The 49th WIVK Christmas Parade will be held Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in downtown Knoxville.

This year’s parade honors the late Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss of Corryton; his mother Paula will serve as Grand Marshal. The parade’s 116 units include eight high school marching bands, flag corps, dancers, singers, area fire departments, businesses, churches and community organizations, vintage vehicles, media personalities, and bringing up the rear, Santa Claus. 

At 7 p.m., the parade steps off from Howard Baker Jr. Avenue and proceeds to Church Street, turns north onto Gay Street, continues across the viaduct and turns right onto Magnolia Avenue, where it will disband. 

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to navigate road closures and find parking. Free parking is available at all City-owned garages. Drivers should be aware of possible lane closures on Locust and Walnut streets near the Langley and Summer Place parking garages. 

Eastbound lanes of Howard Baker Jr. Avenue between Hill Avenue and Hall of Fame Drive will be closed from 4 to 9 p.m. Roads on the parade route—as well as Union Avenue and Market Street—will close at 6:30 p.m. and reopen at the end of the parade, approximately 8:30 p.m.  

Beginning at 4:15 p.m., on-street parking will be removed from Gay Street between Cumberland and Magnolia avenues; Church Street between Gay Street and Hall of Fame Drive; Market Street between Clinch and Union avenues; Union Avenue between Walnut and Gay streets.  

Drivers are cautioned to avoid Summit Hill Drive prior to and during the parade timeframe. All four lanes of cross traffic will be stopped as the parade traverses the intersection. 

The WIVK Christmas Parade is part of the City of Knoxville’s Christmas in the City, a variety of holiday activities in downtown Knoxville including the Holidays on Ice open-air skating rink on Market Square, the Elf on the Shelf Adventure scavenger hunt, and the Peppermint Trail. Learn more at KnoxvilleTN.gov/Christmas.