The 27th Annual Fayetteville Rotary Club Christmas Parade returns to downtown Fayetteville on Saturday, Dec. 12th, to celebrate the holiday season. It will be led by 2026 Grand Marshal, Fayetteville native, Gavin Williams, starting Major League Baseball pitcher for Cleveland Guardians, the 2026 American League Central Division champions.
“There’s nothing quite like seeing downtown Fayetteville come alive with holiday spirit, and we’re excited to once again bring families together for the Rotary Christmas Parade," said Brandon Price, Rotary Christmas Parade Chair. "The parade continues to create lasting memories for generations, and we look forward to celebrating the season with our community and showcasing our outstanding residents and organizations, including this year's Grand Marshal, Gavin Williams."
Williams, a graduate of Cape Fear High School and East Carolina University, was Cleveland’s 2021 1st Round draft pick. Since making his MLB debut in 2023, Williams has 32 career wins, with a 14-8 record this season. In 11 of his 28 regular season appearances, Williams recorded double-digit strikeouts and finished the 2026 regular season leading the American League with 248 strikeouts.
In the Guardians post-season playoff game against the Chicago WhiteSox on Oct. 5th, Williams finished with 11 Ks, tied for second-most in Guardians postseason history.
Along with the Grand Marshal, entries in this year’s parade will include local marching bands, dance groups, motorcycles, horses and everyone’s favorite, Santa Claus. Also featured will be Rotary International District #7730 Governor, Shawn Braswell and Ville City Jeeps, Fayetteville’s local jeep community and the parade’s official safety partners since 2022.
The safety partners lineup between walking entries (such as dance teams, youth groups, and bands) and vehicle units. Their presence creates a protective buffer ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for more than 1,000 walking participants in the parade.
“Rotary is built on the belief that strong communities are created when people come together to serve, connect, and support one another,” said Joel Valley, 2026-27 Fayetteville Rotary Club President. “The Rotary Christmas Parade is one of the most special ways we bring that spirit to life. Seeing families line the streets, neighbors reconnect, and children experience the joy of the season reminds us of the power of coming together. We’re proud to continue this tradition and share the warmth and goodwill of the holidays with our community.”
Solely funded and organized by the Rotary Club of Fayetteville since 1999, the parade is a cherished holiday tradition. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Person Street and Liberty Point, travel around the Market House and up Hay Street to Pittman Street.
Applications for the 2026 parade are now available and will be accepted until the parade lineup reaches capacity. Applications are available at https://www.rotarychristmasparade.com/.
About Fayetteville Rotary Club
The Fayetteville Rotary Club was formed in 1920 and comes under Rotary International’s District 7730. Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 29,000 Rotary clubs in 161 countries. The Christmas Parade is one of several annual service projects that benefit the Fayetteville/Cumberland County community along with the Walker Classic Annual Family Golf Tournament which raises funds to support other community service projects and non-profit organizations.
(Photo: Cleveland Guardian pitcher and Fayetteville native Gavin Williams will be the Grand Marshall of the Fayetteville Rotary Club's 27th annual Christmas Parade. Photo courtesy of the Fayetteville Rotary Club)