St. Louis’ Thanksgiving Day Parade been around long enough that St. Louisans who delighted in going as kids might now be bringing their own kids downtown early Thursday.
The 32nd Annual Ameren Thanksgiving Day Parade steps off from 7th and Market streets beginning at 8:45 on Thanksgiving morning. The route travels west along Market Street, past Union Station, and ends at 20th Street. The procession will be broadcast live on KMOV-TV. And, of course, a certain jolly old elf will appear to spread Thanksgiving joy and Christmas greetings.
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The parade will include about 135 units, including 11 marching bands, says Ken Mallin, chair of Christmas in St. Louis, which puts on the parade. The top five bands will take home trophies, and there will be honors for the best percussion section, drum major, and guard unit.
Keep an eye out for a number of specialty floats, including a Saint Louis Zoo float showcasing animals enjoying the holidays, as well as a float from the Saint Louis Art Museum with a nod to sledding on Art Hill. Purina’s float will explore the joys of welcoming kitties, dogs, and other creatures into our lives.
The floats, Mallin explains, begin with stainless-steel structures. The decorations are made of Styrofoam that’s been molded, glued, hardened, and painted so the scenes can endure the elements. The design process can take up to a year, with building lasting a month or two.
This year’s honorary grand marshals will celebrate some major St. Louis milestones. In honor of the St. Louis Blues’ 50th season, hockey legend Bob Plager and his family will lead the parade. They’ll share the honor with Michael M. Ward, superintendent of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, and Timothy Good of the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site as the National Park Service celebrates its centennial.
Before the parade, the Hungry Turkey 5K will start at Spruce between Broadway and 4th, beginning at 7:30 a.m. If you’re planning to load up on carbs, then a brisk morning jaunt might be a good idea.
The weather forecast for Thursday looks brisk—in the upper 30s and low 40s, with plenty of clouds—so bundle up. The St. Louis Catholic Charites and Pilgrim Congregational Soup Kitchen will collect blankets from the marching bands before they head out and distribute them to folks in need.
