THE PARADE COMPANY ANNOUNCES ART VAN FURNITURE AS OFFICIAL PRESENTING SPONSOR OF AMERICA’S THANKSGIVING PARADE
One of the nation’s best Thanksgiving parades is celebrating in a grand way as The Parade Company announced today that Art Van Furniture has become the presenting sponsor of America’s Thanksgiving Parade®. The exclusive sponsorship was unveiled during a press conference in midtown Detroit by Art Van Elslander, founder and chairman of Art Van Furniture, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, and Tony Michaels, president and CEO of The Parade Company. Marking its 87th year in November, the parade will now be known as America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van Furniture. A new logo was unveiled at the event.
“Art Van Furniture as our presenting sponsor is an amazing moment in The Parade Company’s history,” said Michaels. “Art Van Elslander has been a significant supporter of the parade for more than two decades and he is a cherished member of The Parade Company family. We are thrilled about our partnership with Art Van Furniture and the many companies and individuals who make this Detroit jewel possible every year.”
The announcement of Art Van Furniture’s new sponsorship agreement further solidifies the company’s strong commitment to the historic parade.
“This is our way of thanking all of the Michigan families who have supported Art Van Furniture for nearly six decades,” said Van Elslander. “We hope that when people line up on Woodward Avenue this year, the entire country will see how much we all believe in the parade, the city of Detroit, and in creating lasting memories for children and families.”
Art Van Furniture will unveil its new “Art Van Wonderland” float in celebration of the company’s spectacular holiday destinations at its Warren and Grand Rapids flagship stores. Additionally, as in previous years, members of the Van Elslander family will proudly walk the Woodward Avenue parade route, waving to the millions of spectators watching in person and on television across the country.
“America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van Furniture is a treasured holiday tradition for Detroiters,” said Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. “As I’ve often stated, partnerships are vital to Detroit’s transformation. Art Van Furniture and other local businesses and community leaders who team up with The Parade Company to put on this family-friendly event are not only showcasing Detroit to the nation, but also are contributing to an improved quality of life and cherished memories for our citizens.”
This exciting news furthers the great momentum already building at The Parade Company for this year’s parade. Michaels announced a record eight new floats to be unveiled this parade season and an extended route for America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van Furniture. The iconic parade will now travel more than two miles, with step-off at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Kirby adjacent to the Detroit Institute of Arts in Midtown and it will end south of Campus Martius Park at Congress.
With 10,000 grandstand seats available for parade goers, this year’s route will offer views of some of Detroit’s most notable landmarks on Woodward Avenue including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Orchestra Hall, Comerica Park, the Fox Theatre and Campus Martius Park. The more than two mile long parade will feature 60 parade units, award-winning marching bands, 500 clowns, specialty acts, celebrities, the Big Head Corps donning Italian-made papier-mâché heads and the Distinguished Clown Corps celebrating its 30th year. This year’s theme is “Downtown Our Town.”
America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van Furniture produced by The Parade Company, is recognized as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country by U.S. News & World Report Travel and is broadcast to more than 140 cities nationwide.
Creator and host to many signature Parade-related events, The Parade Company’s 31st Fifth Third Turkey Trot, the S3 Stuffing Strut (5K) and BCBSM Mashed Potato Mile will bring nearly 20,000 runners downtown Thanksgiving morning. Further details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Additionally, one of Detroit’s premier events, Hob Nobble Gobble® presented by Ford Motor Company will take place on Friday, November 22, 2013 at Ford Field, raising critical funds for The Parade Company.
America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van Furniture will be held on Thursday, November 28 with step-off at 8:45 a.m. in midtown Detroit at Woodward Avenue and Kirby. The parade is free to the public with grandstand tickets now available starting at $40. For more information, visit theparade.org and follow The Parade Company on Facebook and Twitter.
About Post Author
