Everything You Need to Know About This Year’s Thanksgiving Parade
Road closures begin Wednesday night – are you ready?
The most gluttonous holiday of the year is nearly upon us.
To help you prepare, we’ve assembled a guide to the biggest event of the day in Philly: the 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade. Here’s information on what to expect of the festivity, as well as road closures and SEPTA adjustments.
An overview
The parade will start at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning and run until noon. It will kick off at 20th Street and JFK Boulevard and run:
- Eastbound on JFK Boulevard to 16th Street
- Northbound on 16th Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Westbound on Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the south-side lanes to the south side of Logan Circle
- And westbound on Benjamin Franklin Parkway (south-side inner lanes) to Eakins Oval and the Art Museum.
Those partaking in the parade this year include “The Voice” 2016 contestant Billy Gilman, “Good Morning America” host Lara Spencer, Philly DJ Jerry Blavat and more. Check out Visit Philly for additional information.
Philadelphia goes big for Thanksgiving! Here's a complete guide to events, delicious dinners, light shows and more.https://t.co/z4A1h8wUwX
— Visit Philly (@visitphilly) November 20, 2017
Road closures
Starting at 4 a.m. on Thursday, parking restrictions will be in place along the parade route. Vehicles on the route will be towed.
Here’s the schedule for street closures, per the city:
Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Eakins Oval, between Kelly Drive and MLK Drive
Wednesday, 6 p.m. to Thursday, 2 p.m.:
Eakins Oval, between Kelly Drive and MLK Drive
Wednesday, 1 p.m. to Thursday, 11 a.m.:
JFK Boulevard, 20th Street to 30th Street Station
Thursday, 1 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
Market Street, 19th to 21st Streets
Thursday, 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
20th Street, Market Street to Ben Franklin Parkway
Thursday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
Traffic southbound on Kelly Drive will be detoured through the park at Fountain Green Drive to Oxford Drive & 33rd Street
Thursday, 7:40 a.m.:
Roads along the parade route will shut down between 8:15 a.m. and the parade’s end
RT if you are excited for the 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade! https://t.co/hJXKVZZPzX pic.twitter.com/ix7i9XKYew
— Action News on 6abc (@6abc) November 21, 2017
SEPTA adjustments
Most buses, trains and trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day. The Broad Street and Market-Frankford subway lines will operate with all night service on Thursday.
The following bus detours will begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday and last through 2 p.m. Thursday:
Routes 31, 33, 38, 44, 124, 125, MFO
And the bus following detours will be begin at 3 a.m. Thursday and continue through 2 p.m.:
Routes 2, 7, 17, 27, 32, 43, 48
Be sure to check System Status online for updates or schedule changes.