America's Thanksgiving Parade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids America's Thanksgiving Parade |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Parade |
| Date(s) | Thanksgiving Day |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location(s) | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Years active | 93 |
| Inaugurated | 1924 |
| Most recent | November 28, 2019 |
| Patron(s) | The Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation (since 1982) |
| Website | theparade.org |
America's Thanksgiving Parade is a super fun yearly event in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It happens every Thanksgiving Day morning. This parade is one of the oldest Thanksgiving parades in the United States! It started way back in 1924.
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History of the Parade
The idea for this amazing parade came from Charles Wendel. He was the display director for the J.L. Hudson Company department store. He got the idea after seeing a successful Santa Claus parade in Toronto, Canada.
Charles Wendel wanted something special for the Detroit parade. So, he brought in large, cool papier-mâché heads. He had seen similar ones on a trip to Europe. These giant heads are made in Viareggio, Italy. They are still a big part of the parade today!
The parade took a break in 1943 and 1944. This was because of World War II. There weren't enough materials to put on the big show. But Hudson's brought the parade back in 1945.
Hudson's kept sponsoring the parade until 1979. Then, it became too expensive for them. The parade was then taken over by the Detroit Renaissance Foundation for a few years. In 1983, a new group called the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation took charge. They still run the parade today!
In 2020, the parade was a bit different. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no crowds watching. But the parade still happened!
What You'll See at the Parade
This parade is full of exciting things! You'll see many colorful floats and lively marching bands. There are also giant balloons floating through the sky.
The best part for many is when Santa Claus arrives! He comes at the very end of the parade. His arrival means the Christmas season is officially starting.
Two special parts of this parade are unique:
- The Big Head Corps: This is a group of people carrying those huge, awesome papier-mâché heads.
- The Distinguished Clown Corps: This group has local business and community leaders. They dress up as funny clowns!
It takes a lot of people to make the parade happen. More than 4,500 volunteers help out every year.
Watching the Parade on TV
The parade was first shared with people on the radio in 1931. It was on station WWJ.
In 1959, the parade came to television! Local stations WWJ-TV and WXYZ-TV showed it. For a while, the ABC network even showed parts of it across the country. Later, the CBS network also broadcast parts of the parade for many years.
Today, you can watch the parade on NBC-affiliate WDIV in Detroit. It's also shown on other stations around Michigan and across the U.S. You can even watch it online! Before the parade starts, there's often a preshow with music and famous performers.
The parade usually ends with the Mayor of Detroit giving Santa Claus the key to the city. This is a fun tradition!
Parade Route
Since 2014, the parade starts near the Detroit Historical Museum. It begins on Woodward Avenue, near Kirby.
The parade then travels south towards downtown Detroit. It passes by famous places like the Fox Theatre and Comerica Park. It also goes through Grand Circus Park. The parade finishes at Congress Street.
For many years, the parade used to start near the Detroit Public Library. It would end at Hudson's department store. Santa Claus would get the key to the city from the mayor there.
At one point, the parade route was moved to Second Avenue. This was because electrical wires for streetcars on Woodward Avenue were a problem for the tall floats. But the streetcars stopped running in 1956.
The Parade Foundation
The Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation started in 1982. Their job is to manage, organize, and raise money for the parade. In 1990, The Parade Company was created. It's a part of the foundation that handles how the parade runs and how it's promoted.
The Parade Company also helps with other big events. They organize the yearly Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival. They even helped plan the Stanley Cup victory parades for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team!
See Also
