DETROIT — The Parade Company announced today a star-studded celebrity line-up to appear in the 90th America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van, recognized as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country by U.S. News & World Report Travel. On November 24, this year’s parade celebrating “90 Years Together” will be led by parade Co-Grand Marshals Judge Damon Keith and Actor Keegan-Michael Key joined by U.S. Olympic athletes Allison Schmitt, Aly Raisman and April Ross, singer and songwriter Mike Posner, Motown singer Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, the Broadway cast of Motown the Musical compliments of Broadway in Detroit, and more.
Also joining this year as a signature piece of the parade is the Yankee Air Museum Rosie the Riveter Tribute Corps including two original riveters, Iva Davie and Laura Eglinsdoerfer.
“We are thrilled to have these celebrities join us in participating in the 90th America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van, which marks a major milestone year for us,” said Tony Michaels, president & CEO, The Parade Company. “We are very excited to have such a talented and distinguished group including U.S. Olympians, performers and stars, many of whom have Detroit or Michigan roots, celebrate with us this year.”
STARS TO SHINE IN PARADE – Parade goers will enjoy an up close look at U.S. Olympic athletes, performers, and stars including:
2016 Co-Grand Marshals
Judge Damon Keith – Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit for a decade, giant for Civil Rights justice and Detroit native
Keegan-Michael Key – Emmy-winning star of the upcoming movie “Why Him?” and Detroit native
Parade Celebrities
Allison Schmitt – Eight-time Olympic medalist in swimming including 4 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals (2008, 2012 & 2016)
Aly Raisman – Two-time team captain of gold medal winning U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Teams (2012 & 2016)
April Ross – Two-time medal winning Olympic volleyball player (2012 & 2016)
Mike Posner – American singer, songwriter, record producer and Michigan native, known for his songs Cooler Than Me and Please Don’t Go
Martha Reeves – American pop and R&B singer, lead singer of the group Martha and the Vandellas known for their hits Nowhere to Run, Dancing in the Street and Heat Wave
Motown the Musical – Cast members from the Tony-nominated musical will open this year’s parade with a live performance from TV zone prior to the parade’s travel down Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving morning
Yankee Air Museum Rosie the Riveter Tribute Corps – Women including two original riveters, Iva Davie and Laura Eglinsdoerfer, representing Rosie the Riveter, the World War II American poster icon
Detroit’s Favorite Sports Mascots
Santa Claus – Santa’s grand arrival in his hand-crafted sleigh is at the end of America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van
The Parade Company will host its annual Hob Nobble Gobble® presented by Ford Motor Company on Friday, November 18 at Ford Field. Guests will enjoy a star-studded black tie evening in Detroit with a performance by award winning hip hop artist Flo Rida, courtesy of 98.7 AMP Radio and The Parade Company. He will be performing his chart topping songs My House, Wild Ones and Good Feeling.
Runners from across the country gather each year for the annual Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3) Turkey Trot, the nation’s largest run on Thanksgiving morning featuring a 10k and 5k race. The iconic run on Woodward Avenue and throughout downtown Detroit attracts more than 20,000 runners annually and is part of the celebration for America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van. Proceeds from the race benefit The Parade Company, and runners may register today at http://www.theparade.org/turkey-trot/registration/.
This year’s theme is “90 Years Together,” marking a major milestone for the storied parade that is broadcast in more than 170 cities across the country. Recognized as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country by U.S. News & World Report Travel, America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van will be held on Thursday, November 24. For more information, visit theparade.org.
The parade will be featured on WDIV-TV Local 4, including a one-hour national broadcast reaching more than 170 major cities across the country. News/Talk 760 WJR’s Paul W. Smith and CBS Radio will also broadcast live from the parade route.
Source: America’s Thanksgiving Parade