6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade[1] is an annual Thanksgiving Day parade held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is presently sponsored and aired by ABC owned-and-operated television station WPVI-TV, through a co-sponsorship agreement with restaurant chain Dunkin'. It is currently the oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States, having been held through the Great Depression & World War II, and was created by Gimbels department store in 1920. The Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade was held until the department store closed operations in 1986.
| 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade | |
|---|---|
Parade logo with Dunkin' Donuts co-sponsorship introduced in 2011 | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 104 (as of November 23, 2023) |
| Production | |
| Production locations | 20th and JFK Boulevard, and then across JFK Boulevard, around Philadelphia City Hall, across the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, and ending at the Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| Running time | 3.5 hours (with commercials) |
| Production companies | 1920–1985: Gimbels 1986–present: WPVI 1986–2007: Boscov's 2008–2010: IKEA 2011–present: Dunkin' |
| Original release | |
| Network | 6abc (WPVI-TV) |
| Release | November 25, 1920 – present |
History edit
The Philadelphia parade first started in 1920 and is considered the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country. Like other parades of its type, it features balloons, floats, high school marching bands, and celebrities. The Gimbels department store sponsored the 1920 parade as the Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade; it continued annually despite World War II.[2] Ellis Gimbel, one of the founders of Gimbels Department Stores, wanted his toy land to be the destination of holiday shoppers everywhere. He had more than 50 store employees dressed in costume and sent to walk in their first Thanksgiving Day parade. The parade featured floats as marchers paraded down Market Street, with the finale consisting of Santa Claus arriving at the eighth-floor toy department at Gimbels by climbing the ladder of a Philadelphia Fire Department ladder truck.[2] Gimbels emulated other holiday parades already in existence. The Santa Claus Parade in Peoria, Illinois, is held on the day after Thanksgiving and is the oldest, continuously held holiday parade in the country since 1887, under the sponsorship of Frederick Block and the Schipper & Block (later Block & Kuhl) Department Store. Block's example led to the founding of similar parades in other cities. The parade tradition continues today.
End of Gimbels Era edit
When BATUS Inc. was unable to find a buyer for Gimbels in 1986, the department store chain liquidated; the fate of the country's oldest parade was up in the air. Boscov's (a family-owned department store based in Reading, Pennsylvania) and WPVI (self-named "6abc" in its programs and promotions) therefore took over sponsorship.[3] They renamed the event as the 6abc Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade. 6abc is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company (since 1996), and thus, this parade benefits from access to Disney characters and personalities.
In 2004, the parade celebrated its 85th anniversary with new balloons and floats. An opening number paid tribute to the celebrities who had participated during its history. In 2005, it had the most stars in history, as well as eight new balloons, more than ever before. In 2007, the parade presented the first parade float with a built-in ice rink. Disney's High School Musical: The Ice Tour utilized the rink (WPVI and High School Musical are both owned by Disney).
In August 2008, Boscov's Department Stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and planned to close several stores, due to financial problems from the widespread recession. They then gave up sponsorship of the parade. Swedish furniture manufacturer IKEA, which has a store and its North American home office in nearby Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, succeeded Boscov's as parade sponsor from that year until 2010.
In June 2011, Dunkin' Donuts announced that they would sponsor the parade.[4] In addition to balloons and marching bands, the show features ABC Network celebrities, stars from stage and screen, Disney characters, and local personalities, including members of the Action News team.
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade was held as a television-only event. The 6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Celebration featured modifications similar to those made by the Macy's and America's Thanksgiving Parades.[5] The parade returned to its traditional format in 2021.
Television coverage edit
Since 1966, the parade has been broadcast on WPVI, as well as simulcast on other television stations throughout the United States.[6] Viewers worldwide could also watch the telecast on the station's website, 6abc.com. Good Morning America, ABC's national morning news program, sends a reporter to the event each year and covers festivities leading up to the parade. Recently, Good Morning America then-weather anchor Sam Champion participated in hosting, marking his 6th year of participation in 2013.[7] In more recent years, current GMA weekday weather anchor Ginger Zee has participated in hosting.[8]
Jim O'Brien was the program's first host; Dave Roberts became a perennial host upon joining the station in 1978. After the sudden death of O'Brien in 1983, WPVI's Lisa Thomas-Laury "took the reins" as Roberts's co-host. Together, Roberts and Thomas-Laury hosted the parade for nearly 20 years. When Thomas-Laury began to experience health problems in 2002, WPVI weather anchor Cecily Tynan replaced her. 2006 marked the program's first high-definition telecast.
