Children’s Christmas parade to close major Midtown roads this weekend

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus wave to the crowd during the Children's Christmas Parade Saturday, December 03, 2016, in Atlanta.

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Credit: Steve Schaefer

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus wave to the crowd during the Children's Christmas Parade Saturday, December 03, 2016, in Atlanta.

The Children's Christmas Parade is a huge production that needs a lot of room. We're talking marching bands, massive helium balloons and floats making a holiday procession down Peachtree Street in Midtown.

As such, multiple streets will close for hours during the free event on Saturday. The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta parade route begins at 16th Street and ends at 5th Street.

Portions of roads that intersect Peachtree Street will be closed during various hours throughout the day. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m., but the stretch of Peachtree Street between 10th and 14th streets will be closed the longest: from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Note: The parade can be accessed via the MARTA Arts Center and Midtown train stations.

During the parade — whether you watch in person or on WSB — look out for a bunch of clowns. That'll be the Distinguished Clown Corps, a group of local business executives who march the parade route each year to raise money for CHOA.

One such clown will be Mark Herbert, president and CEO of Incentive Solutions.

“It’s a worthy cause that benefits pediatric care facilities for children here in our own backyard,” Herbert said in a press release. “The smiles we put on these great kids’ faces by spreading holiday cheer brings me back to this amazing event, now for the eighth straight year."

Herbert has reached more than $2,745 of a $4,500 fundraising goal. You can donate here through Friday.

READ: Annual Spelman-Morehouse Christmas concerts happening this weekend

READ: Lenox Square's Santa photo schedule for Christmas 2018

READ: SEC Championship Game: What you can bring into Mercedes-Benz Stadium

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