See Traffic Impacts For 2024 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade

PHILADELPHIA — It's almost time for the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in America to return.

The 2024 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade is all set to take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon this Thursday.

Bands, dance groups, floats, choirs, and more will march through Center City and up the Ben Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the parade.

The event is free and open to the public, featuring performances and activities for the entire family.

The parade will be broadcast live on 6abc, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the parade stepping off at 9 a.m.

Special guests include Lisa Ann Walter from "Abbott Elementary," Carson Kressley from "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Dancing with the Stars" season 13, and "Good Morning America" contributing weather correspondent Sam Champion.

The Thanksgiving Day “Dunkin’ Zone”, taking place at Eakins Oval, will offer music, fun giveaways, local food trucks, and family-friendly activities.

More details about event activities, performers, and floats are available online here.

The parade starts at 20th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, then heads eastbound on John F. Kennedy Boulevard to 16th Street. From there, marchers will go north on 16th Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway, westbound on the inner lanes of the parkway to Eakins Oval. They will head around the Oval to Kelly Drive, where they will via Kelly Drive and the Spring Garden Extension

But with the parade comes road closures and parking restrictions. Below are details on traffic impacts

Road Closures

Tuesday

• 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.

Wednesday

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.
• 4 p.m. – Innerlanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 21st Street to 20th Street closed for site build until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday.
• 6:30 p.m. – Eakins Oval closed for rehearsals and site build until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday.
• 7 p.m. – Inbound lanes of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday.
• 8 p.m. – Outbound lanes of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street Station, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday.

Thursday

• Midnight – JFK Boulevard, from 30th Street to 16th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the 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 the conclusion of the parade.
• 5 a.m. – 20th Street from JFK Boulevard to Arch Street will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade.
• 6 a.m. – 20th Street, from Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade.
• 6 a.m. – Market Street, from 19th Street to 22nd Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade.
• 7 a.m. – Kelly Drive, from Sedgley Drive to Eakins Oval, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade.
• 7:30 a.m. – Parade route closed to vehicular traffic.

Roads will be opened as they are serviced and cleaned. All event-related road closures will be lifted no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Traffic delays can be expected during the event. Drivers are advised to avoid the area by using alternate routes and allow for extra driving time in areas near the event.

Parking Restrictions

"Temporary No Parking" signs will be posted in connection with the closures listed above beginning on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

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.

A detailed list of those streets is below.

• 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)

Additional road closures and parking restrictions may be necessary in the vicinity of the event venue, as dictated by conditions.

Residents and visitors should always obey posted signs and instructions from the Philadelphia Police Department.

Public Transportation

SEPTA will be operating on a Sunday Schedule throughout Thanksgiving Day. Bus detour information and updates or changes to service will be published on SEPTA’s System Status page. Customers can also use TransitView on the SEPTA app. Riders should check System Status regularly or follow @SEPTA and @SEPTA_BUS on the platform formerly known as Twitter for updates. Detour times are subject to change.
Below is a summary of SEPTA detours (from the SEPTA website) that will be in effect during the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade. Check the SEPTA website for additional information.

SEPTA Detours

Wednesday

SEPTA Bus Routes 7, 17, 31, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 and MFO will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday through about 2 a.m. on Thursday.

Thursday

SEPTA Bus Routes 2, 7, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 and MFO will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday through about 5 p.m.

Detours will be posted, and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at online here.

Prohibited Items

For the safety of spectators, participants, and staff, the following items are prohibited along the parade route:

• Weapons and contraband of any kind (regardless of permitting). This will include firearms, knives, pepper spray, etc. Right-to-Carry permits will not be honored and weapons will not be permitted into the venue.
• Fireworks (includes flammable liquids, fuels or explosives)
• Alcohol
• Illegal drugs or illicit substances of any kind
• Gas grills
• Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS/Drones)