The Parade Company announced today an incredible celebrity line-up to appear in the 89th America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van, recognized as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country by US News & World Report Travel. On November 26, this year’s parade Grand Marshal Tim Allen will lead the iconic parade down Woodward Avenue and be joined by Women’s US Soccer stars Ali Krieger and Crystal Dunn, former Detroit Tiger Willie Horton, Run-D.M.C. founder Darryl McDaniels, Access Hollywood’s Liz Hernandez and more.
“These celebrities have come from across the nation to participate in the cherished tradition of America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van,” said Tony Michaels, president & CEO, The Parade Company. “We are incredibly excited to welcome such a remarkable group of individuals and look forward to celebrating with them on Thanksgiving morning.”
STARS TO SHINE IN PARADE – Parade goers will enjoy an up close look at performers, musicians and stars including:
2015 Grand Marshal
Tim Allen – Golden globe award-winning actor, comedian and Michigan native
2015 Honorary Grand Marshal
Stephen Henderson – Pulitzer prize winning journalist, host of WDET’s Detroit Today and editorial page editor for the Detroit Free Press
Parade Celebrities
Ali Krieger – Member of the United States women’s national soccer team, who helped to lead the U.S. to become the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Champions
Crystal Dunn – Member of the United States women’s national soccer team, who led the U.S. to victory during the 2012 Women’s World Cup in Japan and recipient of the 2012 Hermann Trophy
Darryl McDaniels – Darryl “D.M.C” Matthews McDaniels is an American musician and founding member of the hip hop group Run-D.M.C.
JERSEY BOYS – The cast from the Tony, Grammy and Olivier award-winning musical will open this year’s parade with a live performance from TV zone prior to the parade’s travel down Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving morning
Liz Hernandez – Mexican American television personality, journalist and current Access Hollywood reporter
The CONTOURS featuring Joe Billingslea – Motown Records soul singing group known for their classic 1962 hit, “Do You Love Me”
Willie Horton – Former Detroit Tigers left fielder and designated hitter
Susie Leica – 2016 Miss Michigan
Emily Kieliszewski – 2015 Miss Michigan
Unjanee Wells – 2016 Miss Michigan Teen
Vanessa Chambe – 2015 Miss Michigan Teen
Kung Fu Panda – Adored Po the Panda from the upcoming movie, Kung Fu Panda 3, which opens in theaters in 2016
Hooper – Official mascot of the Detroit Pistons
PAWS – Official mascot to the Detroit Tigers
Roary – Official mascot of the Detroit Lions
Santa Claus – Santa’s grand arrival in his hand-crafted sleigh is at the end of America’s Thanksgiving ParadeÒ presented by Art Van
The Big Head Corps will unveil the newest papier-mâché head on Thanksgiving morning to celebrate the late Saturday Night Live comedienne, actress and Detroit native, Gilda Radner. The new creation will join the more than 180 Big Heads who march down Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving. The Big Head Corps offers young professionals the opportunity to get involved with The Parade Company by donning the world’s largest collection of papier-mâché heads during America’s Thanksgiving Parade®presented by Art Van.
Runners from across the country gather each year for the annual Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3)Turkey Trot, the nation’s largest run on Thanksgiving morning featuring a 10k and 5k race. The iconic run on Woodward Avenue and throughout downtown Detroit attracts more than 20,000 runners annually and is part of the celebration for America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van. Proceeds from the race benefit The Parade Company, and runners may register today at https://www.theparade.org/turkey-trot/registration/.
The parade will step off at 8:50 a.m. at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Kirby, adjacent to the Detroit Institute of Arts in Midtown, and end at Congress just south of Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit, traveling over three miles along Woodward Avenue. This year’s theme is “So Happy Together.”
The two-hour Parade will be featured on WDIV-TV Local 4, including a one-hour national broadcast reaching more than 150 major cities across the country. News/Talk 760 WJR will also broadcast live from the parade route.
America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van is free to the public. A limited amount of grandstand tickets are now available for purchase starting at $40.
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