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Tag: Parades

  • The Skinny On Mardi Gras In New Orleans

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    The skinny on Mardi Gras in New Orleans: history, parades, Zulu and Rex, and king cake fun.

    You have seen the photos, maybe watch the webcams, but here is the skinny on Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Carnivale, the festive season precedes Lent and has roots stretching back centuries in Catholic Europe. The word itself comes from the Latin carne levare, meaning “to remove meat,” a nod to the fasting and abstinence observed during Lent. Over time, communities created elaborate celebrations to indulge before the solemn season began. Two of the world’s most famous Carnivale traditions still flourish today: the masked elegance of Carnival of Venice and the electrifying samba parades of Rio Carnival. Both events blend pageantry, costuming, music, and public revelry — elements later defining Mardi Gras on the Gulf Coast.

    RELATED: Cannabis Is Quietly Reshaping Mardi Gras Culture

    In the United States, Mardi Gras first took root not in Louisiana but in Mobile. French settlers celebrated the holiday there as early as 1703, marking one of the earliest organized Mardi Gras observances in North America. Mobile’s early mystic societies and parading traditions laid the groundwork for what would evolve into a uniquely American festival. Yet it was downriver in New Orleans where Mardi Gras found its grand stage.

    New Orleans embraced and expanded the celebration throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, blending French, Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences into a spectacle unlike any other. By the mid-1800s, organized parades, masked balls, and social clubs known as krewes transformed Mardi Gras into a citywide cultural institution. Today, the season typically begins on Twelfth Night — January 6 — marking the end of the Christmas season and the start of Carnival. From that date through Fat Tuesday, the city hosts dozens of parades; in a typical year, more than 70 processions roll through neighborhoods across the metro area.

    Central to the celebration is the Krewe system. Krewes are private social organizations who plan parades, design floats, host balls, and select royalty such as kings and queens. Each krewe has its own history, traditions, and themes. Some, like Rex and Zulu, date back more than a century, while newer groups reflect the city’s evolving cultural landscape. Membership is often selective, and krewe identities are closely tied to neighborhood pride and social networks.

    Fat Tuesday, the final and most anticipated day of Mardi Gras, carries its own traditions. Only two parades roll in New Orleans on the day: the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club and the Krewe of Rex. Zulu, known for its hand-decorated floats and prized painted coconuts, represents African American cultural heritage and community philanthropy. Rex, founded in 1872, crowns the symbolic King of Carnival and established the city’s official Mardi Gras colors: purple for justice, green for faith, and gold for power.

    RELATED: How Marijuana Can Heighten Intimacy With Your Partner

    No Mardi Gras season is complete without king cake, a ring-shaped pastry decorated in those same royal colors. Inside each cake is a tiny plastic baby, and tradition holds whoever finds it must host the next king cake party. Bakeries across the city produce thousands each day during Carnival, making the dessert as central to the season as beads and brass bands.

    At the stroke of midnight on Fat Tuesday, the revelry ends. Police clear the streets, bars close, and the city symbolically shifts from indulgence to reflection. Ash Wednesday dawns, Lent begins, and New Orleans returns to its everyday rhythm — at least until Carnival comes again.

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    Sarah Johns

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  • Cannabis Is Quietly Reshaping Mardi Gras Culture

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    How cannabis is quietly reshaping Mardi Gras culture, as millennials trade hurricanes for THC seltzers and balanced Carnival experiences.

    For generations, Mardi Gras in New Orleans has been synonymous with exuberant parades, bead throws, brass bands, and free-flowing alcohol. From the krewes rolling down St. Charles Avenue to the packed revelry of Bourbon Street, the Carnival season has long been fueled by hurricanes, hand grenades, and go-cups carried through the French Quarter. But as cultural attitudes shift and younger generations redefine celebration, cannabis is quietly reshaping Mardi Gras culture.  Marijuana, hemp, cod and low-alcohol alternatives are quietly reshaping how people experience the greatest free show on Earth.

    RELATED: Data Shows People Like Cannabis Before Intimacy

    Mardi Gras traces its roots to medieval Europe and Catholic traditions marking the last indulgence before Lent. When the celebration arrived in Louisiana in the 18th century, it evolved into a uniquely New Orleans blend of pageantry, music, and community. Over time, drinking became embedded in the festivities. Public consumption laws in New Orleans—famously permissive compared to most U.S. cities—helped cement the image of Carnival as a marathon of cocktails and street parties stretching from Twelfth Night to Fat Tuesday.

