Detroit is getting ready for a Thanksgiving morning 100 years in the making. America’s Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Gardner White, celebrates its 100th edition on Thursday, November 26, 2026, when colorful floats, high-soaring balloons, thunderous marching bands and beloved clowns fill Woodward Avenue once again.
The parade steps off at 8:45 a.m. at Woodward Avenue and Kirby in Midtown and travels about three miles south through downtown, ending at Congress and Woodward, just past Campus Martius Park. Watching along most of the route is free, so families can pick a favorite spot, arrive early and enjoy one of the city’s happiest traditions together. Reserved grandstand seating in the heart of downtown is also available for anyone who wants a front-row view of history.
The Parade Company, the Detroit nonprofit that produces the parade, is preparing a centennial celebration worthy of the milestone, with a star-studded lineup joining the floats, balloons, bands, dance teams and specialty acts that generations of Detroit families have grown up loving. The morning builds, as always, toward the traditional arrival of Santa Claus, officially opening the holiday season in the city.
Whether it is your first parade or your fiftieth, this is the year to be on Woodward. Dress warmly, plan for road closures along the route, and join Happy City News in celebrating 100 years of Thanksgiving in Detroit.
Photo: The Parade Company.
