The Complete Guide to the Philly Thanksgiving Parade

The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade has been an important holiday tradition for more than a century. As the nation’s oldest Thanksgiving parade, this spectacle sets the stage for all of the holiday celebrations throughout the city. And it’s a ton of fun!

The parade features a dizzying array of floats, soaring balloons, captivating musical acts, graceful dancers and cheerleaders, dynamic marching bands from around the regions and the country, and the presence of famous celebrities. It’s fun for children of all ages. We enjoy the parade and hope you enjoy our photos (and our tips for visiting).

Whether you are going to enjoy the spectacle from the comfort of your home or joining the crowds along the Ben Franklin Parkway, here’s your comprehensive guide to the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Parade.

Date and Time

The parade will be held on Thursday, November 28, 2024. The parade kick-off and television coverage begins at 8:30am ET on 6ABC and at 9:00am on the streaming platforms (more details below). The parade begins moving at 9:00am, and it takes between 2 ½ and 3 hours to wind its way through the streets.

If you are planning to go, people begin lining up and securing their spots on the route at sunrise. You’ll see people staking out their space with blankets and folding chairs well in advance.

The parade is always held on Thanksgiving Day. For planning, the future dates of the parade are:
Thursday, November 27, 2025
Thursday, November 26, 2026

Getting There

Most people drive to the Thanksgiving Parade. If you are driving, take note of the numerous street closures throughout Center City, which usually start on Wednesday evening before the parade. Expect road closures between 18^th and 22nd and between Arch Street and Chestnut Street (including Market Street and JFK Boulevard).

The best options for parking are the lots and garages at 15^th and Vine, the corner of Broad and Race Streets, or the garages near the convention center. Note: Street parking is FREE on Thanksgiving throughout the city. The best place to look for street parking is north of the parade route in Fairmount (north of Callowhill St is a good area if you are trying to watch along the Parkway).

Public transportation is another option. All modes of SEPTA run on Thanksgiving, although on a limited Sunday schedule. Theoretically, you can take the regional rail to Suburban Station or the Market-Frankford Line (MFL) to 15^th Street Station. SEPTA delays on Thanksgiving are not uncommon, which we can verify from personal experience.

Parade Route

Floats and balloons stage in the streets around 20^th and JFK Boulevard, where the parade actually starts. It continues for 1.4 miles through the streets of the city.

From 20^th and JFK, the parade heads east to 16^th street, where it turns left for a brief stretch along the side of LOVE Park. Then it turns left onto the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, where it continues up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Best Viewing Spots

One of the most popular viewing spots is at Eakins Oval in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. There’s a viewing zone, bleachers, and food and drink vendors. It can also be very crowded.

Another good location is along 16^th Street and LOVE Park where people stand five deep to get a view of the balloons and dancers. It does make a nice spot because you can take photos of the parade balloons with City Hall in the background.

If you don’t like crowds, the area at 20^th and JFK at the beginning of the parade route tends to be less crowded. Also, the area around Logan Circle, Franklin Institute, and the Parkway tends to have fewer people, mostly because of the open space for people to spread out.

One of the worst spots in our experience is in front of the Comcast Center along JFK Boulevard. Barricades make it difficult to see the parade, and security guards telling people they can’t stand there. [Note: Comcast is the owner of NBC10, the local NBC station, which competes with the parade sponsor, 6abc, which is the local ABC affiliate.]

Entertainment

Every year, the parade features an array of entertainment options. You’ll find balloons featuring Disney characters (6abc, the parade sponsor, is owned by Disney). There are cheerleaders and marching bands from local schools and some from around the country. And there are local sports mascots from the Eagles, Phillies, Union, Flyers, and 76ers.

In 2024, the parade will have musical performances by the incredible Darlene Love, tenor Mateo Bocelli, The Sugarhill Gang, 1990’s favorites The Funky Bunch, and the cast of the stage show MJ the Musical. Other celebrities include crowd favorite of Queer Eye Carson Kressley, Lisa Ann Walter from Abbot Elementary, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and many, many more. Of course there will be dozens of marching bands, dance troops and thousands of local students – who are always stars.

In past years, there have also been famous celebrities from Philly and notable A-listers. Past participants have included Quinta Brunson, Smokey Robinson, Carli Lloyd, Carson Kressley, Debbie Gibson, Ruben Studdard, Amy Grant, C + C Music Factory, and Miss America. Each year, the celebrity lineup is usually announced last minute (usually a few days or weeks before the parade itself).

And no Thanksgiving parade would be complete without the official arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus. Be sure to stay until the very end of to see them.

Television Coverage

The local broadcast begins at 8:30am ET on WPVI/6abc, the local ABC affiliate. Streaming coverage begins at 9:00am ET and can be found on Hulu, ABCNewsLive and Disney+.

History

The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade traces its launch back 1920. It was conceptualized and sponsored by the Gimbels Department Store, which organized floats, balloons, and high school marching bands for the inaugural edition. The goal was to stimulate interest in the Christmas shopping season, which always started the day after Thanksgiving.

Gimbels remained a sponsor until the store went out of business in 1986. The parade was then taken over by Pennsylvania-based Boscov’s department stores and WPVI television. After Boscov’s dropped their sponsorship in 2007, there have been a series on sponsors, including IKEA and now the Boston-based Dunkin’ corporation. We keep hoping for a local sponsor again!

Other Activities

The parade is steps from the Christmas Village in LOVE Park. After the parade, head into the park for festive food and drinks as well as shopping for seasonal handcrafts. This village is modeled after the famous German Christmas markets.

Beyond LOVE Park, there are other Christmas activities that you can enjoy throughout Thanksgiving weekend. Visit Dilworth Park next to City Hall for shopping and ice skating. Or head into Macy’s for the Christmas Light Show. Plus many more activities!