PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia's 102nd Thanksgiving Day Parade, the oldest in the United States, is just hours away from returning with some modifications for those who attend in person.
The parade route itself has not changed. It will go from 20th and JFK to 16th Street, and then 16th to Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It will move along the parkway to the Art Museum steps for the grand finale.
The 2021 edition will be using local marching bands instead of those traveling from other parts of the nation.
“This year because of travel restrictions and whatnot from a national standpoint, we do have local marching bands," said parade co-producer Todd Marcocci.
"A number from New Jersey, and for the first time ever coming, is Millersville University from out in Lancaster County. Usually, we have 24 national traveling bands from coast to coast, Puerto Rico, and wherever.”
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There won’t be bleachers at the grand finale performance.
“Because of safety with the pandemic, the decision was made to not have any grandstands, and especially going with a different look here with these huge massive video walls that are here, so it’s going to have content within those video walls,” said Marcocci.
The City of Philadelphia is requiring all parade-goers to wear masks, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
One thing hasn’t changed: Santa Claus will be there to usher in the holidays like he has been doing for more than 100 years.
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“You know the annual tradition for 102 years of a Santa arriving, a little bit different from the first time the parade happened 102 years ago, but Santa makes his grand cascade up the Art Museum’s museum Steps," added Marcocci.
"He will be surrounded by 100 cheerleaders from Varsity All-Stars and (it will be) a huge and grand finale that it always is.”
Organizers say weather permitting: The giant parade balloons will start to be inflated well before sunrise.
Parade rehearsals have been scheduled through 10 p.m. Wednesday, with the parade beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday.