Since her return to WPVI, Thomas-Laury helped host the finale in 2005 and 2006. In 2009, the station announced that Roberts would retire from broadcasting on December 11 of that year. Thomas-Laury made a special appearance in 2009 to celebrate Roberts's years as host. The current hosting team is Tynan and WPVI news anchor ,[9] who replaced Roberts.
WPVI also broadcasts annual live coverage of Philadelphia's Pulaski, Columbus and Puerto Rican parades.[6]
Balloons edit
Balloons have been created to represent a wide variety of characters from popular children's books, including folk tales; toys, comic books, animated movies (cartoons), TV series (such as Sesame Street), films and other genres. Increasingly over the years, the balloons have featured characters who have tie-in marketing of toys, games, and accessories.
| Year | Featured Balloons |
|---|---|
| 2010 | New: Bugs Bunny, Fred Flintstone, The Jetsons Returning: Cornucopia, Sam I Am from Green Eggs and Ham, Mr. Potato Head, Big Bird, Toy Train, Scooby-Doo, Twinkles the Snowman, Nutcracker, Turkey, Horton the Elephant, Elmo[10] |
| 2011 | New: Buddy the Dinosaur from Dinosaur Train, Curious George, Red from Fraggle Rock, Apollo the Dog Returning: Turkey, Cornucopia, Madeline, Scooby-Doo, 2 Gift Packages, Bugs Bunny, Fred Flintstone, Toy Train, 2 Gingerbread Men, Kermit the Frog[11] |
| 2012 | New: Thomas the Tank Engine, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Lorax, Mr. Conductor from Dinosaur Train, Fireman Mr. Potato Head, Sid the Science Kid Returning: Cookie Monster, Scooby-Doo, Bugs Bunny, Elmo, Pizzazz the Snowman, T-Rex, 2 Gift Packages, Turkey[12] |
| 2013 | New: Chuggington Returning: Mr. Potato Head, Snowflake, Holiday Stocking and Christmas Bell
|
| 2014 | New: Maisy Mouse, Caillou, Garfield Santa, Bob the Builder, Mistletoes the Snowman Returning: My Little Pony, Mr. Potato Head, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Plex from Yo Gabba Gabba, Strawberry Shortcake, The Lorax, The Grinch, Pajanimals, Mr. Conductor from Dinosaur Train, The Cat in the Hat, Horton, Nutcrackers[13] |
| 2015 | New: Phila-A-Turkey, Tasmanian Devil, Daniel Tiger, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bubbles the Goldfish Returning: Red from Fraggle Rock, Garfield Santa, Strawberry Shortcake, Sam I Am from Green Eggs and Ham, Scooby-Doo, Mr. Potato Head Fireman, Gift Boxes, Thomas the Tank Engine, The Grinch, My Little Pony[14] |
| 2016 | New: Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba, Tweety Bird, Captain Barnacles Returning: Olivia the Pig, T-Rex, Tasmanian Devil, Curious George, The Cat in the Hat, Mr. Potato Head, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Bugs Bunny, The Grinch, Scooby-Doo, Daniel Tiger |
| 2017 | New: Buddy the Dinosaur (from Dinosaur Train), Penguins of Madagascar, Fiddlesticks the Holiday Mouse, Thing 1 and Thing 2 Returning: Bugs Bunny, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Daniel Tiger, Strawberry Shortcake, Gingerbread Man, Red from Fraggle Rock, Very Hungry Caterpillar, Pajanimals |
| 2018 | New: Where's Waldo? Returning: The Grinch, Thing 1, Thing 2, Hello Kitty. Santa Claus, Brainy Smurf, Strawberry Shortcake, T-Rex, Daniel Tiger, Underdog, Pizzazz the Snowman[15] |
| 2019 | All balloons grounded due to severe winds |
| 2020 | None |
| 2021 | New: Pac-Man, Jerold the Bookworm, Bumble the Abominable Snowman, Gingersnap Returning: Fiddlesticks, Daniel Tiger, Rudolph, Turkey, Buddy the Dinosaur, Clifford the Big Red Dog, The Cat in the Hat, Cupcakes[16] |
| 2022 | New: Smurfette, Peppa Pig, Alma, Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Eva Green Tree Returning: Mr. Potato Head, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bumble the Abominable Snowman, Gift Box, 2 Ornaments, Bugs Bunny, Strawberry Shortcake, Turkey |
| 2023 | New: Sunny Starscout from My Little Pony: Make Your Mark, Hermie the Elf, Gobo from Fraggle Rock Returning: Turkey, Bumble the Abominable Snowman, Mr. Potato Head Fireman, Pac-Man, Horton the Elephant, Magenta and Tartan Ornaments, Pizazz the Snowman, Red from Fraggle Rock, My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake, Neon Gift Box, Smurfette |
Stars, performers, and acts edit
