Nothing says Thanksgiving like getting up at 4am to put the turkey in the oven, diving back into bed for a couple of hours, and then dragging yourself to an upright position to watch a Thanksgiving Day parade.  If you can go in person (and leave the cooking to someone else), so much the better.

Here are some of the best holiday parades in the United States.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
New York, New York

This is the big one.  It’s got all the floats, music, and the over-the-top balloons we’ve all come to expect.  Whether you brave the crowds in person or tune in from the comfort of your couch, this iconic parade pretty much sets the standard.  Homewood Suites is the only hotel chain to participate, so keep your eyes peeled for Lewis the Duck, who’ll be quacking along the parade route and making his second appearance.

America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Parade
Plymouth, Massachusetts

Unlike some of its flashier counterparts, the parade in Plymouth, Massachusetts (where the pilgrims landed) sticks pretty strictly to the book.   You won’t see any giant Snoopy balloons here.  The weekend before Thanksgiving, floats line up in chronological order and tell the story of Plymouth from the beginning in a low-tech way.  And that’s just the way they like it.

America’s Thanksgiving Parade
Detroit, Michigan

Sharing the title of the second oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, this Detroit tradition goes all the way back to 1924. Although it’s best known for its world famous collection of nearly 300 papier-mâché heads (think marionette puppets, but much bigger), the parade has the usual floats, bands, and balloons too.

6abc Ikea Thanksgiving Parade
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It’s gone through a few names as sponsors have come and gone, but this parade – now celebrating its 91^st year – is the oldest in the country.   The floats and balloons have a little bit of a toy and game flavor, so kids will love it.  Adults will warm to a tap dancing routine called “FanTAPulous” which has more than 450 dancers, all tapping their toes off.

Belk Carolinas’ Carrousel Parade
Charlotte, North Carolina

Proudly calling itself the fourth largest American Thanksgiving Day parade, the Belk Carolinas’ Carrousel Parade draws over 100,000 spectators every year.   You’ll see drill teams, beauty queens, marching bands, and enough costumed characters, balloons, and floats to sink a ship.

McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade
Chicago, Illinois

Originally conceived in 1934 as a way to boost both the economy and public spirit (this was the Great Depression after all), the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade began its life as a Christmas parade.  Despite dangerously cold weather (fourteen degrees below zero in some parts of Illinois) a good time was had by all.  And more importantly – to the organizers, at any rate—Chicagoans came and spent money. That much hasn’t changed.