Know Your Neighborhood (& city): America's Oldest Thanksgiving Parade

Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States. The Gimbel's Brothers department store sponsored the first Thanksgiving Day parade held in 1920.

Ellis Gimbel, one of the founders of Gimbel's Department Stores, wanted to promote his toy land. He had 50 store employees dressed in costume and 15 automobiles, with Santa riding in the last car, in their first Thanksgiving Day parade. Over the years (esp. after rival Macy's began their parade in 1924), the parade expanded featuring floats, balloons and marchers parading down Market Street. The finale consisted of Santa Claus arriving at the eighth-floor toy department at Gimbels by climbing the ladder of a Philadelphia Fire Department truck (last 2 photos).

Gimbels sponsored the parade until 1986, when the company went out of business. The parade route changed at that time and now runs up the Parkway, ending at the Art Museum. Boscovs and 6ABC became sponsors until 2008, when Ikea took over sponsorship through 2010. Currently Dunkin Donuts and 6ABC are the parade sponsors.

Original Gimbel brothers store at 8th & Market

1925 ad

1930's

1961

1960's

1960's

1960's

1970's

1947