DETROIT – The 98th America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White returns to Downtown Detroit on Nov. 28! Here’s what you need to know.
When is the 2024 America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit?
The parade is held on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 28, 2024.
The Parade route is three miles along Woodward Avenue from Kirby to Congress. The Parade steps-off at Kirby and Woodward at 8:45 a.m. It’s roughly an hour and a half march south, down to the Celebration Zone. The Parade officially ends at Congress and Woodward.
How can I watch the 2024 America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit?
Coverage begins at 6 a.m. on WDIV-TV in Detroit, or streaming on Local 4+, an app you can download for free on any smart TV device, like Roku or Apple TV. Streaming is available outside the Detroit market.
The parade broadcast starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m. The parade is also syndicated across 185 markets nationwide
---> What you can do with Local 4′s free TV streaming app: Local 4+
How much does it cost to attend the parade?
The parade is totally free to attend and watch. Much of the three-mile Parade route is free and open to the public.
What’s the official parade route?
Who are the parade Grand Marshals?
The three parade Grand Marshals are sports announcer Mike Tirico, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and retiring president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Daniel Loepp.
Parade road closures and transit
Motorists may cross Woodward at these intersections until 5 a.m. Crossover streets are: Warren, Alexandrine, MLK/Mack, Fisher Service Drive, Adams, Park/Witherall, John R/Clifford and Grand River.
Woodward from W. Grand Blvd. to Larned will be closed completely from 5 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
The following streets will close beginning at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28, and reopen after the Turkey Trot at approximately 10 a.m.:
- W. Jefferson from the Lodge Freeway to Cabacier
- Michigan at Cass
- Fort Street from Trumbull to Woodward
- Congress from Shelby to Randolph
- Larned from Shelby to Randolph
- Shelby from Congress to Michigan
- Michigan from Cass to Woodward
- Monroe from Woodward to Randolph
- Lafayette Blvd. from Trumbull to Griswold
- Washington Blvd. from Adams to Congress
- Atwater from Civic Center Dr. to Third
In addition, the southbound Lodge exits at W. Jefferson/Cobo and Larned Street (Exits 1A & 1B) and the northbound Lodge exit at W. Jefferson (Exit 1A) will be closed beginning at 7 a.m. during the entire Turkey Trot. The Larned exit will reopen after the Turkey Trot ends.
Detroit People Mover
The Detroit People Mover will be back open and free on Thanksgiving and operate from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. The two stations closest for parade viewing on Woodward Ave. (Broadway, Grand Circus Park) and the grandstands near Campus Martius (Cadillac Center).
Riders going to the Lions game can ride the People Mover to Broadway Station for a short walk to/from Ford Field as the most convenient way to travel around downtown without moving their cars and paying for additional parking. All passengers can board and ride for free, no fare or passes needed throughout 2024.
The Detroit People Mover had been closed since September while workers replaced sections of track. The replacement project involved 7,000 feet of rail on nine curves and adjacent connecting straight track. The work was completed to extend the life of the rail system and make the ride smoother and quieter. The replacement track is expected to last at least 15 to 30 years.
DDOT bus reroutes
DDOT customers can expect delays beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28. All buses/bus routes will go to the Rosa Parks Transit Center.
The following bus routes will be affected because of the parade on Nov. 28 from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.:
- 3 Grand River
- 4 Woodward
- 5 Van Dyke/Lafayette
- 6 Gratiot
- 8 Warren
- 9 Jefferson
- 16 Dexter
- 23 Hamilton
- 31 Mack
- 42 Mid-City Loop
- 52 Chene
- 67 Cadillac/Harper
The following routes will be affected because of the Turkey Trot on Nov. 28 starting at 7 a.m. and detours expected to end following the race at 10 a.m.:
- 1 Vernor
- 3 Grand River
- 19 Fort
- 27 Joy
- 29 Linwood
Note: The Grand River detour will continue until approximately 5 p.m.
DDOT will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day for all regular routes at regular fares. For more information, please call DDOT’s Customer Service Office at 313-933-1300 or go to RideDetroitTransit.com.