    Yet today’s younger revelers are changing the script. Gen Z and many millennials are drinking less than previous generations, driven by wellness trends, mental health awareness, and a desire for more mindful social experiences. Instead of chasing the next sugary daiquiri, many are opting for cannabis products, THC-infused beverages, and low-ABV cocktails allowing them to stay present and energized through long parade days.

    The rise of cannabis culture—particularly in legal states and through hemp-derived THC beverages available in parts of the South—has introduced alternatives aligning with these preferences. Lightly dosed THC seltzers and cannabis mocktails offer a social buzz without the heavy hangover, while low-alcohol spritzes and bitters-based drinks provide flavor and ritual without excess. For many, this shift reflects a broader move toward balance rather than abstinence.

    Safety is another factor shaping this new era. Mardi Gras crowds can swell into the hundreds of thousands, with shoulder-to-shoulder conditions along parade routes and in the Vieux Carré. Lower alcohol consumption can mean greater situational awareness, fewer medical incidents, and a more comfortable experience navigating dense crowds. Public health experts have long noted excessive drinking contributes to accidents and altercations at large events; a moderation-minded approach may help reduce these risks.

    RELATED: How Marijuana Can Heighten Intimacy With Your Partner

    None of this means the end of traditional revelry. The sound of a trumpet echoing down Royal Street, the cry of “Throw me something, mister!” and the joy of catching beads under a balcony in the Quarter remain unchanged. But alongside the classic purple, green, and gold festivities, a quieter transformation is underway. Younger celebrants are embracing options letting them laissez les bons temps rouler—let the good times roll—without sacrificing well-being.

    As Mardi Gras continues to evolve, cannabis and low-alcohol beverages are becoming part of the cultural mosaic, offering new ways to celebrate while honoring the spirit of Carnival. In a city which thrives on reinvention, this subtle shift may be just another chapter in New Orleans’ long tradition of adapting the party to the times.

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    Anthony Washington

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  • Salem Holiday Parade celebrates town’s history

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    SALEM, N.H. — Not even the bitter cold and a little rain dampened the spirits of the large crowd that turned out Sunday afternoon for the town’s annual holiday parade.

    The theme was “The Celebration of Salem’s 275th Anniversary” with floats decorated in honor of the town’s rich history, including those that paid tribute to the former Rockingham Park racetrack, popular Canobie Lake Park and other local landmarks.

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  • Santa arrives in Andover for annual parade

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    ANDOVER — There was plenty of holiday spirit to be found Sunday afternoon as the annual Andover Firefighters Santa Parade passed through town.

    There were also a lot of festive paradegoers and performers who turned out to ring in the holiday season. The parade’s grand marshal was Andover Veterans Service Director Mark Comeiro, who waved to the crowd as the procession traveled through downtown.

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  • You can thank John Adams for July 4 parades and fireworks – WTOP News

    You can thank John Adams for July 4 parades and fireworks – WTOP News

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    It was 148 years ago this week that Founding Father John Adams correctly predicted how Americans would celebrate the birth of The United States.

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    John Adams July 4 predictions

    It was 148 years ago this week that Founding Father John Adams correctly predicted how Americans would celebrate the birth of The United States.

    On July 3, 1776, only one day after the Continental Congress voted for Independence, Adams wrote a letter to his wife and listed the ways he believed this monumental date would be remembered.

    “It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this time forward forever more,” wrote Adams.

    Yes, the future president predicted that we would be going to Independence Day Parades, playing games, attending shows (“shew” is an old form of show) and seeing fireworks.

    “John Adams really believed there would be celebrations in the streets with a lot of pomp and circumstance around Independence Day,” said author and D.C. tour Guide, Rebecca Grawl. “I think he was spot on with that prediction.”

    Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of John Adams circa 1800/1815; oil on canvas.
    (Courtesy National Gallery of Art)

    Courtesy National Gallery of Art

    Fireworks burst above the National Mall, and from left, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
    Fireworks burst above the National Mall, and from left, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building during Independence Day celebrations on Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Washington.
    (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    FILE - Fireworks burst on the National Mall above the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building during Independence Day celebrations in Washington, Monday, July 4, 2022. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File)
    FILE — Fireworks burst on the National Mall above the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol building during Independence Day celebrations in Washington, Monday, July 4, 2022.
    (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File)

    AP Photo/J. David Ake, File

    Grawl pointed out that Adams thought it was a day for great celebration.

    “He believed Americans would come together to acknowledge this momentous occasion that he and the other Founding Fathers had worked so hard for: Independence,” Grawl said.

