Detroit Thanksgiving Day 2016 Parade: All You Need to Know

DETROIT, MI — For the past 90 years, hundreds of thousands of people residents have lined Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit to get a close-up look at the helium balloons and larger-than-life floats that are part of America’s Thanksgiving Parade, one of the largest and most spectacular parades in the country.

The parade steps off at 8:50 a.m. at Kirby Street and Woodward, and goes live on WDIV-TV at 10 a.m. at Grand River and Woodward. More than 65 million households are expected to watch the parade through national syndication.

Paul W. Smith’s Prelude to the Parade coverage begins at 6 a.m. and runs through 9:30 a.m. on WJR (760), and Bobby Mitchell and Stacey DuFord will provide live play-by-play of the parade from 10 a.m.-noon on WOMC (104.3).

For more about the parade, click here.

Road Closures

The city of Detroit has announced street closures, bus re-routes and parking for the parade and Turkey Trot, as well as the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game against the Minnesota Vikings at 12:30 p.m.

Motorists traveling to downtown Detroit on Wednesday, Nov. 23 and for the parade on Thursday, Nov. 24 should note the following road closures.

• Woodward Avenue from W. Grand Blvd. to Warren will be closed completely from Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 5 p.m. through Thursday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m.
• Woodward Avenue from Warren to Jefferson will be shut down beginning at 2 a.m. until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday, Nov. 24. Emergency vehicles will be allowed to cross Woodward Avenue at Warren, Mack/MLK, Alexandrine, Montcalm and Adams.

The following streets will have limited access beginning at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 23:

• Amsterdam/Piquette from Cass to John R
• Harper from Cass to John R
• Palmer from Cass to John R
• Ferry from Cass to John R
• Farnsworth/Putnam from Cass to John R

The following streets will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24:

• 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

These streets, including Michigan Avenue and Washington Blvd. will reopen after the S3 Turkey Trot at approximately 10 a.m.

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 during the entire S3 Turkey Trot. The Larned exit will reopen after the S3 Turkey Trot ends.

People Mover

Individuals coming downtown for the Thanksgiving Day races, parade and Detroit Lions game can ride the Detroit People Mover free from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.All 13 stations are open this year, with the closest to the parade being Grand Circus Park, Broadway and Cadillac. View the DPM system map here. Regular People Mover service will resume at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov.25.

DDOT Bus Re-Routes

As a result of street closures for the Thanksgiving Day events, DDOT icustomers can expect delays beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 24. Eastside bus routes will lay over at the Detroit People Mover’s Bricktown Station on Beaubien north of Larned. Bus passengers are encouraged to ride the DPM at no charge on Thanksgiving Day to continue their travels. Eastside bus routes will resume regular service to the Rosa Parks Transit Center after 6 p.m.

The following bus routes will be affected because of the Thanksgiving Day Parade:

• No. 7 Cadillac-Harper
• No. 10 Chene
• No. 25 Jefferson
• No. 31 Mack
• No. 34 Gratiot
• No. 48 Van Dyke

The following routes will be affected because of the S3 Turkey Trot, which takes place from 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m. These routes will come in and out of town by Michigan via Trumbull:

• No. 19 Fort
• No. 27 Joy
• No. 29 Linwood

Bus passengers who need to get to the east side routes from the Rosa Parks Transit Center may ride the People Mover to the Bricktown Station.

DDOT will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day for all regular routes at regular fares. DDOT’s Administrative Offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 24, and Friday, Nov. 25, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

For more information, please call DDOT’s Customer Service Office at (313) 933-1300 or click here.

Parking

The Detroit Municipal Parking Department recommends the following facilities on Thursday, Nov. 24.

In addition, the following facilities are recommended for the Detroit Lions game.

Lost Children

Parents can find lost children at the Detroit Police Department Downtown Services, 20 Atwater, or by calling (313) 237-2850 or (313) 237-2828.

Photo by Erik Przekop via Flickr Commons