Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade Preview: What to Know About the Route, Parking, Tickets and More
Jake Newby
| 3 min read
All eyes will be on Detroit when the 98th annual America’s Thanksgiving Parade® rolls through the city Thursday, Nov. 28.
Attended by tens of thousands of people each year and broadcast nationally to millions of viewers, the festive parade features floats, marching bands and live entertainment from Midtown to downtown.
The route begins at Kirby and Woodward Ave. at 8:45 a.m. The approximate 90-minute march south features “three miles of smiles,” as the parade winds through Grand River and Woodward. This portion of the parade will be broadcast live on WDIV Local 4 from 10 a.m. until noon. The parade officially ends at Congress and Woodward. View the entire route at this link.
BCBSM unveiling special float at America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
To celebrate 40 years sponsoring the parade, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will unveil a new float that illustrates how employees across the state are providing “around-the-clock health care” for members. The theme will be “A Better State of Health.” Here are some fun facts about this year’s BCBSM float:
- The three-layered float will feature more than a dozen cartoon characters wearing Blue Cross identification cards and depicting living a healthy lifestyle. For example, characters are walking their dog or eating fruits and vegetables.
- The float will feature the “A Better State of Health” sign that moves up and down.
- The float’s second unit features three signature Blue Cross buildings from Grand Rapids, Lansing and downtown Detroit.
- The third unit includes a large clock that represents the “around-the-clock health care” available with Blue Cross.
- There will be more than two dozen larger-than-life, hand-sculpted clocks that make-up the clock tower, which soars 25 feet in the air and tips back to go under the People Mover. The health care symbols surrounding the feature clock spin clockwise.
- The mechanism used to tilt the clock tower is a 2,000-pound hoist.
Ahead of his retirement at the end of this year, BCBSM President and CEO Daniel J. Loepp will serve as the grand marshal for the parade, along with national sportscaster Mike Tirico and U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Loepp achieved many milestone accomplishments over his more than two decades of leadership, highlighted by his efforts to successfully transform BCBSM into a nonprofit mutual insurance company.
Parade ticket information, parking availability and other info for live guests
Tickets for America’s Thanksgiving Parade range from $60 to $70 per person and can be purchased online by filling out this grandstand ticket order form. Online registration closes at midnight Nov. 26. Completed grandstand ticket order forms can be faxed to 313-923-2920 or emailed to grandstands@theparade.org.
Parking usually sells out quickly; so, booking in advance is advised. The ParkWhiz website offers advanced booking options. The Parade Company, which is the foundation division that oversees parade operations and marketing activities, has other parking recommendations and road closure information on its website.
Those buying tickets should also be aware of these notes and rules, courtesy of the Parade Company:
- One child under the age of 2 will be admitted per purchased ticket; however, the child must remain on the lap of the paid ticket holder.
- Only small bags will be allowed in the grandstands. Security will be present and may inspect your bag.
- Strollers, wagons, bicycles, wheelies, skateboards, scooters and hover boards are not allowed in the grandstands.
- No umbrellas or signage are allowed in the grandstands.
- Neither smoking nor vaping is allowed in the grandstands.
- No pets (except for properly sanctioned service animals) are allowed in the grandstands.
- For your safety, standing against the barricade in front of your grandstand is prohibited.
Photo credit: Michael Miller/BCBSM
