(WWJ) Bundle up, get ready to feel the joy of the holiday season (and struggle for parking). America’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, presented by Gardener White, returns to Woodward in downtown Detroit. You are welcome to watch in person.
This year’s theme is “Love on Woodward.”
WWJ’s Mike Campbell got a sneak peek at the larger-than-life floats at the Parade Company’s Pancake Breakfast on Friday, officially kicking off the season. Governor Whitmer, other big names in Michigan politics, sports personalities, and professionals from large companies were on hand.
Many of them flipped the flapjacks.
Former Lion Calvin Johnson will be the co-Grand marshal at this year’s parade.
“Growing up watching the whole Thanksgiving tradition with the parade and then football following…, it’s an honor,” he told Campbell.
He agreed with Campbell that it further solidifies his “Detroitness.”
Five new floats will be featured: General Motors, Henry Ford Health System, Delta Dental, Central Michigan University (its first time in the parade) and the Skillman Foundation.
The floats are bigger than ever before, according to Campbell. GM's float, called "Everybody In", is 120 ft. long.
"We've been headquartered here for 110 years, and we wanted to highlight that and highlight some of the landmarks here in the city. Some of the other landmarks. The Ambassador Bridge on there is 35 feet long," Terry Rhadigan, GM Vice President of Corporate Giving, told WWJ.
Last year, because of the pandemic, organizers pre-filmed the parade from a secret location. It was a televised-only event.
This year’s parade, which travels down a 3-mile stretch of Woodward, takes place on the morning of November 25. It ends with a visit from Santa himself! It will be aired live on WDIV. JoAnne Purtan and "JJ" Jim Johnson will broadcast a live play-by-play of the parade on our sister station, 104.3 WOMC, starting at 10 a.m. WOMC's Beau Daniels and Aricka McCauley will also participate in the broadcast.
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