Getting jealous of hearing all about the Thanksgiving talk coming from our neighbours to the South? Canadians are blessed with an earlier Thanksgiving every year, but that doesn’t stop our mouths from watering every time it’s the Americans turn. And as much as we love our Canadian version of the holiday, the US steps it up a notch with parades and the whole shebang.
Of course, if you really want to get some extra Thanksgiving fun, you could take a trip down to one of the bigger celebratory towns and see what these parades are all about. Here are a few notable ones that will make you feel like a true ‘Merican.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (New York City, New York)et’s start with the most obvious choice. If you’re looking for the best Thanksgiving experience ever, there is no other competition. That is not meant to insult any of the other great cities on this list, but I’m they’d agree—New York City’s celebration is on another level. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the biggest show in town and this year it will be celebrating its 90th anniversary. Beyond that, New York at this time of year is pretty special. While crowded, the early Christmas atmosphere is contagious and you’ll be swept up in the season in no time. It can, however, be a bit on the expensive side. So for more low-key and affordable destination, let’s move on.
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade (Chicago, Illinois)
If you like everything that New York City has to offer as a Thanksgiving vacation, but miss it was on a smaller scale, Chicago is a solid alternative. This is actually one of the closets competitors with the Big Apple as a holiday getaway. And its McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade is no slouch either, bringing in thousands of competitors and truly impressive floats. Beyond that, one of the most unique aspects of the city this time of year in the massive outdoor German Christmas spots in the Christkindlmarket.
America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade (Plymouth, Massachusetts)
What better place to celebrate the holiday than in the place where it originated? And this parade reflects that level of pride. While not a massive event like you’d find in New York or Chicago, you might be surprised what this quaint, patriotic town can pull off. The waterfront setting gives a nice atmosphere and the entire proceedings are kept lively and moving with live bands.
America’s Thanksgiving Parade (Detroit, Michigan)
Like the Macy’s parade, this will be the 90th undertaking of Detroit’s own holiday parade. Each year thousands of spectators line historic Woodward Avenue to see the live acts, floats and special performers coming down the street. This is more of a classic-feel with the majority of the parade occupied by massive helium balloon characters and fantastic marching bands. It’s a throw-back event worth seeking out.
Annual H-E-B Holiday Parade (Houston, Texas)
Another big city parade but with a different feel than New York or Chicago. The warmer climate doesn’t do anything to deflect the celebratory mood of the season with everybody getting into the holiday spirit just fine. And if you thought the Southern charm of it all might make for a more subdued show, think again. This parade pulls out all the stops to prove the theory that everything is bigger in Texas.