2018 America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit: Everything you need to know

Parade route, road closures and parking info

DETROIT – The 92nd America's Thanksgiving Parade in Downtown Detroit is on Nov. 22, 2018. Here's everything you need to know.

Staying home? Here's how to watch:

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The Parade will be featured on WDIV-Local 4, including a one-hour national broadcast reaching more than 190 major cities across the country. Coverage begins at 6 a.m. on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit.com.

News/Talk 760 WJR’s Paul W. Smith and CBS Radio will also broadcast live from the parade route. 104.3 WOMC’s Stephen Clark and JoAnne Purtan (Mornings WOMC) will be hosting the live broadcast. For more information, visit theparade.org.

More: See who's performing at 'America's Thanksgiving Parade'

How to buy grandstand tickets:

Grandstand tickets to view America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van are now on sale. Ticket prices start at $45. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit theparade.org/americas-thanksgiving-parade/grandstand-tickets/.

Related: Jim Nantz will serve as Grand Marshal for 92nd America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit

Transportation info:

  • Detroit People Mover will offer FREE rides courtesy of United Shore

Taking the SMART FAST bus is a great option for those who don’t want to deal with parking or traffic. FAST buses travel down Woodward (Pontiac/Troy to downtown), Michigan (Detroit Metropolitan Airport to downtown), and Gratiot (Chesterfield to downtown). For Thanksgiving, the Woodward route will be diverted to Cass Avenue. They’ll have temporary Park & Ride lots available on Thanksgiving Day at:

  • FAST Gratiot—North River Road & 15 Mile at Lowe’s. Parking is available anywhere between Revolution Laser Tag and the lot across from the Lumber Loading area
  • FAST Woodward—Troy Civic Center
  • FAST Michigan—Westborn Kroger. Both lots on the South and North side of Michigan are available

Individuals attending the America’s Thanksgiving Parade, Turkey Trot and the Detroit Lions game on Thursday, Nov. 22 should make note of street closures, bus reroutes and suggested parking, as tens of thousands flock to downtown Detroit.

The City of Detroit also issued a reminder to parade watchers that the building of scaffolds and any device without a City permit is prohibited during Thanksgiving events in downtown Detroit on private or public property.  Violators will receive tickets, and the scaffolds will be removed.

DDOT bus reroutes

As a result of street closures for the Thanksgiving Day events, DDOT customers can expect delays beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23. Eastside bus routes will layover at the Detroit People Mover’s Bricktown Station on Beaubien north of Larned. Bus passengers are encouraged to ride the DPM at no charge on Thanksgiving Day to continue their travels. Eastside bus routes will resume regular service to the Rosa Parks Transit Center after 6 p.m.

The following bus routes will be affected because of the Thanksgiving Day Parade:

#7  Cadillac-Harper
#10 Chene
#25 Jefferson
#31 Mack
#34 Gratiot
#48 Van Dyke

The following routes will be affected because of the Turkey Trot, which takes place from 7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. These routes will come in and out of town by Michigan via Trumbull:

#19 Fort
#27 Joy
#29 Linwood

Bus passengers that need to get to the eastside routes from the Rosa Parks Transit Center may ride the People Mover to the Bricktown Station.

DDOT will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day for all regular routes at regular fares.  For more information, please call DDOT’s Customer Service Office at (313) 933-1300 or go to www.RideDetroitTransit.com.

Road closures:

Motorists traveling to downtown Detroit on Wednesday, Nov. 21 and for the parade on Thursday, Nov. 22 should note the following road closures.

Woodward Avenue from W. Grand Blvd. to Warren will be closed completely from Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. through Thursday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.

Woodward Avenue from Warren to Jefferson will be shut down beginning at 1 a.m. until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday, Nov. 22. Emergency vehicles will be allowed to cross Woodward Avenue at Warren, Mack/MLK, Alexandrine, Montcalm, and Adams.

The following streets will have limited access beginning at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 21:

  • Amsterdam/Piquette from Cass to John R
  • Harper from Cass to John R
  • Palmer from Cass to John R
  • Ferry from Cass to John R
  • Farnsworth/Putnam from Cass to John R

The following streets will be closed beginning at 5 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22:

  • Michigan at Cass
  • Fort Street from Trumbull to Woodward
  • Congress from Shelby to Randolph
  • Larned from Shelby to Randolph
  • Shelby from Congress to Michigan
  • Michigan from Cass to Woodward
  • Monroe from Woodward to Randolph
  • Lafayette Blvd. from Trumbull to Griswold
  • Washington Blvd. from Adams to Congress
  • Atwater from Civic Center Dr. to Third

These streets including Michigan Avenue and Washington Blvd. will reopen after the Turkey Trot at approximately 10 a.m.

In addition, the southbound Lodge exits at W. Jefferson/Cobo and Larned Street (Exits 1A & 1B) and the northbound Lodge exit at W. Jefferson (Exit 1A) will be closed during the entire Turkey Trot. The Larned exit will reopen after the Turkey Trot ends.

Parade route:


About the Author:

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.