The Asheville Downtown Association today announced that the Asheville Holiday Parade is canceled for 2020 due to public health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision to cancel the parade was based on North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s September 30th announcement moving North Carolina into Phase 3. Phase 3 continues to limit outdoor gatherings to 50 people and provides capacity limits for outdoor spaces. The uncertainty of COVID-19 conditions and public safety protocols in effect at the time of the parade drove the decision.
“There are thousands of people in the parade and as many as 20,000 have come to watch in previous years, so it’s just not responsible to move forward in the midst of a public health crisis,” said Meghan Rogers, executive director of the Asheville Downtown Association.