To apply for the 2026 Parade, please see the applications available below. The Selection Committee selects units based on their use of costumes, music, performance, entertainment value, and teamwork with The Parade Company.
Applications are required to be completed in full for consideration and must be submitted no later than Friday, July 31, 2026. Questions may be directed to CarolAnn at cbarbb@theparade.org.
2026 Marching Band Application
Capture the magic all over again!! Visit the links below to see photos from the 99th America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White celebrating Thanksgiving is Better in Detroit!!
The 2025 America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White was proud to make its 99th appearance on Woodward Avenue on Thursday, November 27th!! Celebrating Thanksgiving is Better in Detroit, The Parade featured a star-studded line-up of one-a-kind floats, colorful costumes, high soaring balloons, thunderous marching bands, and dancing elves!! Below are some fun facts from this year’s Parade!
OFFICIAL PARADE OPENING
Disney’s The Lion King – Can You Feel The Love Tonight featuring Darian Sanders & Syndee Winters
GRAND MARSHALS
Mayor Mike Duggan – 75th Mayor of Detroit!!
Devin Scillian – Television journalist, for almost 30 years, he anchored the news for WDIV-TV, NBC Detroit.
SPECIAL CELEBRITY APPEARANCES BY
- Dexter Bussey – Former Detroit Lions Running Back from 1974-1984!
- Christopher McDonald – Best known for his role as Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore!!
- Sam Richardson – Detroit-native, actor & comedian best known for his roles in Veep and Detroiters!!
- Hooper of the Detroit Pistons
- Miss Michigan 2025, Hannah Palmer
- Nitro of the Motor City Cruise
- PAWS of the Detroit Tigers
- Roary of the Detroit Lions
- Santa Claus
- Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star
29 AWARD WINNING FLOATS presented by an amazing list of sponsors cruised Woodward Avenue, including eight new designs by Delta Dental of Michigan, DTE Foundation, Ford Motor Company, Goodman Acker, Huntington Bank, Pet Supplies Plus, Rocket, and The Skillman Foundation.
SIX GIANT BALLOONS soared high in the sky!!
NINE THUNDEROUS MARCHING BANDS – Don’t forget to cheer on your local high school – the 2025 Parade featured:
- Cadillac Marching Vikings
- Chippewa Valley Big Reds Marching Band
- Dakota High School
- Detroit Public Schools Community District All-City Marching Band
- Rochester Falcon Marching Band
- Southfield A & T Marching Warriors
- Johns Redwing Marching Band
- Stevenson Titan Marching Band – Sterling Heights
- Wayne Memorial Zebra Marching Band
ADDITIONAL APPEARANCES BY
- Absopure Model “T” Brigade
- Big Head Corps
- Detroit Athletic Club Briefcase Drill Team
- Detroit Dance Center
- Detroit Stylin’ Skate Club
- Detroit Mounted Police
- Detroit-Windsor Dance Academy
- Detroit Fire Department Clown Team
- Detroit Goodfellows
- Detroit Mounted Police
- Distinguished Clown Corps® presented by Emagine Entertainment
- Ford Motor Company Pace Cars
- Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
- Mid American Pom Pon All Star Team
- Performers Edge Dance Company
- Premiere Dance Center
- Studio Detroit Dance Center
- Tina Marie School of Dance
- Wayne County Sheriff Mounted Unit
- Willow Run Rosie the Riveter Lunchbox Drill Team
The Parade stepped off at 8:45 A.M. Thursday, November 27th on Woodward Avenue & Kirby and ended at Woodward Avenue & Congress in downtown Detroit. Hundreds of thousands of Parade-goers lined Woodward Avenue to experience the joy of Thanksgiving in Detroit!!
The two-hour broadcast of America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Gardner White is featured on WDIV-Local 4 including a one-hour nationally syndicated broadcast reaching 84+ million households nationwide. 760 WJR and 104.3 WMOC also broadcast live from The Parade. The Parade is live streamed at www.clickondetroit.com.
For road closures, please CLICK HERE!!
