The Best Thanksgiving Parades in the Country

 In Lifestyle

Each year, we can count on a few traditions to take us through the Thanksgiving holiday season. If you’re not around a TV on Thanksgiving morning, it might be easy to forget one tried-and-true tradition that’s been happening for nearly a hundred years: the Thanksgiving parade. Here are some parades worth checking out as you get ready for the rest of your Thanksgiving day.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, NY

If you’ve watched any Thanksgiving parades on TV, chances are you’ve seen the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s by far the most popular Thanksgiving parade, and plenty of families across the country make a point to tune in each Thanksgiving morning to catch the countless parade marchers and the enormous balloon floats. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been going strong since 1924 and shows no signs of stopping. If you’re not sure which Thanksgiving parade to watch, the Macy’s parade will be your best bet.

America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, MI

It’s no secret that Detroit has been through some rough times in recent years, but there’s still some optimism to be found in its annual America’s Thanksgiving Parade. The parade has been running down the city’s main street, Woodward Avenue, since 1924 – the same year that Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade premiered. While this parade may not quite match the sheer spectacle of the Macy’s parade, you can still expect tons of floats and participants.

America’s Hometown Thanksgiving in Plymouth, MA

When you attend (or tune in to) a Thanksgiving parade, you probably know what to expect: floats, music, and performers. America’s Hometown Thanksgiving parade in Plymouth has all of that, but seeing as the town has a rich history and is said to be the site of the first Thanksgiving, tis parade skews toward the historical. Floats tell the history of the United States, from the colonial period of the 1600s to the present, offering not just some good Thanksgiving entertainment, but a history lesson, too.

H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade in Houston, TX

Many of us associate the end-of-year holiday season with cold weather, so it can be a little odd to see participants in the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade marching around in short-sleeved uniforms. Yes, Thanksgiving and the rest of the holidays still happen in Texas, snow or not, which means there has to be a parade packed full of floats and entertainment to go along with them. Santa Claus’ appearance at the end of the parade may not quite gel with his snowless surroundings, but that won’t stop you from being jealous of the parade bystanders who get to watch the show in T-shirts.

6abc Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, PA

If you thought Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and America’s Thanksgiving Parade had a long history, take another look – Philadelphia’s annual Thanksgiving parade, which began in 1920, has four years on the other two parades. While the parade has changed names through the years–it’s been sponsored by IKEA, MasterCard, and more–it never fails to delight its audience with a wide array of colorful floats. So, while the parade stands on its own entertaining merits, it’s worth tuning in to for the history alone.

A good Thanksgiving parade makes for a great Thanksgiving tradition, so why not turn on the TV (or point your web browser to an online stream) to check one out? Better yet, if watching on the TV isn’t quite enough, you could always look for local parades to attend. While a real-life parade might not offer the comforts of home, the entertainment is bound to be larger than life!

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