Salute 2 America Parade
The Salute 2 America Parade was an annual
In recent years, the
The parade, which had been produced for WSB-TV by Argonne Parades since 1981, began in 1961 and ended its run in 2007. It ran south on Peachtree Street, then briefly northwest on Marietta Street, ending at Centennial Olympic Park. The latter part of the route was used since at least 2005. An estimated 250,000 people came to watch the parade each year, with another estimated 350,000 watching at home.
Archival recordings of the parade from as early as 1958 are held by the Walter J. Brown Media Archives at the University of Georgia as part of the WSB-TV Collection.
Other events on the day include
In 2008, no parade was held; instead, a Salute 2 America Celebration stage presentation was performed; this parade, along with the fireworks presentation at Lenox Square, continues annually as of 2011.
Celebrities and performers
2006
- Bobby Cox (grand marshal, Atlanta Braves coach)
- Kimberly McCullough, Jason Thompson (grand marshals, General Hospital actors)
- Jennifer Berry (grand marshal, Miss America 2006)
- U.S. national anthem)
- Diana DeGarmo (singer, local American Idol finalist)
- GEICO Gecko, Atlanta Hawks Harry the Hawk, Atlanta Falcons Freddie Falcon (mascots)
- bands
- Oscar the Grouch and Uncle Sam balloons
- Eiffel Tower balloon on Louvre Atlanta float, Centennial Olympic Park 10th-anniversary float
- WSB-TV personalities, including Clark Howard and several others
External links
- WSB-TV official parade info[permanent dead link]
- WSB-TV parade history
- WSB-TV Videotape Collection at UGA