The oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade in America takes place along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Thursday morning, but street closures began as early as Tuesday night.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 6ABC Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade, from it’s 1.4-mile route to road closures to where you can and can’t park.
Street closures
Tuesday, November 22
- 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.: Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and MLK Drive closed for street rehearsals.
Wednesday, November 23
- 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Eakins Oval between Kelly Drive and MLK Drive closed for street rehearsals.
- 6:30 p.m.: Eakins Oval closed for street rehearsals.
- 7 p.m.: Inbound lanes of JFK Blvd. from 20th Street to Schuylkill Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
- 9 p.m.: Outbound lanes of JFK Blvd. from 20th Street to Schuylkill Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic until conclusion of parade.
Thursday – November 24
- 2 a.m.: 20th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from JFK Blvd. to Market Street until conclusion of parade.
- 5 a.m.: 20th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Arch Street to Cherry Street until conclusion of parade.
- 6 a.m.: 20th Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from Market Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway until conclusion of parade.
- 8 a.m.: Parade route closed to vehicular traffic.
Parade route
- Start at 20th Street and JFK Blvd.
- EB on JFK Blvd. to 16th Street
- NB on 16th Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- WB on Benjamin Franklin Parkway (South Side Inner Lanes) to Eakins Oval
- Around Eakins Oval to Kelly Drive
- Parade disperses via Kelly Drive and Spring Garden Extension
Parking
On Thanksgiving Day, metered parking is free throughout the city. But beginning Wednesday, you won’t be able to park along the following routes:
- JFK Boulevard from 19th to 30th Street
- 20th Street from Market Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway
- Arch Street between 19th and 22nd Street
- Race Street between 16th and 17th Street
- 17th Street from Vine Street to Race Street
- Eastbound lanes of Vine Street from 15th Street to 17th Street
Bus route detours
A number of bus routes will be detoured beginning Wednesday, November 23 as the parade begins preparations and will continue through Thursday. Visit Septa’s website to see if your bus route will be affected.
- 2016 6ABC/Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade Road Closure Information [Office of Special Events]
- 6ABC/Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade [Official]