2009 Raleigh Christmas Parade, presented by the Greater Raleigh Merchants Association and sponsored by WRAL-TV, is scheduled for Saturday, November 21.

Most of the Raleigh Merchants Association (GRMA) will publish the 65th Annual Raleigh Christmas parade to be held on 21 November at 9:30 in downtown Raleigh. WRAL-TV is the official sponsor and media partner for the fifth consecutive year. The live television coverage will begin at 10 when the device when the first catwalk show host location.

Other major sponsors are Crabtree Valley Mall, Time Warner Cable and WakeMed. The parade has been presented annually since 1944 by the greater Raleigh Merchants Association.

"The Raleigh Christmas Parade is still a great success and has become a holiday tradition in our state," said John Odom, President of GRMA. "It just continues to grow and improve each year. We owe it to WRAL-TV, Crabtree Valley Mall, Time Warner Cable and WakeMed for their generous support to this event."

This year the parade will feature a special item in the local shop in Raleigh, a coalition of independent local businesses, nonprofit and interested citizens together to support local entrepreneurs.

"The timing could not be better for everyone who cares about maintaining a highly diversified base of independent local businesses and the expansion of economic opportunity here in the Triangle area," Odom said. "With the participation of local store in Raleigh at the parade, we are reminding people to the local shop for the holidays."

The Raleigh Christmas Parade includes three giant helium balloons, approximately 35 floats, 20 marching bands and a variety of other entertainment acts.

Drawing an estimated 50,000 spectators from around the state to downtown Raleigh and reaching more than 250,000 through television and video streaming live on WRAL.com, the parade is the biggest one-day event in Raleigh every year. It is the largest parade between Atlanta and Washington, DC.