DETROIT – The Parade Company and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) unveiled a new float, “A Better State of Health,” at The Parade Company’s 25th Annual Pancake Breakfast presented by BCBSM.
The new float, unveiled on Friday, Nov. 8, will debut in America’s Thanksgiving Parade Presented by Gardner White.
Daniel J. Loepp, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, is one of three named Grand Marshals for this year’s parade, along with U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow and sportscaster Mike Tirico.
Designed and built by The Parade Company artists, “A Better State of Health” is over 100 feet long and 25 feet high.
The float consists of three units, one of which has over 12 significant characters shaped like “Blue Cross cards” and enjoys healthy lifestyle activities.
The second unit features three signature Blue Cross buildings from Grand Rapids, Lansing, and downtown Detroit, exemplifying BCBSM’s reach throughout the state. It also includes a mechanical “Better State of Health” sign that moves up and down.
The third piece represents BCBSM’s commitment to providing patients “Around the Clock Care.”
It includes more than two dozen larger-than-life, hand-sculpted clocks that make up a 25-foot-tall clock tower that tips back to go under the Detroit People Mover and features healthcare symbols surrounding the clock that spin clockwise.
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The clock tower uses a unique tilt mechanism that is controlled by a 2,000-pound hoist to control its movement.
America’s Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Gardner White, takes place on Thursday, Nov. 28.
The 98th America’s Thanksgiving Parade, presented by Gardner White, will continue to awe generations of parade-goers on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit with amazing floats, larger-than-life balloons towering over the skyline, celebrities, famous clowns and Big Heads, marching bands, and so much more.
This year’s parade theme is “Miles of Smiles!” The parade is broadcast live on Local 4 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and nationally to millions of viewers across 185 major cities in the U.S.
