Nostalgic Images Of Thanksgiving Parades Through The Years

Get in the holiday spirit

It's safe to say many of us can't imagine Thanksgiving without a parade. Since the first event was held in Philadelphia in 1920, it's a tradition that kicks off the holiday season throughout the US – from the famous Macy's parade in New York to the big beloved balloons of Detroit.

Before the celebrations start this year, click through this gallery to take a nostalgic look back at some of the biggest and oldest Thanksgiving parades in America...

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Chicago, Illinois

During the Great Depression, many leaders were searching for innovative ways to boost the economy and encourage spending. In 1934, Walter Gregory, president of Chicago's State Street Council, came up with the ingenious idea of hosting a Christmas parade, in the hopes of improving residents' mood before the holidays so they'd spend more on presents.

This snap from 1935 captures crowds welcoming a miniature steam engine with a "Santa is here" banner on the side.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Chicago, Illinois

After the success of the first parade (the city entered its biggest buying period since 1927), its name was changed to State Street Christmas Parade in 1935 and it continued to grow in popularity, becoming one of the largest parades in the US. This snap from 1949 captures crowds cramming in on State Street, all eager to see the floats and balloons.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Chicago, Illinois

Although the city's economy recovered well from the Great Depression, a big aspect of the celebration continued to be encouraging people to splurge during the holiday season. This float from 1951 promotes a Giant Gift Guide, coming out soon after the parade.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Chicago, Illinois

The parade continued to be Christmas-themed up until 2002 when its date was changed to Thanksgiving. Its popularity grew to more than a million observers and today there are typically more than 100 different groups walking the parade route, from balloons and marching bands to floats and equestrian units.

One of the parade's most famous faces is Teddy Turkey, who makes an appearance every year in a bid to spread holiday cheer, as captured in this shot from the late 1990s.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, Chicago, Illinois

An important aspect of the parade is the celebration of the many different cultures that converge in Chicago (and the US in general). Dance and music groups from countries like China, Bolivia, Japan, and Poland are frequent guests at the parade.

Pictured are the Xochitl-Quetzal Danza Azteca group who performed traditional Indigenous dances from Mexico in 2019's parade.

America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, Plymouth, Massachusetts

This parade, held annually in Plymouth, started in 1996 and is held the weekend before Thanksgiving to celebrate Plymouth's pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving in 1621. The parade is just one of the events held during the America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration, which includes concerts and street fairs.

Pictured is one of the biggest and most elaborate floats, depicting the Mayflower's journey across the Atlantic.

America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Unlike other Thanksgiving parades, where balloons, marching bands, and floats feature popular characters, this one focuses on the history of the United States. Each element of the parade is based on a historical period in the US.

Special floats mark events like the anniversary of D-Day and the Apollo 11 mission, or honor industries important to the region like the fishing and the lobster trade. The parade ends with Santa Claus ringing in the holiday season (pictured).

America's Thanksgiving Parade, Detroit, Michigan

Tied with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the title of the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the US, America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit is an annual tradition that locals love.

Started by Charles Wendel, the window display director at Hudson Company department store, the parade stands out thanks to its 'big heads' – giant masks that resemble walking bobbleheads. Here, the big headed clowns are captured just before the parade in 1924.

America's Thanksgiving Parade, Detroit, Michigan

Wendel was inspired by a similar idea he saw during a trip to Europe, and the large papier-mache heads were originally made in Viareggio, Italy. Some of the heads from that first parade were still in use in the 1960s, as captured in this photograph, and they've remained a fixture to this day.

America's Thanksgiving Parade, Detroit, Michigan

The big heads have evolved with the times. Every year the masks depict everything from funny animals and pop culture references to important figures in American history and famous people from the Wolverine State. These big heads from the 2011 parade (from left to right) were a tribute to former NBA star Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, boxer Joe Louis, 38th President of the United States Gerald Ford, and actor Tom Selleck – all famous Michiganders.

America's Thanksgiving Parade, Detroit, Michigan

Alongside the big heads, the parade includes large balloons, marching bands, clowns, and performers, as well as impressive and elaborate floats. The parade wouldn't be the same without Old Mother Goose – the oldest float, part of the parade since 1924. Back in the day, it was 18 feet long and was pulled by horses down the route.

Today, the much-loved character has grown in size to an impressive length of 30 feet and is self-propelled.

America's Thanksgiving Parade, Detroit, Michigan

Another unmissable part of the parade is the Distinguished Clown Corps, established more than 30 years ago. Every year over 2,000 clowns march along the route, holding balloons, participating in floats, and giving out treats to spectators.

Here, they're pictured in 1986, giving Captain Detroit a helping hand as he glides through the city's streets.

6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thought to be the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the US, Philadelphia's first event took place in 1920. Ellis Gimbel, one of the founders of Gimbels department stores, sent more than 50 employees dressed in costumes out to parade down the streets of Philadelphia in a bid to attract holiday shoppers.

This shot from 1932 captures some of the slightly terrifying costume choices in the pre-balloon era.

6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Held even during the Second World War, the parade quickly grew in size and became a much-loved tradition. Up until 1986, the parade ended with Santa Claus arriving at Gimbels and ascending all the way to the eighth-floor toy department, known as Toyland, via a ladder from a Philadelphia Fire Department truck (pictured).

Today, the route of the parade is reversed, with Santa Claus triumphantly arriving at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Captured in 1961, this image shows how large the crowds became over time. Crammed along the parade route on Market Street, people of all ages came to see the impressive floats and balloons proceed to Gimbels to deliver Santa Claus to Toyland. The parade was sponsored by Gimbels until 1986 when the store ceased operations.

6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Thankfully, the parade continued. What started as a modest affair has now grown into a huge festive event with 28 floats and balloons, 11 marching bands, 66 youth dance and choir groups plus more than 20 celebrities and special guests participating every year. Pictured here is a giant inflatable cupcake sailing above the crowd at the 102nd annual parade in 2021.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, New York

Debuting in 1924, New York City's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the largest in the world. Presented by the department store Macy's, it was a Christmas parade for the first three years, with Macy's employees marching through Manhattan dressed as clowns and cowboys with myriad Central Park Zoo animals and creative floats in tow.

Pictured here is the parade in 1925, with Santa Claus riding a float pulled by a team of horses.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, New York

The now-famous balloons were first introduced in the late 1920s, replacing live zoo animals. This snap from 1929 captures some of the earliest balloons used in the parade.

In the early years, the balloons, filled with helium, were released after the parade to drift for around a week. Those who recovered a balloon after it had deflated received a $100 reward (equivalent to around $1,600 today).

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, New York

The popularity of the parade grew quickly, with more than one million people lining the parade route as early as 1933. The festivities were also broadcast on local radio stations until 1941 when the parade was canceled due to the Second World War.

Happily, it resumed in 1945 and gained nationwide attention over the following years, in part due to an appearance in the popular holiday film Miracle on 34th Street. Pictured is the oldest large balloon, Felix the Cat, which has made regular appearances at the parade since 1927.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, New York

This nostalgic snap captures a cute teddy bear balloon floating through Times Square during the parade in 1949, looking down on the crowd who are waiting for the floats and marching bands to give out treats as they pass by.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York City, New York

These days, more than three and a half million people line the streets of New York (with over 50 million people tuning in at home) to see more than two dozen balloons floating through Manhattan alongside marching bands, floats, and performances from popular music stars and the casts of Broadway musicals. This Woody Woodpecker balloon, pictured here in 1989, was a regular throughout the 1980s and 1990s and is one of the largest that's ever appeared, measuring a giant 75 feet in height.

Now take a look at stunning historic images of theme parks in full swing...