DETROIT, MI — It was a larger-than-life day in Detroit.
Whether you braved the cold to witness it or grabbed a hot cup of cocoa to watch on television from the comfort of your home, an American tradition 99 years in the making brought joy to thousands on Thursday, Nov. 27.
America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White returned with a star-studded lineup of one-a-kind floats, colorful costumes, high soaring balloons, thunderous marching bands and dancing elves.
The parade officially opened with Disney’s “The Lion King – Can You Feel The Love Tonight,” featuring Darian Sanders and Syndee Winters.
Grand marshals included Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Devin Scillian, a Detroit-area television journalist for almost 30 years.
Special celebrity appearances included:
Dexter Bussey, former Detroit Lions running back from 1974-1984
Christopher McDonald, best known for his role as Shooter McGavin in “Happy Gilmore”
Sam Richardson, Detroit native, actor and comedian best known for his roles in “Veep,” “Detroiters” and “I Think You Should Leave”
Hooper of the Detroit Pistons
Miss Michigan 2025, Hannah Palmer
Nitro of the Motor City Cruise
PAWS of the Detroit Tigers
Roary of the Detroit Lions
Santa Claus
Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star
There were 29 award-winning floats presented by a large list of sponsors, including eight new designs by Delta Dental of Michigan, DTE Foundation, Ford Motor Company, Goodman Acker, Huntington Bank, Pet Supplies Plus, Rocket and The Skillman Foundation.
Six giant balloons also soared sky high as nine thunderous high school marching bands were chosen to play in the parade, including:
Cadillac Marching Vikings
Chippewa Valley Big Reds Marching Band
Dakota High School
Detroit Public Schools Community District All-City Marching Band
Rochester Falcon Marching Band
Southfield A & T Marching Warriors
Johns Redwing Marching Band
Stevenson Titan Marching Band – Sterling Heights
Wayne Memorial Zebra Marching Band
The two-hour broadcast of the parade was featured on WDIV-Local 4 including a one-hour nationally syndicated broadcast reaching more than 84 million households nationwide. 760 WJR and 104.3 WMOC also broadcasted live from the parade.