Record Crowd Lines Streets for Raleigh Christmas Parade

Parade grand marshall Clay Aiken helped WRAL commentate the event.

Wool E. Bull entertained fans from the MIX float.

Santa got big cheers, but the loudest ovation of the day came for Raleigh's Idol Clay Aiken. Grand marshal of the 59th Annual Raleigh Christmas Parade, Aiken drew a crowd of 100,000, over double the usual attendance rate. Fans began lining the streets the night before and had packed both sides of the parade route by 8:30am for the 10am start.

MIX 101.5 greeted the group from their gingerbread house float.

WRAL-TV's Monica Laliberte waves to the crowd.

WRAL-TV Personalities wave from their float.

WRAL-TV's live coverage of the parade included commentary by Aiken. After finishing the parade route, Aiken joined WRAL-TV Anchor Laurie Clowers & Trafficologist Mark Roberts in the station's broadcast tower. He also appeared on the early morning news prior to the parade.

Clay Aiken's charitable organization entered a float in the parade.

A record-breaking crowd of 100,000 showed up for the parade.

WRAL-TV Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel & his team provided perfect sunny weather for the event, which helped account for the huge crowd.

POSTED: November 25, 2003