America’s Thanksgiving Parade
Held Thanksgiving morning, this parade first rolled down Woodward Avenue in 1924 and has been a Detroit tradition ever since. For generations of Detroiters, it has marked the official start of the holiday season with Santa’s arrival at the end of the parade. The 3-mile-long parade starts at Woodward and Kirby near Wayne State University and ends at Congress Street in downtown Detroit.
Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade
A Detroit tradition since 1957, the Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade is held along Michigan Avenue in Corktown, a historically Irish neighborhood that takes its name from Ireland’s Cork County. It is one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, attracting between 80,000 to 100,000 people each year.
Marche du Nain Rouge
The evil Nain Rouge has brought doom to the city since its founding – but every year, the city holds a parade in the Cass Corridor to chase away the red dwarf and welcome the arrival of spring. The parade goes down Second Street, starting at Canfield and ending at Temple.
Cinco de Mayo Parade
For nearly 60 years, Detroit’s Mexicantown community has gathered to celebrate the Battle of Puebla, a victory over the French Army in 1862 that demonstrated the Mexican Army’s ability to overcome powerful forces. The parade is held on West Vernor Highway in Southwest Detroit.
Motor City Pride Parade
Motor City Pride is Michigan’s largest pride festival, which draws more than 50,000 people downtown ––– and its parade is equally as large. The parade goes down Griswold in downtown Detroit to Jefferson Avenue and Hart Plaza. Motor City Pride is a two-day event that traces its roots to 1972, when Detroiters held their first march to protest homophobic laws.
Polish Day Parade
The Hamtramck Labor Day Festival isn’t just a way to celebrate the end of summer – it’s also an opportunity to celebrate metro Detroit’s Polish heritage, and the Polish Day Parade is a big part of that. The parade is traditionally held on Labor Day.
Also be sure to visit these other parades, held just outside of the city limits:
St. Clair Shores Memorial Day Parade
A 2-mile parade along Jefferson Avenue in St. Clair Shores
Northville Independence Day Parade
Downtown Northville’s annual parade event, held on the Fourth of July
Romeo Peach Festival Parade
An annual Labor Day event, held in conjunction with the Peach Festival
Grosse Pointe Santa Claus Parade
Held the day after Thanksgiving, the parade ends with a visit from Santa Claus
Rochester Area Hometown Christmas Parade
Michigan’s largest Christmas parade, the 1.5-mile-long event is held the first Sunday in December
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