New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade Is Ready To Soar With Your Help

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Mighty Mouse is set to soar through the streets of New Rochelle again as a favorite Thanksgiving tradition returns and parade organizers are still looking for candidates to help wrangle the Queen City of the Sound Shore's favorite superhero.

The New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce and the City of New Rochelle announced the long-awaited return of the 58th Annual Thanksgiving Parade on Saturday, Nov. 19, starting at 10 a.m.

Organizers said this year’s parade theme, "Celebrating a Century of Service," is a salute to the NRChamber’s 100th anniversary and its extensive history of service to New Rochelle.

The recently named grand marshals will also be capping decades of public service on a special day.

The NR Chamber of Commerce announced that the Grand Marshals for the 2022 Thanksgiving Parade are retiring City Manager Chuck Strome and recently retired former Commissioner of Parks & Recreation Bill Zimmermann. The chamber said that both Strome and Zimmerman have dedicated many years to the City of New Rochelle, and they are the ideal choice to represent the parade theme.

"The New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade is a NR Chamber and City tradition. This year’s Parade honors the NR Chamber’s 100 years of service to the City. We’re thankful for all the NR Chamber members – past and present – who have worked to enhance the economic and business life of the City," said Rob Hayes, President of the NR Chamber of Commerce and owner of The Beechmont Tavern. "And our Grand Marshals, Chuck Strome and Bill Zimmermann, embody that spirit of service. We’re glad to honor them both in the Parade. Congratulations Chuck and Bill!"

The 2022 Parade route will be along North Avenue, beginning at Eastchester Road and ending at Bonnefoy Place.

The parade will feature floats and giant parade balloons, including New Rochelle’s own iconic Mighty Mouse and Tom the Turkey, among others. There will, of course, be marching bands playing throughout the parade, vintage cars and firetrucks, dancers, singers and marchers from Iona and Monroe Colleges, local schools, businesses and community organizations.

Santa Claus is scheduled to make an appearance as well.

The NR Chamber says that sponsors are still needed for the Thanksgiving Parade – especially for the balloons, the NRHS Homecoming Float and the Paw Patrol characters.

Sponsorship opportunities are listed here.

The Thanksgiving Parade offers a "bucket-list" opportunity to hold a balloon in a parade. The NR Chamber needs many volunteers to make this year’s parade the most successful yet. Volunteers can register to hold a balloon or banner in the parade through the Volunteer NY link here.

The NR Chamber is still accepting applications to march in the Parade. Groups interested in marching should complete the application here.

The NR Chamber also announced the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence’s Annual Pancake Breakfast is back this year.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast served by New Rochelle's school and district administrators and teachers, just before the New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade, and help support a good cause. Starting at 8 a.m. in the House IV Cafeteria at New Rochelle High School, entrance at North and Braemar Avenues. $5 per person. The breakfast is open to all and New Rochelle School District teachers and staff will be making your breakfast.

For the latest on the parade, visit the NR Chamber website page here.