are encouraged to arrive early and allow plenty of time to park. Free parking is possible in all city car parks from 6:00 p.m.

On-street parking in the parade route area is not available during the afternoon hours.

The following streets will be closed to traffic at 4:30 p.m.:

• Hill Avenue between Walnut Street and Howard Baker Jr Avenue
• Main street between Walnut Street and Gay Street
• Gay Street between Main Street and Hill Avenue

The streets in the weekend pedestrian zone will be closed at 5:30 p.m. and will remain closed to traffic until Sunday, December 8th at 6:00 p.m.

• Union Avenue between Walnut Street and Gay Street
• Market Street between Clinch and Union Avenue

The parade is free to attend and begins at 7 p.m

The WIVK Christmas Parade is part of Knoxville’s Christmas in the City. There are a variety of holiday activities downtown, including the Holidays on Ice skating rink at Market Square in Knoxville, the December 14 Tour de Lights bike ride, and the New Year’s Eve celebration at Sunsphere.

The Market Square Holidays on Ice skating rink opened on November 29th and will remain open until January 5th, barring inclement weather. It is open from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. most weekdays and earlier in the day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Between December 23rd and January 5th it will be open with extended hours, opening at 1pm most Mondays to Thursdays. The full schedule can be found here.

You can watch the parade on WBIR+ on Friday at 7 p.m.