Thanksgiving is a national holiday, the quintessential American holiday. Right? The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621 at the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. Well, if you’re lucky enough to live near a city with a grand parade, congratulations. But here’s the thing, nearly every major Thanksgiving parade in the U.S. occurs east of the Mississippi! No kidding, the only major parade route open to Westerners sits in Houston. We’ll cover the rest of the West later, but here’s a quick update on the best official Thanksgiving parades in the country for 2024. Parade routes can change, so make sure you get the latest directions from your favorite airport shuttle service, GO Airport Shuttle.
It all started in 1924 staged for Macy’s, the “biggest store in the land.” If you’re into anniversaries, they’re going all out for their 100th. (Although tied for second oldest with Detroit.)
This year the same route down Broadway from 77th to 34th sets off Thursday morning at 8:30 AM. New giant inflatables this year are Minnie Mouse, Dragon Ball Hero Goku, Dora the Explorer, and Spider Man, along with cultural favorites like Ronald McDonald and Sponge Bob Squarepants. (I doubt whether the Liberty Mutual guy will show up.)
Officially, they say 25 balloons, 33 floats,11 marching bands, and 28 clown crews (think clowns dressed as car wash attendants, breakfast foods, alphabet blocks, or funny bones, for example) not to mention the world famous Rockettes. Celebrities include Idina Menzel, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, and the Temptations.
A new innovation, the “balloonicle”, makes an appearance. Be on the lookout for it. Let the Holiday shopping season begin!
For the full menu of events, march here.
Ben Franklin would be pleased. Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Celebration (the nation’s oldest at 105) runs down the parkway named for him and up to the steps of Rocky Balboa’s statue at the Museum of Art.
Officially titled the “6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Parade,” it’s hosted by local ABC Channel 6 celebrities, as well as network favorites Ryan Seacrest, Vanna White, and Kelly Rippa, with hometown TV well knowns, Susan Noles from the Golden Bachelorette and Lisa Ann Walter from Abbott Elementary.
For entertainment, you’ll catch We’ Ami from American Idol, Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love, Mark Wahlberg and the Funky Bunch, Sister Sledge, and the Sharpe Family Singers. Local talent featuring both the Philadelphia Ballet and Orchestra, plus many school choirs, auto clubs, marching bands, and student dance troupes.
And you can start your morning with free coffee in the “Dunkin’ Zone.” There are also Holiday activities all around City Hall following the parade. Ben would be so happy!
See all the Philly party plans right here.
Not to be out done, The Second City boasts the #2 Rated Thanksgiving Parade in the U.S., according to Time Out magazine. And besides, it starts earlier, at 8 AM (CT) and runs for 3 hours!
Originally begun as the “Christmas Caravan” in 1934, Chicago’s Thanksgiving Parade is billed as capturing “the spirit and unity of our community.” So, in addition to helium balloons squeaking under the Chicago “L” tracks on the parade route down State Street, you’ll find entertainers like Lynn Whitfield, from the Josephine Baker Story, and Reyna Roberts, as well as a large assortment of the city’s cultural diversity, from Ballet Folklorico to Korean Performing Arts.
And, if you can’t show up in person, the whole event will be live-streamed on PlutoTV, including the several equestrian units.
Here’s the latest info on all the Chicago Holiday action.
The 40-year old Ameren “Thanks-for-Giving Parade” lets people make contributions to replenish local food banks for the Holiday season. All gifts up to $200,000 will be doubled!
The parade also features a marching bands competition, with awards going to the Top 5 — so you‘ll see the best local majorettes and batons twirlers. The parade is scheduled to have 120 units, ending in Washington Square Park, one of the finest city parks there is. Along the parade route is the Free Speech Zone, so who knows what subjects might come up.
You’ll find the full list of St. Louis Holiday activities here.
Plan early for Charlotte: the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade kicks off at 5:45 PM Wednesday, November 27. That’s right, the day before Thanksgiving and at night. It runs down Uptown Avenue ending at Good Samaritan Way, of course.