    As accurate as his prediction was, Adams did get one important part wrong: He thought the celebrations would occur on July 2.

    While yes, it was on July 2, 1776, that the Continental Congress voted for Independence, the delay to July 4 was due to the Declaration of Independence.

    According to the National Archives, the Declaration of Independence, drafted mostly by Thomas Jefferson, and edited by his colleagues in the Continental Congress, was adopted two days later.

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    © 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Valerie Bonk

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  • Beverly Farms Horribles Parade marred by offensive float

    Beverly Farms Horribles Parade marred by offensive float

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    BEVERLY — The ‘horrible’ is back in the Beverly Farms Horribles Parade.

    A year after parade organizers removed ‘horribles’ from the name in an effort to tamp down on controversial floats, the description was added back this year — and so was the controversy.

    A float in Thursday’s parade called “A League of They Own” mocked transgender athletes and transgender people in general, including signs that read, “You can’t swim with me, unless you sit down to pee,” and “Are those just rumours, or are our schools full of groomers?” Other signs on the float were too vulgar to include in this story.

    Mayor Mike Cahill, who marched in the parade, called the float “inappropriate and offensive.” He said he did not see the float, which was toward the back of the parade, and if he had he would not have marched. Cahill was provided photos and video of the float by The Salem News after the parade.

    “That messaging is never OK about anybody,” Cahill said. “I’m frustrated that-that ended up in the parade. It’s targeting people for who they are that’s just plain wrong at every level.”

    The Beverly Farms Horribles Parade dates back to the 1880s and features floats, costumes and signs satirizing current events. Cahill and other city officials have denounced the parade in the past for its content, including racist and sexist material.

    Cahill refused to walk in the parade for several years because of the content. He said he did walk last year after organizers promised to tone down or remove any offensive floats.

    “I know the parade committee has worked really hard to put on a parade that’s appropriate,” Cahill said. “You saw a lot of people enjoying it. There were kids riding on decorated bikes and there were some funny floats. There was a lot of good there. But that float was inappropriate and offensive. Transgender people are our friends and neighbors and transgender people in this community need to know that they’re safe and valued and welcomed.

    “I just wish that people had more grace and compassion,” Cahill added. “That kind of language is small-minded and offensive. It’s just frustrating that this stuff gets put out there.”

    Raeann Downey, the president of the Beverly Farms/Prides Crossing Fourth of July Committee, said the float should not have been allowed in the parade.

    Downey said she did not see the float until after the parade started. She said it is up to the five parade judges to look at the floats before the parade and decide if they can participate.

    “It was not removed and it should have been,” Downey said.

    Downey said another float, one that included personal attacks on three of the Fourth of July Committee members, including her, also should have been removed. She said that float reflects a division among the volunteer organizers about how the parade should be run and what kind of floats should be allowed.

    “It’s personality clashes, that’s all it is,” Downey said. “We had a lot of problems this year but it is the Fourth of July. We’re trying to play nice in the sand but not everybody is. Regardless of what people think, this committee is hard-working 11 of 12 months out of the year to bring a good parade.”

    “I’m from New England,” added Downey, who grew up in Beverly Farms and has helped organize the Fourth of July events for more than 30 years. “I have broad shoulders.”

    Supporters say the controversial floats make up only one part of the parade, which also includes marching bands, drum corps, kids on bikes, local politicians, and floats that make fun of tamer subjects.

    Other topics this year included piping plovers, the condition of the city of Beverly’s streets, and the final season of “Wicked Geezah.” One float, titled “Donald 2024,” urged people to vote for Donald Duck. Another, labeled “The Crack Party,” took aim at Hunter Biden.

    Gary Stetson, the owner of the Farms Full Service station who was chosen as the parade’s grand marshal, said the parade is a “lifelong tradition” for many Farms residents.

    “The sense of pride is amazing,” said Stetson, who lives in Beverly but not in the Farms.

    Stetson drove in the parade in his 1935 red Chevy, with his three young grandsons packed in with him and gleefully pressing on the horn.

    “I look around and a lot of these people are my customers and my friends,” Stetson said. “They say you’re not a Farmer unless you were born and raised here. But I feel like a Farmer today for sure.”

    Neil Stanton, who lives in Beverly Farms, said he thought the floats were funny, particularly the one that promoted Donald Duck for president and another that chided Marbleheaders for opposing leaf blowers.

    Nancy Bourque, who lives in Ryal Side, called many of the floats “hysterical,” while acknowledging, “You kind of go in blushing almost.”

