Jody Victor: Many people watch parades in person and on TV as part of their Thanksgiving tradition. In New York City, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is held annually every Thanksgiving Day from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to Macy's flagship store in Herald Square - televised nationally by NBC. The parade features parade floats with specific themes, scenes from Broadway plays, large balloons of cartoon characters and TV personalities, and high school marching bands. The float that traditionally ends the Macy's Parade is the Santa Claus float, which officially (or unofficially) signifies that the Christmas (shopping) season has begun.
Thanksgiving parades also appear in many other cities, including:
* Chicago, Illinois (McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade), airs on WGN-TV and WGN America.
* Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6abc IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade), claims to be the oldest parade, launched in 1920 and airs on WPVI-TV.
* Plymouth, Massachusetts (America's Hometown Thanksgiving Parade). held the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
* Houston, Texas (H-E-B Holiday Parade), airs on KHOU-TV.
* St. Louis, Missouri (Ameren St. Louis Thanksgiving Parade), airs on KMOV.
* Detroit, Michigan (America's Thanksgiving Parade), airs on WDIV-TV.
* Seattle, Washington
* Fountain Hills, Arizona
* Stamford, Connecticut (UBS Parade Spectacular), held the Sunday before Thanksgiving.
* Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Celebrate The Season Parade), airs the Saturday after Thanksgiving on WPXI.
* Massillon, Ohio (Holiday Parade), the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving!