PHILADELPHIA — The City of Philadelphia released details for the 2024 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade, scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon).
Event Activities & Information
The oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade will kick off the holiday season as it marches through Center City and up the Ben Franklin Parkway to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The event is free and open to the public, featuring performances and activities for the entire family. The parade will be broadcast live on 6abc, beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the parade stepping off at 9 a.m.
Special guests include Lisa Ann Walter (ABC’s “Abbott Elementary”), Carson Kressley (“Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” “Dancing with the Stars” season 13) and “Good Morning America” contributing weather correspondent Sam Champion – to name a few.
Experience musical performances from local and national high school marching bands, youth choirs, and special dance performance groups.
Thanksgiving Day “Dunkin’ Zone”, taking place at Eakins Oval, will offer music, fun giveaways, local food trucks, and family-friendly activities.
More details about event activities, performers, and floats are available online.
Parade Route
- Starts at 20th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard
- Eastbound on John F. Kennedy Boulevard to 16th Street
- Northbound on 16th Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Westbound on Benjamin Franklin Parkway (inner lanes only) to Eakins Oval
- Around Eakins Oval to Kelly Drive
- Parade disperses via Kelly Drive and Spring Garden Extension
Road Closures
Monday, November 25, 2024
- 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
- 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive closed for street rehearsals.
- 4 p.m. – Innerlanes of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from 21st Street to 20th Street closed for site build until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday, November 28.
- 6:30 p.m. – Eakins Oval closed for rehearsals and site build until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday, November 28.
- 7 p.m. – Inbound lanes of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday, November 28.
- 8 p.m. – Outbound lanes of John F. Kennedy Boulevard, from 20th Street to 30th Street Station, will be closed to vehicular traffic until the conclusion of the parade on Thursday, November 28.
Thursday, November 28, 2024
- 12 a.m. – JFK Boulevard, from 30th Street to 16th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 2 a.m. – 20th Street, from Ben Franklin Parkway to Race Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until 11 a.m.
- 2 a.m. – Market Street, from 19th Street to 20th Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 5 a.m. – 20th Street from JFK Boulevard to Arch Street will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 6 a.m. – 20th Street, from Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 6 a.m. – Market Street, from 19th Street to 22nd Street, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 7 a.m. – Kelly Drive, from Sedgley Drive to Eakins Oval, will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 7:30 a.m. – Parade route closed to vehicular traffic.
Roads will be opened as they are serviced and cleaned. All event-related road closures will be lifted no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 28.
Traffic delays can be expected during the event. Motorists are advised to avoid the area by using alternate routes and allow for extra driving time in areas near the event.
Parking Restrictions
“Temporary No Parking” signs will be posted in connection with the closures listed above beginning on Wednesday, November 27 at 6 p.m. A detailed list of those streets can be found below. Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated. If you believe your car has been relocated, call the police district of the area where your car was parked.
- JFK Blvd. from 19th Street to 30th Street (both sides)
- 20th Street from Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway (both sides)
- Arch street from 19th Street and 22nd Street (both sides)
- Race Street from 16th Street and 17th Street (both sides)
- 17th Street from Vine Street to Race Street (both sides)
- Vine Street from 15th Street to 17th Street (eastbound lanes)
- Market Street from 19th Street to 22nd Street (both sides)
- Paschall Avenue from 62nd Street to 63rd Street (both sides)
Additional road closures and parking restrictions may be necessary in the vicinity of the event venue as dictated by conditions. Residents and visitors should always obey posted signs and instructions from the Philadelphia Police Department.
Public Transportation
SEPTA will be operating on a Sunday Schedule throughout Thanksgiving Day. Bus detour information and updates or changes to service will be published on SEPTA’s System Status page. Customers can also use TransitView on the SEPTA app. Riders should check System Status regularly or follow @SEPTA and @SEPTA_BUS on X (Formerly Twitter) for updates. Detour times are subject to change.
Below is a summary of SEPTA detours (from the SEPTA website) that will be in effect during the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade. Check the SEPTA website for additional information.
Detours: Monday, November 25
SEPTA Bus Routes 38 and 43 will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 25 through approximately 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27.
Detours: Wednesday, November 27
SEPTA Bus Routes 7, 17, 31, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 and MFO will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 through approximately 2 a.m. on Thursday, November 28.
Detours: Thursday, November 28
SEPTA Bus Routes 2, 7, 17, 27, 31, 32, 33, 38, 43, 44, 48, 49, 124, and 125 and MFO will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 6 a.m. on Thursday, November 28 through approximately 5 p.m.
Detours will be posted, and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at septa.org.
Prohibited Items
For the safety of spectators, participants, and staff, the following items are prohibited along the parade route:
- Weapons and contraband of any kind (regardless of permitting). This will include firearms, knives, pepper spray, etc. NOTE: Right-to-Carry permits will not be honored and weapons will not be permitted into the venue.
- Fireworks (includes flammable liquids, fuels or explosives)
- Alcohol
- Illegal drugs or illicit substances of any kind
- Gas grills
- Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS/Drones)
Stay Informed
Stay connected to weather and other information from the City for this event, and information year-round, by signing up for the City’s mass notification system, ReadyPhiladelphia. Text READYPHILA to 888-777 or visit phila.gov/ready to customize your free text and email alerts.
Press Inquiries
General press inquiries about the 2024 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade should be directed to mike.monsell@abc.com.
Media credential inquiries for the 2024 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade should be directed to diane.hamlet@abc.com.
