The best Thanksgiving parades in the U.S.

The Macy's parade is truly a sight to behold, especially if it's your first time watching it in person from the crowded route through midtown Manhattan. Many millions watch the country's oldest and biggest Thanksgiving parade every year, both from street level and from the comfort of their sofas. Giant balloons, enormous floats, cheerleaders, marching bands, celebrity singers and more slowly make their way from Central Park West, near Columbus Circle, eventually ending up at Herald Square. Crowds also gather to watch the lengthy process of inflating all the giant balloons. If you plan to pop down and watch, preparation is key: wear comfortable shoes, dress in layers and note where coffee shops are. The best viewing spots are generally considered to be at Central Park West, Columbus Circle, 6th Avenue and 34th Street.

This one definitely requires warm clothes. The three-hour-long Chicago Thanksgiving Parade starts at around 8am on State Street and slowly makes its way through downtown to Congress Parkway and Randolph Street. Massive helium-filled balloons are once again the theme of the day, with giant floats, marching bands, local and national celebrities, dance troupes and others entertaining the gathered crowd of thousands, all valiantly braving the wind chill. Some hardcore devotees even bring little step ladders to gain a few extra, precious inches over the top of the crowds. Not quite as famous worldwide as the Macy's parade in New York City, but if you're in the neighborhood, it's a worthy substitute.

America's Comeback City also boasts one of the oldest Thanksgiving Day parades in the U.S., the tradition starting in 1924. Thousands of spectators flock to Woodward Avenue to watch as giant inflatable balloons of well-known characters gently waft by, together with creatively decorated floats, marching bands, dance troupes, clowns... and yes, some years, even Santa Claus and his magical little elves make a surprise appearance before the task of delivering presents to everyone who deserves them begins in about a month's time. (That number has to be getting smaller each year, right?!)

While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is arguably the most well-known, Philadelphia's 6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade is, in fact, the oldest. Once again, the 1.4-mile-long route is lined with thousands of warmly-wrapped onlookers as the carnival starts downtown at 20th Street and JFK Boulevard, finally ending up at the base of the famed Philadelphia Museum of Art. You can expect more balloons, along with fantastic floats, marching bands, local performers from dance groups and choirs all add up to a memorable morning out. The best views can be found along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, in Logan Circle, or at JFK Boulevard and 20th Street, but be sure to get there before 8am.

The jewel of North Carolina celebrates the holiday season with the biggest Thanksgiving Eve parade in the southeast. Every year, on the night before Thanksgiving, the Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade attracts over 100,000 attendees, with a further estimated 2 million watching from the comfort of their cozy, cushion-covered sofas. Entertainment includes giant inflatable balloons—naturally—creatively crafted floats, local celebrities, marching bands, cheerleaders and heaps more.

The annual Thanksgiving parade in Plymouth, Massachusetts, typically takes place the weekend before actual Thanksgiving Day. This year is no exception, so consider this should you be in the vicinity, looking to enjoy the festivities. The weekend-long series of celebrations starts with a concert at Memorial Hall on Friday, November 22, and then on Saturday, November 23, the parade begins at Plymouth Rock at 10 am. But it doesn't end there! Throughout Saturday and Sunday, there are waterfront activities, there's a craft beer and wine garden, a food truck alley, a children's pavilion, and the “Portal to the Past” historic village.

The tradition of watching the H-E-B Thanksgiving Day parade in Houston is almost as important as the turkey dinner—all the more important as it marks 75 years in 2024. It all started in this Texan city in 1949, when Santa Claus arrived at Union Station and went through the streets to a nearby department store to officially ring in the holiday season. Since then, all manner of creative and colorful people and things have joined the parade, including the seemingly mandatory giant, inflatable balloons, cheerleaders, extravagant floats, local law enforcement, clowns, marching bands, musicians, and just everything and everyone in between. Like all parades listed here, it's free to watch, but you should pick a good spot before 9am and make a beeline for the best viewing spot.

This year in St. Louis, spectators can expect to see marching bands, those giant helium balloons again, lovingly crafted floats, local celebrities and lots more as the Ameren’s Thanks for Giving Parade marks its 40th year. In years past, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph, and even Garfield have made an appearance. Rumor has it that Santa Claus might even be taking a break from his busy schedule and stopping by. The party begins at 9am, typically starting at North Boadway and Market Street, before moving to downtown St. Louis. For a super spot-top watch, arrive early.

No one tells New Orleans how to party, and Thanksgiving is no exception—as if this city needed an excuse for folk to fill the streets, restaurants, and bars. Here in the Big Easy, it's all about friendship, sharing, peace and goodwill to every fellow human being. A whole weekend of events usually takes place before and after that oh-so-delicious roast meal. As you'd expect, amazing music plays a really big part, with fabulous floats, marching bands and an all-round Mardi Gras style of celebration. And here, there are very few—if any—of those enormous (and wasteful) balloons.

There's something to be said about having to wrap up to stay warm, which is an essential part of the annual Thanksgiving experience, which is possibly why almost all of these entries are in cities that get a bit chilly come November time. And... as an added bonus, so as not to compete with the massive Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade just 30 miles away, the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular is held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. So, if you're on the East Coast, it's party time for you. And let us tell you, this parade is no disappointment as it draws crowds of over 100,000 from throughout the surrounding area. Yes, those oversized inflatables can be found here, if that's what floats your balloon boat, and there are marching bands, dancing troupes, circus folk, local celebrities and lots more.

So, that’s not to say all of these locations require serious bundling up. Take the city of North Miami, which for nearly 50 years has held its own celebration—the annual WinterNational Thanksgiving Day Parade—complete with cheerleaders, dance groups, and of course, some floats that might not rival parades in the North East but at least avoids the chill.