America’s Thanksgiving Parade Celebrates 100 Years

Here, we present some photos and facts on the century-old tradition.
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Big Bird towers over Woodward Avenue for America鈥檚 Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White. // Photograph courtesy of The Parade Company.

One hundred years ago on Nov. 27, 1924, the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade (now known as America鈥檚 Thanksgiving Parade) first took place on Woodward Avenue. And thus began a beloved holiday tradition of families bundling up in the cold in downtown Detroit to watch colorful themed floats, clowns, and marching bands pass by while waiting for the arrival of Santa Claus at the conclusion, when he receives the key to the city from the mayor.

Chances are you鈥檝e been to the parade (attendance has reached in the hundreds of thousands), but how much do you really know about it? Here are five facts we鈥檇 like to parade out in honor of one of Detroit鈥檚 grandest and oldest traditions.

    1. Founded by the J.L. Hudson鈥檚 Department store, the first parade took place at the same time Macy鈥檚 inaugurated its Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.
    2. A store-sponsored Thanksgiving parade originated in the United States with Philadelphia鈥檚 Gimbel Bros. department store in 1920. However, reportedly, Charles F. Wendel, the display manager at the J.L. Hudson Co. who conceived of the Detroit parade, was first inspired by Eaton鈥檚 Santa Claus Parade in Toronto, which began in 1905.
    3. Detroit鈥檚 first Thanksgiving parade featured horses pulling 10 nursery rhyme-themed floats, led by one decorated with Mother Goose; four Hudson鈥檚 employees wearing large papier m芒ch茅 heads made in Italy; seven high school marching bands; and the arrival of Santa Claus.
    4. The parade was the first broadcast locally on radio station WWJ in 1931 and first televised locally in 1948, and in 1952, began broadcasting the event nationally. It was later featured on CBS and ABC.
    5. Due to the shortages of materials during World War II, the parade was suspended in 1942 and 1944 but returned in 1945 when nearly 100,000 thrilled spectators lined the Woodward parade route once again. The two-year suspension is why this year鈥檚 parade is called the 98th annual.

Looking for details on America鈥檚 Thanksgiving Parade 2024, visit hourdetroit.com for more.听


This story originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of 糖心vlog安卓版. To read more, pick up a copy of 糖心vlog安卓版 Detroit at a local retail outlet. Our will be available on Nov. 6.