In addition to the well-known balloons and floats, the parade also features live music and other performances. High-school marching bands from across the country participate, and the television broadcasts feature performances by famous singers and bands as well as appearances by local celebrities and actors from ABC shows. Since 1997, the parade has also featured a tap routine called "FanTAPulous," with more than 450 dancers from the East Coast. Other special guests include state and national beauty contest winners, cheerleaders of major sports teams, casts from musicals performing in Philadelphia, and Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Marching bands edit
6abc Dunkin' Donuts Holiday Food Drive edit
For more than 25 years,[24] WPVI-TV has partnered with the Boy Scouts of America Cradle of Liberty Council in their Scouting For Food program to collectively coordinate one of the most massive food drives in the nation.[25] (In recent years, until 2006, it was called the 6abc/Boy Scouts Holiday Food Drive). In 2006 the Holiday Food Drive amassed 120,000 lbs of food,[26] and for 2010 Boy Scouts troops' efforts led to the collection of over 40,000 pounds of food towards the cumulative total.[25] The food drive distributes paper bags to residents' homes and collection boxes at local stores in the region. A few weeks later, they are picked up and sent to help those in need at Thanksgiving and the end of year holidays. The Boy Scouts also go to the parade route every year and collect food from spectators. The parade and food drive sponsors are generally the same.[27] In June 2011, Dunkin' Donuts announced that they would also co-sponsor the food drive. Proceeds of the food drive currently benefit Philabundance.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ WPVI 6abc web page announcing name change 2012-08-06 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2011-10-20
- ^ a b . Newsworks.org (WHYY). November 24, 2011. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ . 6abc.com. June 29, 2011. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ . 6abc.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
- ^ "6abc to hold 2020 Thanksgiving Day celebration in Philadelphia instead of parade". 6abc.com. ABC, Inc., WPVI-TV Philadelphia. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ a b . 6abc.com. July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ Roberts, Kimberly (November 17, 2011). "Thanksgiving Parade brings out the stars". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "2020 6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Celebration". 28 October 2020.
- ^ . Radio Disney.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ^ . 6abc.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "2011 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade: Parade Balloons". 6abc.com. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "2012 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade: Parade Balloons". Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ "2014 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade: Parade Balloons". Retrieved November 2, 2014.
- ^ "2015 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade: Parade Balloons". Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ "About the Thanksgiving Day Parade". Nov 18, 2018.
- ^ "2021 6abc Dunkin' Thanksgiving Day Parade: Parade Balloons". 19 October 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
- ^ "2013 6abc/ Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade". dig.abclocal.go.com. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "2014 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade | 6abc.com". dig.abclocal.go.com. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade". dig.abclocal.go.com. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "2016 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade". dig.abclocal.go.com. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "About the Thanksgiving Day Parade". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade on 6abc Guide 2019: Here's what you need to know". 6abc Philadelphia. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania". marching.com. Retrieved 2022-11-25.
- ^ "6abc and Boy Scouts Team up for 21st Straight Year!". 6abc.com. November 11, 2006. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ a b . Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America. Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "6abc Holiday Food Drive". 6abc.com. November 12, 2007. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
- ^ "6ABC IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade", Visit Philly Website
External links edit
- Official 2016 website
- Official 2015 website
- Official 2014 website
- Official 2013 website
- Official 2012 website
- Official 2011 website