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The Best Thanksgiving Day Parades In America

The Best Thanksgiving Day Parades In America

It’s that time of year again when Christmas is just around the corner and all the merriment of the holiday season begins! Cities around the U.S. are kicking off the holiday season in unique ways, and one of our favorites is with a Thanksgiving parade. Check out this list of the best Thanksgiving day parades in America and everything you need to know if you’re planning to attend.

1| Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade – Chicago, IL

The Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade is fun for all ages. The parade is held on Thanksgiving day from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. on State Street, from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street. During the parade, you can expect to see fun floats, marching bands, dance performances and larger-than-life balloons like Tom Cat from Tom & Jerry, Animal from the Muppets and many more! Get there early to snag a good spot along the parade route or spend a little extra for VIP seating.

If you’re looking for a hotel during all the Thanksgiving parade excitement, consider one of our three Chicago metropolitan locations. Villa Park is the closest, only 18.5 miles away. Elk Grove and Downers Grove are just over 20 miles away. If you plan on flying into town for the parade, we recommend staying at our Elk Grove location. It’s right next to the O’Hare International Airport.

What’s even better? Each InTown Suites Chicago location offers affordable rates and great amenities. You’ll enjoy in-room kitchens, high-speed wireless internet and HDTVs with premium channels like SHOWTIME®. Check out our current rates and book your Chicago vacation today!

A young girl enjoying one of the best Thanksgiving day parades in America. 2| H-E-B Holiday Parade – Houston, TX

You don’t want to miss the 72nd Annual H-E-B Holiday Parade in Houston! Locals and visitors gather together to enjoy this extravagant parade and mark the beginning of the holiday season. As one of the oldest Thanksgiving parades in the country, you won’t want to miss this Houston tradition.

The H-E-B Holiday Parade is all about celebrating the Houston community with local performers, high-flying balloons and unbelievable floats. You may even spot a celebrity or two sprinkled throughout the parade. Festivities kick off at 9:00 a.m. at the intersection of Smith Street and Lamar Street. The parade route covers over 20 city blocks and ends at the intersection of Smith Street and Dallas Street. View a map of the route here.

For affordable hotel stays, InTown Suites has 16 properties scattered around the Houston metropolitan area – all just a short drive from downtown Houston. The three locations closest to the parade are 290 Hollister, Cypress Fairbanks and Westchase. InTown also has two locations conveniently located near Houston airports: IAH Airport (9 miles away) and Hobby Airport (6 miles away). Easily view rates for all of our Houston locations and book a Thanksgiving getaway in Houston today!

3| Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade – Charlotte, NC

You’ll get “miles of smiles” at the Novant Health Thanksgiving Day Parade. This Charlotte tradition will celebrate its 75th year with the first-ever night parade. On Wednesday, the 24th starting at 6:00 p.m., parade-goers will enjoy gorgeous floats, giant balloons, marching bands and more. Join the festivities in-person on Tryon Street or tune in to WBTV to watch the parade from the comfort of your suit.

The parade route starts at 9th Street and runs through Morehead Street. Vendors will be on-site during the parade, offering a variety of cuisines with hot and cold beverages. You’ll find plenty of parking along Tryon Street for the parade, or take advantage of the Charlotte Area Transit System for an easy bus ride or quick light rail trip. Don’t miss the fourth largest parade in the country celebrating its Diamond Anniversary!

While in town, you’ll want to find affordable accommodations with just the right amenities. InTown Suites has seven properties in the Charlotte metropolitan area. The closest to the parade is on Pressley Road, just six miles from the start of the parade. Seven miles away, InTown has two properties just off of North Tryon Street: University and North Tryon. Easily check out the current rates at each location and see a full list of InTown’s Charlotte locations. Our apartment-style hotels boast full kitchens in every suite with competitive rates that are typically cheaper than a standard downtown Charlotte hotel!

A marching band performing at one of the best Thanksgiving day parades in America. 4| Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade – St. Louis, MO

Head to Missouri for one of the most festive parades in America, the Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year St. Louis celebrates its 37th Thanksgiving parade, starting at 8:45 a.m. on Thursday morning. The parade route will follow Market Street from 20th Street to Broadway in downtown St. Louis. Parade-goers will enjoy over 130 decorated floats, large helium balloons, antique cars, fire trucks, marching bands and more, all from the St. Louis area!