    “You’ve got to come with an open mind, a good sense of humor and expect anything,” Bourque said.

    Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.

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    By Paul Leighton | Staff Writer

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  • PHOTOS: Coal Creek Canyon Fourth of July celebration

    PHOTOS: Coal Creek Canyon Fourth of July celebration

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    Ember Tinsley, 3, left, smiles at her friend Ruby Rae Mitchell, 4, while playing together in front of a classic 1955 Buick Century during the Coal Creek Canyon Fourth of July celebration at Coal Creek Community Center on Thursday, July 4, 2024. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)

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    Zachary Spindler-Krage

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  • PHOTOS: The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches on

    PHOTOS: The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches on

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    On Saturday morning, March 16, 2024, thousands of parade goers flocked to lower downtown Denver to enjoy the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade which had over 120 floats and entries that featured dancers, marching bands, dignitaries, police and fire departments, clowns, car clubs and many other organizations.

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    Andy Cross

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  • High-flying balloon characters star in Thanksgiving parade

    High-flying balloon characters star in Thanksgiving parade

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    NEW YORK (AP) — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the holiday season during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    The annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.

    Children balanced atop metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.

    “Blue, Blue. There’s Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.

    The youngster was referring to the star of the animated show “Blue’s Clues” — not to be confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian cattle pup making her parade debut.

    Bluey’s balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.

    Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.

    But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.

    “It’s one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John Wopperer.

    It was the first time the father and son had seen the parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.

    Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.

    This year’s parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 clowns and one Santa Claus.

    The procession of characters were joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues & You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles.

    Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg. Jimmy Fallon & The Roots were on a float celebrating Central Park.

    President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first responders, saying, “They never take a break.”

    They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.

    Asked about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking first responders.

    In Plymouth, Massachusetts, the English settlement founded by the Pilgrims who arrived on the Mayflower, two annual events were being held to embrace “all aspects” of the holiday, town officials said.

    Costumed participants were re-enacting their annual Thanksgiving Day “Pilgrim Progress” procession, representing the 51 survivors of that first brutal winter of 1621 — although Thursday’s crew had better conditions, with sunny skies and temperatures in the 40s.

    There also was a “National Day of Mourning” honoring indigenous ancestors and protesting against racism and oppression. “We are not vanquishing, We are not conquered, We are as strong as ever,” a sign behind the speakers read.

    ___

    Associated Press reporters Deepti Hajela and Kathy McCormack contributed to this story.

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  • High-flying balloon characters star in Thanksgiving parade

    High-flying balloon characters star in Thanksgiving parade

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    NEW YORK — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the holiday season during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

    The annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.

    Children balanced atop metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.

    “Blue, Blue. There’s Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.

    The youngster was referring to the star of the animated show “Blue’s Clues” — not to be confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian cattle pup making her parade debut.

    Bluey’s balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.

    Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.

    But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.

    “It’s one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John Wopperer.

    It was the first time the father and son had seen the parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.

    Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.

    This year’s parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 clowns and one Santa Claus.

    The procession of characters were joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues & You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles.

    Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s “Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg. Jimmy Fallon & The Roots were on a float celebrating Central Park.

    President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first responders, saying, “They never take a break.”

    They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.

    Asked about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking first responders.

    ———

    Associated Press reporter Deepti Hajela contributed to this story.

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  • North Carolina holiday parade float crash injures 1 person

    North Carolina holiday parade float crash injures 1 person

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — A holiday parade in North Carolina was canceled on Saturday after a truck pulling a float crashed and injured at least one person, news outlets reported.

    Witnesses told WTVD-TV that people attending the Raleigh Christmas Parade heard the truck’s driver screaming that he had lost control of the vehicle and couldn’t stop it before the crash.

    One person was taken to a hospital by ambulance, The News and Observer reported.

    The person struck by the float had been participating in the parade, a Raleigh Police Department news release says. Police advised drivers and pedestrians to avoid the area.

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  • North Carolina holiday parade float crash injures 1 person

    North Carolina holiday parade float crash injures 1 person

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — A holiday parade in North Carolina was canceled on Saturday after a truck pulling a float crashed and injured at least one person, news outlets reported.

    Witnesses told WTVD-TV that people attending the Raleigh Christmas Parade heard the truck’s driver screaming that he had lost control of the vehicle and couldn’t stop it before the crash.

    One person was taken to a hospital by ambulance, The News and Observer reported.

    The person struck by the float had been participating in the parade, a Raleigh Police Department news release says. Police advised drivers and pedestrians to avoid the area.

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