The oldest Thanksgiving parade in America is back in Philadelphia.
With the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade -- dubbed the "first in the nation" -- comes plenty of entertainment on the Ben Franklin Parkway, but also road closures, detours and parking restrictions (Even the day before).
Here you guide if you plan on heading to the parade or just avoiding the whole thing:
What Time Does the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade Start?
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The marchers and floats in the 2022 Thanksgiving Day Parade begin at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving. The parade will end by noon. You may want to do Thanksgiving dinner instead of lunch to ensure you can watch the parade in person and still be home in time to get ready.
What's the Parade Route?
The parade begins at 20th and JFK streets in Center City Philadelphia. The route goes down JFK toward Love Park before turning left on 16th Street and up the inner lanes of the Ben Franklin Parkway. The parade goes around Eakins Oval toward Kelly Drive before finishing at the reviewing stand in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
What Roads Will Be Closed and for How Long?
Road closures that could affect drivers trying to get into or out of Center City and the Fairmount and Spring Garden neighborhoods were already in effect starting Monday and Tuesday nights. The closures ramp up on Wednesday for parade preps, Philadelphia said in a news release.
The closures remain in place until the end of the parade unless otherwise noted, the City said.
Monday, Nov. 21, 2022
6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.
Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022
6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.
Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022
- 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 conclusion of parade on Thursday, Nov. 24.
- 7 p.m. – Inbound lanes of JFK Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade on Thursday.
- 8 p.m. – Outbound lanes of JFK Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street Station, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade on Thursday.
Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022
- Midnight – JFK Boulevard, from 30th Street to 16th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 2 a.m. – 20th Street, from Ben Franklin Parkway to Race Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until 11 a.m.
- 2 a.m. – Market Street, from 19th Street to 20th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 5 a.m. – 20th Street from JFK Boulevard to Arch Street will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 6 a.m. – 20th Street, from Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 6 a.m. – Market Street, from 19th Street to 22nd Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 7 a.m. – Kelly Drive, from Sedgley Drive to Eakins Oval, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 7:30 a.m. – Parade route closed to vehicular traffic.
All roads are expected to be cleaned and reopened by 3 p.m. Thursday, the City said.
Expect traffic delays around the parade route throughout Thursday morning.
What Are Traffic Detours?
Philadelphia police will be detouring drivers around the parade route Thursday.
To avoid the area entirely you may want to stick to the Schuylkill (Interstate 76) and Vine Street (Interstate 676) expressways and exit away from the Art Museum area.
Where Will Parking Be Restricted?
"'Temporary No Parking' signs will be posted in connection with the closures listed above beginning on Wednesday, November 23 at 6 p.m.," the City wrote. "A detailed list of those streets can be found below. Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated. If you believe your car has been relocated, call the police district of the area where your car was parked."
- 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)
Watch out for additional parking restrictions and road closures in the parade vicinity, the City said.
SEPTA Has Special Service Plan to Get You There, but Buses Will Be Detoured
SEPTA trains are a good option to get to and from the parade route.
SEPTA will be operating its Regional Rail, buses, trolleys and the Norristown High Speed Line on a Sunday schedule, in part to accommodate paradegoers. The special SEPTA schedule is posted on the transit agency’s website.
The transit agency will begin detouring its route 17, 31, 33, 38, 44, 49, 124, 125 and MFO buses from normal routes from 9 a.m. Wednesday to about 8 a.m. Thursday.
Then, on Thanksgiving from 8 a.m. to about 2 p.m., SEPTA will detour bus routes 2, 7, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, 125 and MFO around the Parkway.
Is the Parade Free to Watch?
Yes.
What Is the Weather Forecast?
Be sure to wear layers as temps will be in the high 30s around the start of the parade and heading up to around 50 by noon.
What You Will See at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The annual parade is always a fun-filled morning with a lot of child-friendly entertainment. It’s a great opportunity to support local talent, from school marching bands and dance troupes to Philly’s finest celebrity icons -- like Jerry Blavat and the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders.
The arrival of Santa Clause is a highlight.
The parade also features national celebrities, bands from around the country, floats and balloons. Some of the highlights include appearances by music stars C + C Music Factory, Debbie Gibson, Blue Man Group and Smokey Robinson; fashion designer Carson Kressley; and many more.
What’s a good parade without floats and balloons? Expect those, too.
Click here for a full list of participants.
I Don't Feel Like Heading to the Parkway
Sit back and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live from New York and the National Dog Show (which was recorded in Montgomery County) right here on NBC10 on Thanksgiving day.