If you can’t attend in person, tune in locally to see a live broadcast on KMOV-TV Channel 4. For those traveling to the area for the event, check out our affordable hotel suites with tons of extra amenities like in-room kitchens, HDTVs with premium channels and super-fast Wi-Fi. InTown Suites’ Hazelwood location is only five miles from the Lambert International Airport and 15 miles from the parade’s starting point. Our St. Charles location is just over 20 miles away. Check out our current rates and see a full list of in-room and on-property amenities.

5| 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade – Philadelphia, PA

A true American tradition, the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade is the longest-running Thanksgiving day parade in the country, celebrating its 101st event this year. Philadelphia’s parade attendees will celebrate the start of the holiday season with a one-and-a-half mile-long parade filled with larger-than-life floats, giant balloons shaped like your favorite cartoon characters and local performers including marching bands, choirs, dancers and more.

The parade starts at 9:00 a.m. at the corner of 20th Street and JFK Boulevard. The route will follow JFK Boulevard, turn left onto 16th Street then left onto Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The parade concludes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Parade-goers will find the best views along JFK Boulevard or Benjamin Franklin Parkway and at Logan Square or Love Park. A live broadcast of the parade can be viewed locally on Channel 6abc or live-streamed on 6abc.com.

InTown Suites boasts a newly renovated property in Pennsylvania’s second-largest city, Pittsburgh, approximately five hours from Philly. The Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade would be a great day trip from our property or you could enjoy the televised broadcast of the parade on a 49” HDTV while relaxing in your fully renovated Premium Suite. InTown’s Premium Suites have been completely renovated from floor to ceiling. Each suite boasts all new furniture and flooring, brand new kitchens, added storage and comfort and fully upgraded bathrooms. You and your family are sure to feel right at home!

6| Universal’s Holiday Parade – Orlando, FL

You don’t want to miss Universal’s Holiday Parade, and the good news is, you won’t have to! From November 13th to January 2nd, Universal Studios hosts holiday celebrations and experiences. The Holiday Parade features giant balloons and life-size characters from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade along with colorful Christmas floats and dancers decked in their holiday best.

Enjoying Universal’s holiday events is included with your theme park ticket or annual pass. Plus there are loads of other holiday-themed activities taking place around the park. With larger-than-life Minions floating through the sky and Madagascar characters coming to life, your kids are sure to have an experience to remember.

Once you’ve picked up your theme park tickets for the Holiday Parade, check out InTown’s five Orlando properties boasting affordable rates and convenient amenities. The closest property is less than two miles from the park entrance, and the second closest is only five miles away. Each property offers in-room kitchens in every suite to help you save even more on your holiday vacation. Plus InTown offers newly renovated Premium Suites featuring shiny new appliances, brand new furniture and added conveniences like USB charging stations and super-fast Wi-Fi. Enjoy our best rates and book your holiday vacation in Florida today!

Best Hotel Rates Near Thanksgiving Day Parades in America

InTown Suites Extended Stay Chicago IL – Elk Grove/O’Hare
$369 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Chicago IL – Downers Grove
$389 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Chicago IL – Oakbrook
$419 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Hwy 290 Cypress Fairbanks
$259 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – West Oaks
$329 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Cypress Station
$329 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Stuebner Airline Road
$239 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Willowbrook
$269 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – IAH Airport
$249 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Highway 6
$279 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Jersey Village
$259 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – West
$269 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Hobby Airport
$319 /weekly
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InTown Suites Select Extended Stay Houston TX – Brookhollow
$259 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Greenspoint
$239 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Westchase
$259 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Webster/NASA
$269 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Houston TX – Pasadena
$369 /weekly
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InTown Suites Select Extended Stay Houston TX – Stafford
$279 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Charlotte NC – North Tryon St
$349 /weekly
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InTown Suites Select Extended Stay Charlotte NC – University
$349 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Charlotte NC – Albemarle Rd
$349 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Charlotte NC – Airport
$349 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Charlotte NC – East Independence Blvd
$329 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Matthews NC – East Independence Blvd
$319 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Matthews NC – Indian Trail
$319 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Kannapolis NC
$419 /weekly
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Uptown Suites Extended Stay Charlotte NC – Concord
$449 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay St. Louis MO – Hazelwood
$299 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay St. Louis MO – St. Charles
$339 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Pittsburgh PA
$359 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Orlando FL – South
$399 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Select Orlando FL – Lee Rd
$399 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Orlando FL – Universal
$399 /weekly
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InTown Suites Extended Stay Orlando FL – Presidents Dr
$359 /weekly
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InTown Suites Select Extended Stay Orlando FL – University Blvd UCF
$429 /weekly
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