Young and old, everybody loves a parade, from the best known and loved New Orleans Mardi Gras to local Christmas pageants in e very town and city across the USA.
Favourites include the California Rose Parade, the Independence Day Celebration parade in DC showcasing more then 100 marching units stepping out at noon along Constitution Avenue and of course, the thanksgiving fun event, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York.
ALABAMA
Mardi Gras in Mobile
February
Mobile, Alabama
For two and a half weeks, the streets of Mobile are filled with the sights and sounds of marching bands, brilliant-colored floats and crowds of parade goers. The festivities culminate on Mardi Gras Day with floats manned by masked riders armed with “throws” such as beads, moon pies, doubloons and candy. The entire celebration attracts crowds in excess of one-million people annually.
Mobile is recognized as celebrating the first-known American Mardi Gras celebration in 1703, even before New Orleans.
For more information visit: www.mobile.org
National Veterans Day Parade
November 11
Birmingham, Alabama
The first Veterans Day celebration in the United States was held in Birmingham, Ala., in 1947. Alabama, the state that has had some 13,000 Alabama National Guard soldiers and airmen called to active duty since the attacks of September 11, 2001, still holds true to that tradition of honoring the men and women who fight for freedom.
This downtown parade features more than 5,000 participants, 15 bands, and 50 floats.
CALIFORNIA
Rose Parade
January
Pasadena
Since 1890, millions of spectators from around the world celebrate the New Year with the annual Rose Parade featuring the beautiful pageantry and tradition of magnificent floral floats, high-stepping equestrians and spirited marching bands.
The Rose Parade has grown from a local Pasadena institution to a national ceremony that's very equivelent to the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square.
For more information visit: www.pasadenacal.com/rose_parade_bowl.html
WASHINGTON DC
National Memorial Day Celebration & Parade
May 26
The National Memorial Day Parade pays tribute to America's veterans from the Revolutionary War to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
More than 150,000 spectators watch the parade of marching bands and veterans units from many of the 50 states as they march down Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets.
For more information visit: www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com
Capital Pride
June
The fourth-largest gay pride event in the country, Capital Pride events and the Capital Pride Festival is a nine-day celebration of diversity, cultural achievement, civil rights issues and entertainment by and for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, families, and friends.
Capital Pride celebrates the uniqueness of all who participate in the annual celebration.
For more information visit: www.capitalpride.org
Independence Day Celebration
July 4
DC is one of the most exciting places to be to celebrate the nation's birthday. Where better than in its capital.
The parade showcases more then 100 marching units stepping out at noon along Constitution Avenue. When that's over, popular music groups entertain from mid-afternoon until the fireworks. The National Symphony Orchestra, with guest stars and soloists, performs at 8 p.m. The fireworks show begins around 9:20 pm over the Washington Monument grounds.
Thousands congregate along the National Mall to watch the spectacular fireworks light up the DC sky.
LOUISIANA
Mardi Gras
Fat Tuesday
Louisiana
On the Tuesday before ash Wednesday, bead-draped Louisianians and their guests hit the streets for a day of fun and frivolity. And no two places celebrate it in exactly the same way.
In the New Orleans area, more than 60 parades roll during the two weeks before Fat Tuesday. Slidell and Madisonville celebrate with colorful boat parades, and Monroe-West Monroe, Lake Charles and Houma have lighted boat parades. Shreveport-Bossier City's and Lafayette's Mardi Gras traditions focus on family activities, and the Alexandria-Pineville are celebrates with a children's parade for the young and the young at heart.
For more information visit: www.mardigras.com
MARYLAND
BaltimoreThanksgiving Parade
November
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore's Thanksgiving Parade kicks off the holiday season with spectacular floats, gigantic balloons, marching bands, cheerleading teams, and community and cultural groups, and the official arrival of Santa Claus to Baltimore.
After the parade, children can stop by Santa's Place, coordinated by Harborplace & The Gallery, to sit on his lap, share their holiday wishes, and have their picture taken.
For more information visit:
www.promotionandarts.com/index.cfm?page=events&id=13
MICHIGAN
US Coast Guard Festival
July / August
Grand Haven, Michigan
The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival honors the men and women of the United States Coast Guard with three exciting parades and concludes with a spectacular fireworks display that is truly one of the best in the nation.
Festival participants are invited to tour a Coast Guard cutter, an exciting midway carnival, water ski show and a nightly schedule of live musical performances. Additionally, the popular Street Dance for old and young alike is a fun night not to be missed.
For more information visit: www.coastguardfest.org
MISSOURI
Soulard Mardi Gras - Lumiére Place Grand Parade
February
St. Louis, Missouri
A parade featuring floats, marching bands, colorful masks and outlandish costumes rolls from Downtown St. Louis through the historic Soulard neighborhood. Families can view all the excitement from the Family Fun Area in Kiener Plaza.
Mardi Gras events include a wine tasting, Cajun cook-off, pet parade, wiener dog derby and more.
For more information visit: www.stlmardigras.org
NEVADA
Nevada Day
October
Carson City, Nevada
Highlight of Nevada Day is the parade in Carson City - a huge celebration to salute the state and look ahead to its future, to remind visitors and citizens alike how and when Nevada became a State. In fact, Nevada is the only state to continue celebrating their historical entry into the Union in the Nation. The parade began in 1938.
For more information visit: www.nevadaday.com
NEW YORK
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
November
New York City, New York
Starting in 1924 as Macy’s Christmas Parade with animals from the Central Park Zoo, this popular event now attracts more than 2.5 million people and another 44 million tune in to watch the balloons, floats, bands and celebrities in the most spectacular Thanksgiving holiday celebration in the world.
The three hour parade trails from 77th Street down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, then down Broadway to Herald Square.
For more information visit: www.macys.com/campaign/parade/parade.jsp
UTAH
Days of '47
July
Salt Lake City, Utah
The Days of '47 remembers Utah's early pioneers with 21 separate events beginning in March and culminating with an all-day extravaganza on July 24th, a state-wide holiday.
This fun-filled parade is one of the largest and oldest in the United States. Colorful floats, bands, horses, clowns, and other entries thrill thousands of spectators each year.
For more information visit: www.daysof47.com
