If a gathering of more than 500 Santas, Mrs. Clauses, elves and even reindeer are not enough to mesmerize a throng of visitors in Gatlinburg, how about a glorious parade highlighting the Jolly Old Elf?
The second annual “Holly & Shamrock Parade – the Meeting of St. Nicholas and St. Patrick” will be hosted by the City of Gatlinburg on the downtown Parkway at mid-afternoon on Saturday, March 13, 2010.
Since Celebrate Santa – a convention of Santas and his helpers will be at the Gatlinburg Convention Center already, the City felt they should parade the jolly elves and their entourage in a very public way. So out come the floats, carriages, decorated wagons, giant helium balloons, bands and singers to help these happy St. Nick’s to party with the Irish!
St. Patrick and his leprechauns will meet St. Nicholas and his elves in an event that is expected to draw as many as 40,000 spectators to the beautiful Smoky Mountains town.  The city is pulling out all the stops as it does with its nationally famous Fourth of July and Christmas Parades and putting their experience and expertise into yet another magical event.
A veritable explosion of red and green will once again parade down the center of Gatlinburg with llamas, reindeer, carolers and even an All-Santa Band. A variety of Santas and Mrs. Clauses will be marching down the street passing out goodies, riding on floats and motorcycles, singing in wagons, holding giant inflatable shamrocks and holly, waving from trolleys, and more.