2018 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade: What You Need To Know

Patch
See details on road closures, parking restrictions, what floats will be marching, who will make appearances, and more at the annual parade.

PHILADELPHIA – The 6ABC/Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade is all set for held Thursday, Nov. 22 and promises tons of fun.

But of course with a parade comes road closures and parking restrictions.

Below is the parade route, road closures, parking restrictions, and more information about the annual parade:

How to watch

You can watch the parade along its route – which is featured below – or on 6ABC. Other stations broadcasting the parade are:

  • WATM - Johnstown-Altoona, ABC

  • WBOC - Salisbury, Maryland, Fox21 (EBOC)

  • WJET - Erie, ABC

  • DCW50 - Washington, D.C., CWW

  • SWB - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, CWW

  • TVD - Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, ABC

  • WWHO-TV Columbus, Ohio, CW

  • WZVN-TV Fort Myers, Florida, ABC

Parade route

The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. and steps off at 20th and JFK Boulevard.

It heads east on JFK to 16th Street. The, marchers will turn left on 16th Street to the Ben Franklin Parkway.

The parade continues northwest along the Ben Franklin Parkway and ends at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Road closures

Monday, Nov. 19

  • 6:30 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday - Top of Eakins Oval for street rehearsals and painting

Tuesday, Nov. 20

  • 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. - Top of Eakins Oval for street rehearsals

Wednesday, Nov. 21

  • 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. - Top of Eakins Oval for street rehearsals

  • 6:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday - Eakins Oval from Binswanger Triangle

  • 7 p.m. - 11 am Thursday - Inbound lanes from JFK Blvd between 20th and 30th Street; outbound lanes of JFK Blvd between 20th and 30th Street

Thursday, Nov. 22

  • Midnight - noon - 20th street between JFK Blvd and Market Street20th street between JFK Blvd and Market Street

  • 2 a.m. - 11 am – 20th Street between Ben Franklin Parkway to Race Street

  • 5 a.m. - noon - 20th Street between JFK Boulevard and Arch Street

  • 6 a.m. - noon - 20th Street between Market Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway

Parking

No parking restrictions begin Nov. 21.

Below are no parking areas:

  • JFK Boulevard from 19th to 30th (no parking is allowed on both sides of the road)

  • 20th from Market to the Parkway

  • Arch between 19th and 22nd

  • Race between 16th and 17th

  • 17th from Vine to Race

  • Eastbound lanes of Vine from 15th to 17th

  • Market from 19th to 21st (4 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Nov. 22)

Metered parking is free on Thanksgiving, but no parking area will be enforced.

Participants, performers, and floats

6ABC's Cecily Tynan, Rick Williams, Adam Joseph, Karen Rogers, and Alicia Vitarelli will serve as hosts for the parade. Numerous special guest and performances are planned.

Guests include Swoop and Gritty, Santa and Mrs. Claus, American Idol stars Justin Guarini, Michael Woodard and Catie Turner, and more.

Performers include marching bands from states such as Hawaii, Florida, and Wyoming; various Philly-area dance troupes; local choirs; Broadway stars; and selections from local musical theater productions.

Floats include The Grinch, Thing 1 and Thing 2, Voltron, Strawberry Shortcake, Waldo, and many more.

Activities

From 8:30 a.m. to noon, the Eakins Oval will host the Parade Zone.

Attendees can try to grab cash in the American Heritage Credit Union "Money Machine," enjoy free Dunkin' offerings; share your parade experience on the art wall; take a selfie or family photo in the Dunkin' Photo Booth; gets faces painted; get a custom balloon creation made; and even try to win a signed Carson Wentz jersey.

The day will also feature a Holiday Food Drive, which attendees can support by bringing canned goods to various Boy Scouts along the parade route.

Watch the 2017 parade below:

Image via YouTube screenshot