Dec. 12, 2025

Inside Detroit’s 99th Thanksgiving Parade:On-the-Ground Coverage by Arthur Busch

Inside Detroit’s 99th Thanksgiving Parade:On-the-Ground Coverage by Arthur Busch

Join Arthur Busch on location in downtown Detroit as he takes you inside the magic of the 99th Annual America’s Thanksgiving Parade. In this special field-report episode, Arthur walks Woodward Avenue, captures the sights and sounds of the morning, and talks directly with the people who make this iconic tradition come alive.

From families bundled up in the cold, to lifelong Detroiters describing what the parade means to them, to first-timers experiencing the floats, balloons, and Big Heads with wide-eyed excitement—this episode brings you the street-level spirit of a Detroit Thanksgiving.

Arthur reflects on the city’s resilience, the legacy of the parade, and why moments like this matter to Michigan’s identity. If you couldn’t make it downtown, this episode puts you right there at the curbside.

🎧 Listen for:

  • Candid conversations with parade-goers
  • Atmosphere and live sounds from Woodward Avenue
  • Arthur’s insights on Detroit’s holiday traditions and community pride
  • A snapshot of Detroit’s energy heading into the holiday season

A warm, uplifting Michigan story—perfect for Thanksgiving week.

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Transcript
WEBVTT

00:00:32.130 --> 00:00:35.810
Here we are, Radio Freeland at the Bit Network.

00:00:35.810 --> 00:00:38.210
We're in downtown Detroit today.

00:00:38.210 --> 00:00:43.009
At the 99th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.

00:00:43.009 --> 00:00:50.130
This parade has been going on for almost twice as long as some of you have been alive.

00:00:50.130 --> 00:00:53.170
But as you can see, it's quite festive here today.

00:00:53.170 --> 00:00:54.850
There's lots of floats.

00:00:54.850 --> 00:00:56.609
There's lots of fun to be had.

00:00:56.609 --> 00:01:05.409
Families, all kinds of people, and the best about the parade is that the Detroit Lions will be playing at the end of the at the end of the parade.

00:01:05.409 --> 00:01:09.969
It will culminate in a Lions victory.

00:01:09.969 --> 00:01:12.609
Have a happy Thanksgiving, everybody.

00:01:12.609 --> 00:01:20.609
There is the Motown Flow, Pittsville, USA, which is making a new museum in Detroit.

00:01:20.609 --> 00:01:30.450
So this is my favorite part of the Detroit parade.

00:01:30.450 --> 00:01:32.290
These are the Detroit legends.

00:01:32.290 --> 00:01:35.250
All of these what they call big heads.

00:01:35.250 --> 00:01:50.689
They have one for the mayor, one for uh Agordi Howe from the hockey fame, baseball players, and of course, my favorite one, Ernie Harwell.

00:01:50.689 --> 00:02:08.610
How are you guys doing?

00:02:08.849 --> 00:02:09.729
Alright, how are you?

00:02:10.689 --> 00:02:11.729
Good, same to you.

00:02:11.729 --> 00:02:17.330
So they have the the turkey over here came.

00:02:17.330 --> 00:02:20.050
The turkey balloon can come down.

00:02:20.050 --> 00:02:22.289
I hope they don't need him.

00:02:22.289 --> 00:02:24.449
Anyway, here we are not on Detroit.

00:02:24.449 --> 00:02:29.969
We're here at the 99th annual Detroit Thanksgiving parade, and I have with me today.

00:02:30.610 --> 00:02:31.810
My name is Mary Kay.

00:02:32.050 --> 00:02:33.409
And where are you from, Mary?

00:02:33.650 --> 00:02:38.849
Um originally from Detroit, born and raised, and I live in Dearborn now.

00:02:39.169 --> 00:02:39.490
Very good.

00:02:39.490 --> 00:02:42.129
You're not with Mary Kay because medicine, you're not the lady, are you?

00:02:42.370 --> 00:02:42.930
I am not.

00:02:42.930 --> 00:02:49.250
Almost like her, except in Cadillac and not the money, but otherwise just like her.

00:02:49.569 --> 00:02:51.889
So you're a volunteer in this year's parade?

00:02:51.889 --> 00:02:52.449
I am.

00:02:52.449 --> 00:02:54.289
And how long have you been volunteering?

00:02:54.770 --> 00:02:56.530
Since 2007.

00:02:56.530 --> 00:02:59.009
And what do you do?

