Top 5 Thanksgiving Day parades from across the country

As the turkeys roast and the pies bake, millions of Americans kick off Thanksgiving Day festivities by watching or attending some of country's most celebrated parades. Before the meal starts and football games take over television, parades across the country look to dazzle morning viewers with an official start to the holiday season.

While the Macy's parade held in New York City may be the most famous, <a href="http://www.accuweather.com/en/outdoor-articles/outdoor-living/five-thanksgiving-day-parades/37636232" target="_blank">DreamPlanGo.com</a> compiled a list of four other top parades across the nation. For those heading out to take part in the celebrations, check out the forecast for the morning festivities.

1. New York City: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

As the 90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off at 9 a.m. EST, more than 3.5 million parade attendees will be greeted by damp conditions.

"A weak storm system will pass by New York City on Thursday and bring a little rain to the city," AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root said. "Temperatures will be in the middle 40s."

According to Orlando Veras, Macy's Parade spokesman, giant character balloons cannot be operated when sustained winds exceed 23 mph and gusts top 34 mph to follow city regulations.

Winds will be out of the east-northeast with speeds ranging from 4-8 mph, according to Root. The wind should not pose a challenge to organizers as the giant characters float through the city streets.

Strong winds have grounded balloons in the past as they can be unsafe to operate in gusty conditions.

On Thanksgiving morning, Macy’s and the New York Police Department will determine, with the help of an on-site meteorologist and data from other weather sources, whether the balloons will fly and at what heights, Veras added.

2. Philadelphia: 6ABC Dunkin' Donuts Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade

Celebrating its 97th year, the annual parade will kick off at 8:30 a.m. EST in the city that is known for introducing the idea of a Thanksgiving parade.

Milder air will flow into the city despite a good amount of cloud cover, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Carl Erickson.

Temperatures around midmorning will be in the lower 40s F, before rebounding to the upper 40s by noon then topping off in the lower 50s in the afternoon, Erickson said.

Spectators may also want to have a rain jacket or umbrella handy due to the chance for some showers.

"While it will not rain the entire day, there will be pockets of light rain on occasion," Erickson said.

3. Chicago: McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade

Floats and performers will wander through the streets of downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving morning at 8 a.m. CST for the annual parade.

The parade was founded in 1934 to raise the morale of Chicagoans during the Great Depression. It has evolved ever since and now boasts more than 5,000 performers and participants.

While skies will remain cloudy throughout the duration of the event, the weather is expected to remain dry with a light wind, according to Erickson.

Attendees will certainly want to bundle up as chilly air will remain throughout the duration of the parade, which concludes at 11 a.m. CST.

"Temperatures will start off the day in the middle 30s then only slowly climb into the lower 40s by noon, reaching the middle 40s in the afternoon," Erickson said.

4. Detroit: America's Thanksgiving Parade

Detroit's annual Thanksgiving Day parade will celebrate its 90th year with festivities starting at 8:50 a.m. CST.

As floats and entertainers march down Woodward Avenue, they will face chilly conditions with the chance for some light showers.

"Thursday will start off with a shower or two and temperatures hovering around 40 degrees at 9 a.m.," Erickson said. "[Temperatures will] then inch upward to the middle 40s by noon."

5. Houston: H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade

Dry weather is forecast in the Houston area for the 67th H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade. More than 200,000 are expected to crowd downtown streets for the holiday celebration.

The parade, which has been an area staple since 1949, will begin at 9 a.m. CST.

"Houston will have nice weather with plenty of sunshine and light winds," Erickson said. "Temperatures will climb to near 60 degrees by 9 a.m., then around 70 by noon, before settling in the middle 70s in the afternoon." 

<em>AccuWeather Staff Writer Kevin Byrne contributed content to this article.</em>

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