In 2016, more than 3 million people packed the streets of New York City to watch the ninetieth annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade—a feat that would be unthinkable for the event's founder, Louis Bamberger.

When the parade first moved to New York City in 1924 from its original home in Newark, New Jersey, Bamberger did not expect it to be a roaring success. However, the excitement surrounding the parade (and the 250,000 spectators who showed up) was enough to make it a yearly tradition.

Macy's Building & Herald Square, New York City, early 1900s.

While it’s certainly the largest Thanksgiving Day parade in the nation, Macy's cannot claim the title of oldest—this belongs to the city of Philadelphia, whose parade was originally sponsored by Gimbels department store. Philadelphia’s parade began in 1920 and featured dozens of floats and balloons—concluding with the arrival of Santa Claus, who welcomed the holiday season by climbing to the eighth floor of Gimbels on a fire truck ladder.

The parade has changed sponsorship many times over the years, for the first time when 6abc took over for Gimbels in 1986, with cosponsorship from Boscov's Department Store; IKEA replaced Boscov's in 2008, and Dunkin' Donuts became sponsor in 2011, changing the event to the 6abc/Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Gimbel Brothers Store, Philadelphia, PA, early 1900s.

What hasn't changed about these parades, though, is their tradition of ringing in the holiday season and the millions of families who attend or tune in each year. Many of the balloons and floats are recurring, and their journeys down the parade routes have grown to be as much a sign of the holidays as the parades themselves.

Snoopy, for instance, has appeared in the Macy's parade thirty-nine times in the last fifty years. The parades have also traditionally been a showcase for talent, both local and national, with high-school marching bands and dance troupes, as well as stars from popular television shows and films, making appearances.

And it's not only the Philadelphia and New York City parades that help kick off the holidays. Plenty of other cities across the country have their own versions of the Thanksgiving Day parade tradition. From coast to coast, American families venture out or gather in front of the television to enjoy the sights and sounds of these parades, which, for many, help make the Thanksgiving holiday feel complete.

McDonald's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago, IL.

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