While Thanksgiving is about food, family and friends, parades are also a big part of the holiday. Kids and older ones will enjoy the marching bands, colors, costumes. While parades can be fun to watch, it is important to remember some safety rules during these events. If a parade is too crowded, consider watching it from the comfort of your home. We don’t want you to get hurt. We just want you to have fun. Here are some of the best Thanksgiving Day parades in the U.S.
The Best Thanksgiving Day Parades in the U.S.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade-
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in New York City, New York and is probably one of the most popular ones around. It is estimated that over 3.5 million people head to New York City each year to watch the parade, making it not only one of the largest in the U.S. but the oldest as well. In addition, over 50 million people across the U.S. watch the parade from their homes. The Macy’s parade is filled with talented marching bands, colorful floats and favorite character giant balloons.
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America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade-
America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade is held in Plymouth, Massachusetts. History has it that the very first Thanksgiving meal was held in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621, making Plymouth the ideal spot for a historic parade. The parade takes place along Main Street and features floats that represent important parts of the story of America. The floats are displayed in chronological order from the 17th century to today. This parade is not held on Thanksgiving Day but instead takes place the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The music of the parade is done by military bands as well as drum and bugle corps.
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade-
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in Chicago, Illinois from State Street to Congress Street to Randolph Street. The leaders of this amazing parade are the elephants from the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The McDonald’s parade also features huge balloons that many kids will recognize like Ronald McDonald, Kermit the Frog and Cookie Monster as well as festive and colorful floats. This parade is also broadcast nationally so you can watch from home.
America’s Thanksgiving Parade-
America’s Thanksgiving Parade is held in Detroit, Michigan that starts on Woodward Avenue and finishes on Congress Street. The parade features decorated floats and huge helium balloons. One favorite part of the parade is ‘Big Heads.’ These are paper-mache items that look like bobbleheads with a costume and represent funny animals, silly clown, famous legends and world cultures.
Did you attend one of these parades in Thanksgiving? Which one? Tell me in the comment section.
I’ve only heard/seen the Macy’s day parade. Never knew that other places around the US did big parades too! It would be neat to see them :)
I had no clue about some of these parades. The McDonald’s one sounds like fun.
Thanksgiving Parades are so interesting & full of fun & excitement, but I never had a chance to attend one such even before. I would love to attend one at McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade hopefully this year.
We watch the Macy’s Day Parade from home every year. I had no idea there were so many other parades on Thanksgiving. I will have to check them out, too.
I have always wanted to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. It would be so much fun to see in person.
Parades always look so fun. I have always wanted to take the kids to one in person. I would love to see the big balloon floats in person.
We are in Canada so we get the joy of watching from home on tv. We always watch your Macy’s parade and my kids just think its the most amazing thing they’ve ever seen!
I think NYC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving parade is one of the best. Then again, I might be a little biased since I’m from NY.
We live close to Chicago, but haven’t been to see it live. I’d definitely like to visit that one or Macy’s in person some day.
The Macy’s parade is the best, hands down.
I have never attended any Thanksgiving Day parade before. I think it’d be fun though :)
I have only heard about the Macy’s parade. I would love to see them all and travel to these cities for the holiday some year. It would be fun.
This is really sounds fun. I want to visit there and for sure my family would also have fun.
Oh how fun. I really wan to go one year. I bet the grils will enjoy it so much.
These do sound great! Seeing the Macy’s one would be awesome since I’ve seen snippets on TV for so long.
I would totally love to be able to watch a parade in the US they seem absolutely amazing! x
I had only heard of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade! I love parades so I would love to see these someday.
I have never heard of any of these, but I can tell you that you missed one – Plymouth, MA. They have an awesome parade and they are the home of the FIRST Thanksgiving after all.
As a former New Yorker, it’s hard to imagine any parade other than the Macy’s one! It’s such a tradition in our house.