To experience the American holiday spirit, parades make for the best visual choice. As a cultural melting pot, the U.S. gathers the quintessence of all cultures in its parades. We are going to present to you the most famous U.S. parades. If you happen to be near any of them, you have to make sure to drop by and enjoy the festivities.
Mardi Gras Parade
It has been said if you haven’t been to the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, you haven’t been to a real parade. After you go to the Mardi Gras Parade, you may never find another one as interesting again. Mardi Gras is a traditional holiday celebrated in the South. Mardi Gras is French meaning Fat Tuesday when people have a feast on greasy food the day before fasting. Mardi Gras usually lasts for two weeks. Meanwhile there is a parade going on everyday. The parading procession walks down the road slowly with floats and performers throw beads, coins, cups and toys into the crowd, pushing the parade to a new high. Anyone who has been to the Mardi Gras Parade would say it is “the carnival of the earth”.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Speaking of the best U.S. parade, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the most nominated. It is an annual parade organized by department store chain Macy’s. Originated in 1924, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the second oldest Thanksgiving parade in America. The parade starts at 9 a.m., lasting 3 hours. It is televised live on NBC. Cartoon balloons are the distinguished feature of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You will spot Snoopy, Angry Birds, SpongeBob and more among the floats. The parade also invites the cast of Sesame Street and artists like Panic！At The Disco, Train and Mariah Carey to perform.
Village Halloween Parade
New York City will host the 42nd Halloween Parade this year. It was first organized by Greenwich Village in 1974. By holding this large-scale parade, New York wishes to stimulate the imagination and creation in citizens. Monsters, wizards, aliens, pirates and cartoon characters are standard for Halloween parades, but people’s imagination is far beyond these. People always have original ideas and they try every means possible to make them true. Watching the spooky walking costumes in the street might make you think of the song “Welcome to the Black” by My Chemical Romance. Village Halloween Parade has become the most expected event in New York and is called “the carnival of New York”.
The Rose Parade
The Rose Parade was founded by the social club Valley Hunt Club in 1890. It is hosted on January 1 every year in Pasadena, California. The Rose Parade has a different theme each year, changing with the era. The best marching bands and the best floats present a fresh and novel show. The Rose Parade chooses a person or a character as its grand marshal every year who brings happiness to people and encourages people to be a better person.
Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Chicago is the best city to experience St. Patrick’s Day. When the day comes, even the Chicago River becomes green. Later, marching bands, floats and performers will raise the holiday atmosphere. The first Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in 1834. It attracts one million people every year, equivalent to half of the popularity of Chicago. The gentle green water and the furious green crowd advance side by side, forming a magnificent scene.
