Michigan Family Travel

Thanksgiving morning in Detroit starts on Woodward Avenue.

Families bundle up along the parade route as marching bands make their way through Midtown and giant balloons appear between downtown buildings. Floats, performers and generations of Detroit tradition turn the morning into one of Michigan’s signature family events.

America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White has been part of Thanksgiving in Detroit since 1924. The parade has also earned national recognition, including being voted Best Holiday Parade in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2022.

For families, it’s a Michigan tradition worth getting up early for at least once.

Step One: Choose Your Viewing Spot

The parade takes place every Thanksgiving morning, traveling about three miles south along Woodward Avenue from Midtown into downtown Detroit. Most of the route is free and open to the public, making this a surprisingly accessible Detroit tradition for families.

Before Thanksgiving morning, decide how your family wants to watch.

Reserved grandstands provide an assigned place to sit, while free curbside viewing offers more flexibility. Families with babies or toddlers should check current grandstand rules before purchasing tickets, particularly if they plan to bring a stroller or wagon.

If you’re choosing a free viewing area, decide roughly where you want to watch before leaving home. Having a destination makes it much easier to choose parking and determine how far little legs will need to walk.

Step Two: Park, Walk and Get Settled

Keep the morning simple: park, walk to Woodward and settle into your viewing spot.

Thanksgiving morning brings the parade, the annual Turkey Trot and other downtown activity, so expect street closures, crowds and traffic. Give yourself more time than you think you’ll need to get into Detroit, park and walk to the route.

Then prepare for November in Michigan.

Dress everyone in layers and add hats, gloves and warm socks when the forecast calls for them. Bring a blanket, hand warmers and a thermos of hot chocolate for colder mornings. A few snacks can make waiting easier, especially with younger children.

Portable restrooms are typically placed along the parade route. Check the current route information before your visit so you know where to find them.

Step Three: Watch Detroit Come Down Woodward

Once the parade reaches your section, the waiting is over.

Giant balloons float above Woodward while elaborate floats, marching bands, dancers, clowns, costumed performers and other parade units make their way through the city.

The downtown setting is part of what makes the experience memorable. Kids can hear marching bands approaching before they see them and watch enormous balloons slowly emerge between Detroit’s buildings.

It feels very different from watching the parade from the couch.

Step Four: Head Home for Thanksgiving

Once the parade passes, resist the temptation to turn the morning into a packed Detroit itinerary.

Head back to the car and continue with your family’s Thanksgiving traditions. Between the early start, walking, crowds and November temperatures, kids may be ready to warm up, and adults may be ready for another cup of coffee.

Families who want a more active morning can also look into the Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot, a longtime Thanksgiving tradition that takes place before the parade and typically includes several race distances.

For most families, though, the best itinerary is the easiest one:

Park. Walk. Watch the parade. Head home for Thanksgiving dinner.

Is America’s Thanksgiving Parade Worth It With Kids?

Yes, especially for families looking for a Michigan tradition that feels different from the Christmas markets, light displays and visits with Santa that fill the weeks ahead.

There’s something memorable about standing together on Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving morning, hearing a marching band getting closer and watching a giant balloon appear above the city.

The parade is busy. It requires an early start. The weather may be cold. But with a viewing area chosen ahead of time and everyone dressed for the forecast, the actual outing can be remarkably straightforward.

And when the last float disappears down Woodward, Thanksgiving Day is only beginning.

Before You Go: Check the current year’s parade start time, route, parking information, street closures, grandstand availability and weather before heading to Detroit.