With a healthy mix of fun and holiday spirit, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade showcased some of the best groups in the area Saturday.

Kathryn Erickson, a teacher at Carrboro High School, says she drove from Durham to support her students.

The Carrboro High School band played in their very first holiday parade this year.

The parade started at 10 a.m. near the Morehead Planetarium and ran down Franklin Street into Carrboro.

While there were a few newcomers to the parade, several old favorites like the “Heelraiser” delighted the spectators.  John Snipes, the owner of the “Heelraiser” says this is one of his favorite parades.

New City Councilmember Penny Rich has seen many parades, but this is her first as an elected official.  She says she is excited to represent the citizens of Chapel Hill.

By all accounts, this year’s holiday parade succeeded in bringing holiday cheer to observers and participants alike.