Richard Petty named Charlotte Thanksgiving parade grand marshal

In just five more weeks, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade will step off Tryon Street in uptown led by the King of Racing. NASCAR legend Richard Petty will be grand marshal for this year's parade. Joining him will be local celebrities, 10 bands, balloons, floats, live performances and more.

A holiday staple since 1947, Charlotte's Thanksgiving parade is billed as one of the oldest and the fourth-largest in the country. An estimated 100,000 spectators lined the streets last Thanksgiving, while another 1.5 million watched on television, parade organizers said. But organizers hope this year's parade may move Charlotte up a notch or two in the rankings. They're combining tradition and technology to try to make the Queen City's 69th Thanksgiving Day Parade the biggest and best yet. Charlotte Observer