Downtown Knoxville — Christmas is right around the corner, and the city of Knoxville celebrated early with the 46th annual Christmas Parade.
Festival floats, marching bands and more marched down Gay Street at 7 p.m. More than 100 groups were expected to participate this year.
Participants lined up in front of garages A and B across from the Civic Auditorium on Howard Baker Jr. Avenue. The parade route started west on Church Street then turned right on Gay Street. The groups continued several blocks before turning right on Jackson Avenue until they reached Patton Avenue in the Old City.
This year -- Rusty Wallace, winner of 55 NASCAR races, served as the Grand Marshal. Greene County Air Force Junior ROTC led the parade again for the tenth year in a row.
The Central High School football team celebrated its first-ever state championship by marching in the parade -- trophy held high.
Marching bands, dance teams and a replica of the Griswold Family's station wagon from the 1989 film "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" were also present.
Many road closures began Friday evening.The eastbound lane of Howard Baker Jr. Avenue between Hill Ave. and Fame Drive closed at 4:30 p.m. Market Street between Union and Church Avenues was also closed during the parade.