Nov 26, 2009 11:00 pm US/Eastern
Larger-Than-Life Characters Invade Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
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The oldest Thanksgiving Day Parade in the country stepped off in Philadelphia at 8:15 a.m.
CBS
The oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the nation had a new route this year.
The 90th annual parade stepped off in Philadelphia at 8:15 a.m. at 20th Street and JFK Boulevard and the larger-than-life characters made their way through the streets lined with wide-eyed children and their families.
The Ikea Thanksgiving Day Parade was hosted by celebrity guests like Kimberly Caldwell from "American Idol," Sam Champion from "Good Morning America," Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund and musician Jason Derulo.
The procession made its way east on JFK Blvd. to 16th Street, north on 16th Street to the Ben Franklin Parkway, west on the Parkway in the south side inner lanes to the south side of Logan Circle, continuing west to the south side of Eakins Oval to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art where Santa himself rang in the Holiday season.
Dating back to the 1920s, this Thanksgiving Day tradition is the oldest of its kind in the country.
Parade Detours:
Southbound Kelly Drive will be detoured through the park at Fountain Green Drive to Oxford Drive and 33rd Street starting at 7:00 AM on Thursday, 11-26-09.
The E/B I-76 exit onto the Spring Garden Street Bridge will be detoured west onto Spring Garden Street and 31st Street starting at 7:00 AM on Thursday 11-26-09.
W/B Spring Garden Street traffic will be detoured at Pennsylvania Avenue, east and west, or into the Spring Garden Street tunnel on Wednesday 11-26-08, between 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM and from 6:30 PM until the conclusion of parade detail.
JFK - 19TH Street to Schuylkill Avenue, starting at 8:00 PM on Wednesday, 11-25-09.
*** Detours will be in effect for the duration of the parade and during the dispersal
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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