2019 Grand Marshal - Don "Big Weather" Schwenneker
Honored with two Associated Press Awards for Best Weathercast, Don Schwenneker is a meteorologist for ABC 11 Eyewitness News in the morning. He holds the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist seal from the American Meteorological Society, as well as a Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association.
Don joined Eyewitness News in Raleigh from Chicago in 2011. He gained his meteorological certification from Mississippi State University.
Don is married and has three children. His late stepdad was a full-blooded son of St. Patrick. Other than Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day was the biggest holiday in his house as he grew up. St. Paddy's is also the day Don met his wife, Kim. This year will mark the 25th St. Patrick's Day in their life together!