Mardi Gras Parade returns on Sunday, February 19

Out Of This World fun returns to downtown Asheville Sunday, February 19.

Times and Routes

12:00 p.m. Line up and float assembly begins on Southside Avenue between Biltmore and Short Coxe Avenue

3:05 p.m. Traditional Step Off

The parade will enter Coxe Ave. at the intersection of Southside. The route takes the parade north on Coxe Ave. and wraps along the streets of Buxton Ave. and Banks Ave. before returning to Southside Ave. to disassemble.

Street Closures

Streets along the parade route will formally close to vehicle traffic at 10:00 a.m. Sunday and reopen once clean-up is complete, about 6:00 p.m. Closures will include:

Southside Ave. between Biltmore and Short Coxe Ave.

Coxe Ave. between Banks Avenue and Southside Ave. (Coxe Ave. between Hilliard Ave. and Banks Ave. will be limited to local traffic only.)

Banks Ave.

Buxton Ave.

Millard Ave.

Collier Ave. between Banks Ave, and Millard Ave.

S. Church & S. Lexington between Banks Ave. and Southside Ave.

Parking

All on-street parking along the parade route will be closed on Sunday. Towing will be enforced. The City’s bright yellow NO PARKING signs will go up along the route on Friday as advance notice of the Sunday closure.

Those who park in private lots within the area of closure should plan accordingly. Drivers, local business owners, and residents going to private parking lots will be allowed access until the parade begins but should keep in mind that roads will not reopen to exit the area until after the parade cleanup is complete.

Planning ahead for parking is strongly recommended. Parking garages within easy walking distance are the Biltmore Avenue/Aloft Hotel parking garage at 60 S. Lexington Ave. and the Coxe Avenue parking garage at 40 Coxe Ave.

Transit

We do not anticipate any impacts to ART services as a result of parade closures this year!