Staff report

SALISBURY — Tim Elliott, twice voted by fans as Male Country Artist of the Year in the Carolina Music Awards, will be part of the entertainment for the second edition of the Tis the Season Spectacular Parade.

The parade will start in Spencer at 2 p.m. Nov. 27 (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving); and in Salisbury at 3 p.m.

Reserved seating is available for purchase online at www.tistheseasonspectacular.com, or by calling 704-638-3100.

Elliott, who grew up in the mountains near Boone, has had several singles do well on the country music charts and is a favorite on iTunes and Spotify playlists.

On stage, he is known to be a high-energy, crowd-pleasing performer who plays several instruments, including guitar, mandolin, banjo and keyboards. His music is heavily influenced by classic country and bluegrass, though he has done pop cover songs from the likes of Bruno Mars.

So far, Elliott is part of a 117-entry lineup whose other entertainers and special guests will include Miss North Carolina Jane Axhoj, Carolina Panthers’ mascot Sir Purr, Salisbury Swing Band, Divided by Four, Mariachi Los Gavilanes, The Moonglows, and the team members and coaches of the Rowan County Girls Little League Softball World Series Champions.

The grand marshals include the presidents of Salisbury’s four institutions of higher learning: Dr. Carol Spalding of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Dr. Jimmy Jenkins of Livingstone College, Brien Lewis of Catawba College and Dr. Vergel Lattimore of Hood Theological Seminary.

The parade will have nine marching bands, including for the first time the North Hills Christian School Marching Band and the Vance High School Marching Band.

Returning bands are Livingstone College and the North Rowan, Salisbury, Jesse Carson, East Rowan, South Rowan and Independence high school marching bands.

Miss North Carolina will be joined on her Holiday Court float by the homecoming kings and queens from local high schools.

Roaming the parade route in addition to Sir Purr will be the new mascot from the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, the Chic-fil-A cows, the Arey family unicyclers and pirates representing the Scoundrels of the Sea.

In all, the parade will have 22 professional floats, 20 non-professional floats and five dance companies.

There also will be horse-drawn carriages and a 30-horse riding entry. Other things to look for will be go-karts, convertibles, trolleys, antique cars and firetrucks, dinosaurs, Barbie and — at the end of the parade — Santa Claus.

Elected officials who will participate include the Rowan County Board of Commissioners, Salisbury City Council, Spencer Board of Aldermen, East Spencer Board of Aldermen and Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten.

Food Lion is the Tis the Season Spectacular Star Sponsor; Wallace & Graham is the Sleigh Bells Sponsor.

Other sponsors by category include the following:

• Mistletoe — Cathy Griffin Century 21 Towne and Country, F&M Bank, GCS, Griffin Guitars, Sharonview Federal Credit Union and New Sarum Brewery.

• Santa’s Helpers — Avita Pharmacy and the N.C. Transportation Museum.

• Friends of the Parade: Susan and Edward Norvell, David Post, Godley’s Garden Center, Miller Davis, Venue Services/Virtual Sounds and WSAT.