At least 10 marching bands and 5 dance groups will appear, including the XLNC “Force of Phillip” and the DREAM Drill Team. Telly Award winner Presley Aronson, plus Austin McNeil and Ana Rae will entertain. Bring your lawn chair and food/drink and enjoy. For the latest schedule of events, check here.
Houston remembers the Olympics. This year’s H-E-B Thanksgiving Parade Grand Marshall is nine-time Gold medal winner, Carl Lewis, showcasing many Houston Olympians, who competed in the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics. The parade goes around the downtown area, so you’ll have multiply spots for catching the scene.
Besides many Texas-size floats and balloons, you’ll see the Apache Belles dancing troupe, the Escaramuza Rebeldes horse riders, and the Star Wars Alliance. Don’t miss Holly, the Jolly Trolley and the Steel Heels, an all female motorcycle club.
For up-to-the-minute H-E-B Parade news, follow here.
The Motor City is not a sit-around-and-eat-all-day Thanksgiving town. The route for America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White Fund runs for nearly 3 miles down Woodward Avenue. Along the way, marchers pass the Detroit Institute of The Arts and Comerica Park.
Not only featuring a huge selection of parade float regulars, the famous Detroit Big Heads will appear, the world’s largest collection of large paper-mache parading heads. You’ll find many favorite faces. You can start out the day with the “nation’s largest Thanksgiving morning run” and then roll over to the traditional Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers football game at Ford Field.
This year’s Grand Marshall was still TBD, find out more here.
Get ready for some real history. America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade is billed as “America’s only historically accurate chronological parade.” Oddly enough, it’s scheduled for the weekend before Thanksgiving, starting with a Friday evening concert, Saturday morning parade stepping off near Plymouth Rock, and ending with a huge party down at the waterfront historic village (home of the Mayflower II).
Beautifully decorated parade floats celebrate many periods of American history: D-Day, Apollo II, the Celtics 18th NBA Championship, as well as the 250th Anniversary of the moving of the Plymouth Rock to its more honored location. Don’t miss the Pilgrims’ Hall Museum, with William Bradford’s bible.
Plan your own Plymouth landing here.
Think food, family, football and fun. What else would you expect in New Orleans for Thanksgiving?
There’ll be a parade with marching bands, military units, floats and performance groups like the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club (NO’s oldest) marching from the Superdome to the French Market. Next the Battle of the Bands, a precursor to the Bayou Classic football matchup later in the day between Grambling State and Southern University.
And, of course, nearly every restaurant in town will be open for a Thanksgiving Feast ‘Nawlins-style. Get the scoop here.
Okay, one last official parade; as long as you’re on the East coast. What’s unusual about Stamford’s Downtown Parade Spectacular is that is occurs on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 24. There’s a large selection of floats and balloons, Daniel Tiger, Elmo, Kung Fu Panda and Mr. Potato.Head among them. The legendary daredevil and comedian Bello Nock will show up. And the emcee will be Colin Cosell, the PA announcer for the New York Mets.
But here’s what’s different: on Saturday November 23 from 3 to 6 pm they’re having the Point 72 Great Balloon Inflation party. If you’ve ever wondered how those characters get so big, now’s your chance. Find out more spectacular details here.
West of the Mississippi
It’s not that Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated out West, but there are few big typical parades in sight. Here’s a quick rundown of the kinds of un-parade things you can look for across this great swath of America:
Los Angeles—a big Turkey Trot race, illuminated garden walks, the Hollywood Christmas Parade and the Gentle Barn’s Thanksgiving Cuddle, where you can hug real live turkeys
San Francisco—another Turkey Trot and sunrise at Alcatraz for an Indigenous Peoples of America celebration
Portland—tree-lighting ceremonies all over town
Seattle— the Seattle Center Winterfest and a Christmas Ship Festival with cruises around Puget Sound
Denver—the Cherry Creek North Winter Wanderland and a Mile High Drone Show every night at 7 PM until December 31
San Diego—the Surfin’ Santa Arrival at Seaport Village on November 30
Dallas—you’ll have to wait until the first Saturday in December for their Holiday Parade
Heading to one of these cities? We GO to all of them!
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