Final preparations underway in Philadelphia for the nation's oldest Thanksgiving Day parade

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Preparations are underway for the city’s 104th annual Thanksgiving Day parade. What started in 1919 is now the oldest in the country. On Tuesday, last-minute details- logistics and rehearsals were being ironed out for the party on the Parkway.

One of the acts performing in the televised parade is the Sharpe Family Singers from Central Jersey. They made a name for themselves on “America's Got Talent” and on social media.

Mom Barbra, Dad Ron and their four children; Samantha, Logan and twins Aidan and Connor, said they are looking forward to Thursday. This is their second time performing in the Philly parade.

“The atmosphere is just unlike anything else. Everybody comes out. Some people are camping out. They’re throwing us the football. They are giving us food. The overall atmosphere of everybody who is there just makes it so much fun. It makes it so easy to perform,” said 21-year-old Logan.

Ron and Barbara agree that the atmosphere around the parade route feels more like being in a small town than a big city.

Apart from entertainers like the Sharpe family, there will be floats, balloons — including Mr. Potato Head, Strawberry Shortcake, Smurfette and Fraggle Rock and My Little Pony characters — marching bands, and of course Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

Parade co-producer Todd Marcocci says the event would not be possible if not for the work of about 700 volunteers.

“And some volunteers come from upstate New York,” he said. “It’s just been part of their family tradition, perhaps their grandfather, their great-grandfather, mother, whatever the case may be, may have been a part of this parade as a volunteer at one point and they want to carry on that tradition.”

The parade begins Thursday at 8:30 a.m., with a 30-minute pre-show followed by three hours for the parade and performances. The parade route begins at 20th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, traveling eastward, turning north on 16th Street, west up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, around Eakins Oval, and ending on Kelly Drive.

While metered street parking is free in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day, public transportation is the most reliable way to get to the parade because of street closures, traffic detours and parking restrictions through Thursday along and around the route.

Drivers can expect traffic delays before and during the parade and are advised to use alternate routes and avoid the area. SEPTA Regional Rail, bus, subway, trolley and PATCO routes are within walking distance of the parade. Bike-share stations are also located nearby.

After the parade ends, roads will reopen as they are serviced and cleaned. All event-related road closures will be lifted no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23.

6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.

6:30 p.m. – Eakins Oval closed for rehearsals and site build until the end of the parade

7 p.m. – Inbound lanes of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street, will be closed until the end of the parade

8 p.m. – Outbound lanes of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street Station, will be closed until the end of the parade

All closed to traffic until the parade is over:

12 a.m. – JFK Boulevard, from 30th Street to 16th Street

2 a.m. – 20th Street, from Ben Franklin Parkway to Race Street

2 a.m. – Market Street, from 19th Street to 20th Street

5 a.m. – 20th Street, from JFK Boulevard to Arch Street

6 a.m. – 20th Street, from Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway

6 a.m. – Market Street, from 19th Street to 22nd Street

7 a.m. – Kelly Drive, from Sedgley Drive to Eakins Oval

7:30 a.m. – Parade route

Temporary “no parking” signs went up starting Wednesday night. See the list of "no parking" zones below. Vehicles in violation during posted hours will be relocated.

— JFK Blvd. from 19th Street to 30th Street (both sides)
— 20th Street from Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway (both sides)
— Arch Street from 19th Street and 22nd Street (both sides)
— Race Street from 16th Street and 17th Street (both sides)
— 17th Street from Vine Street to Race Street (both sides)
— Vine Street from 15th Street to 17th Street (eastbound lanes)
— Market Street from 19th Street to 22nd Street (both sides)
— Paschall Avenue from 62nd Street to 63rd Street (both sides)

SEPTA will be operating on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day.

SEPTA bus detours for Thursday, Nov. 23: Routes 2, 7, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 and MFO will be detoured from their normal routes on Thursday from 8 a.m. through about 2 p.m.

Detours will be posted, and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at septa.org.