00:02:59.009 --> 00:03:05.650
Um, I'm a volunteer in whatever job they feel is necessary.

00:03:05.650 --> 00:03:10.689
This year I was part of the concierge team and I escorted one of our grandmars.

00:03:11.250 --> 00:03:15.009
And what's your earliest memories of the Detroit Greek since you were raised here?

00:03:15.009 --> 00:03:28.530
Now we have the Detroit Jazz Festival, the world's largest free jazz festival, held here every year in September on Labor Day.

00:03:28.530 --> 00:03:33.729
Festival has five or six stages.

00:03:33.729 --> 00:03:39.969
Some of the greatest jazz artists from around the world gather in Detroit.

00:03:39.969 --> 00:03:44.930
People come from around the world, come and visit Detroit and listen to jazz.

00:03:44.930 --> 00:03:50.210
Pittsville, USA, which is making a new museum in Detroit.

00:03:50.210 --> 00:04:07.810
Standing here outside of Comerica Park, but they built this area out quite a bit, and uh it's getting part of the glitz and glamour of downtown Detroit.

00:04:38.449 --> 00:04:50.610
Everybody's Christmas is coming up with the answer to the press that's made to the game.

00:05:13.810 --> 00:05:23.009
So the next group that comes along is Rosie the Riveter, named 1930s, Flint, Sitto.

00:05:23.009 --> 00:05:28.129
So for many of you, you might think of Detroit as a place that doesn't look anything like this.

00:05:28.129 --> 00:05:30.129
It has come around.

00:05:30.129 --> 00:05:32.689
Uh the parade now's wound up.

00:05:32.689 --> 00:05:48.129
We're to the end, but Detroit's a very important city in Michigan, and that's why we're here today to show you the Thanksgiving parade, some of what's happened in an area that years ago was hard to walk.

00:05:48.129 --> 00:05:51.889
It was difficult to get downtown because there wasn't much around.

00:05:51.889 --> 00:05:56.769
And uh they've done a magnificent job here in Detroit, Michigan.

00:05:56.769 --> 00:06:05.250
Now here we got Santa Claus coming! He's on the other stereotype.

00:06:05.250 --> 00:06:13.410
Thanksgiving.

00:06:13.410 --> 00:06:17.490
We have Santa has finally came to town.

00:06:17.490 --> 00:06:24.529
It's dismantled to some here.

00:06:24.529 --> 00:06:35.730
Uh they take the traffic lights down, they lock off some of the roads, uh, and now the task begins to put the place back together again.

00:06:35.730 --> 00:06:37.569
It's quite a show down here.

00:06:37.569 --> 00:06:41.970
Many thousands of people coming for the annual 99th.

00:06:41.970 --> 00:06:45.970
Detroit Thanksgiving holiday parade.

00:06:45.970 --> 00:06:52.129
So we have the 99th annual Thanksgiving parade, it's in the books.

00:06:52.129 --> 00:06:56.930
As you can see, the people have left.

00:06:56.930 --> 00:07:07.810
There is all that's left now is to take down all the preparations that took days and weeks to put together here in downtown Detroit.

00:07:07.810 --> 00:07:11.730
As you can see, this was a crowded street with the floats.

00:07:11.730 --> 00:07:20.050
Now everyone is left to go back to find their turkey dinners.

00:07:20.050 --> 00:07:22.769
So thank you for watching.

00:07:22.930 --> 00:07:28.610
This is uh this is the Mitten Channel.

00:07:28.930 --> 00:07:32.850
Arthur Bush wishing you all very happy Thanksgiving.

00:07:32.850 --> 00:07:44.129
So as we walk home back to get Thanksgiving dinner, we had another nice a nice time here in Detroit.

00:07:44.129 --> 00:07:46.769
Brittany, the baby, and Hendrik.

00:07:46.769 --> 00:07:51.490
Now it's off for Thanksgiving dinner.

00:07:51.490 --> 00:07:54.290
This year it's gonna be very unique.

00:07:54.290 --> 00:07:55.970
It's going to be pizza.

00:07:55.970 --> 00:07:59.009
Which sounds kind of crazy to me.

00:07:59.009 --> 00:08:02.449
Anyway, that's it for now.

00:08:02.449 --> 00:08:05.170
See you all later.

00:08:05.170 --> 00:08:21.889
I'll leave you with a few scenes from the city of Detroit as we walk back down Woodward Avenue here, Detroit, where we have been enjoying the 99th annual Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade.

00:08:21.889 --> 00:08:23.089
Goodbye.