A hit parade

Detroit parade kicks off holidays

DETROIT - Christmas music cut through the air like a cold November breeze. And if not for that breeze, no one would have known it was November.

A sunny spotlight ushered Santa in among nearly 1 million smiling faces and more than 1,500 cans of silly string in the 72nd annual America's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit.

"It used to be a tradition with my whole family," said Music first-year student Natalie Ross.

She explained the tradition ceased once her grandparents "who were the ringleaders," she said, lost their enthusiasm to travel to downtown Detroit from Livonia.

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily JoJo the Clown, a member of the clown brigade, clowns around before the 72nd annual America's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Detroit on Thursday.

Ross and her friend Jim Leija, also a Music first-year student, climbed down from atop their 10-story perch in an office building to "get closer to the magic," she said.

Leija said his mother has an office building in the National City Building, and every year people gather together in the building, eat donuts and watch the parade make its way down Woodward Avenue.

"You can see all the people in the office buildings across the street. It's so funny," Leija said.

The magic included hundreds of clowns, high school marching bands and floating childhood wonders.

Ross and Leija speculated at the chance the balloons would fly away and attack the buildings.

"Good thing it isn't too windy," Ross said.

Tradition climaxed with Santa's float bringing up the rear of the parade in his shiny new sleigh designed by Ford Motor Co. The convertible sleigh was pulled by moving reindeer.

Rudolph's nose was the only red light on Woodward Avenue due to the city's efficient system of removing the street lights for easy parade maneuvering.

"You don't really realize the work that goes into the parade until you know someone who has done it," said Farmington Hills resident Jane Pimpton.

She said she had a friend who once pulled a balloon. She also said the wind plays a big part in how sore a parade participant is when they get home.

Her friend, "complained of sore arms for almost a week," Pimpton said.

But, during the parade, all participants wore smiles - including Santa and his elves.

Eight-year-old Jimmy Holden waved and screamed to Santa as he passed.

He admitted "the Curious George one with all the Mans in the Yellow Hats," was his favorite, in a shy little voice.

"Afraid Santa will hear you?" kidded his father, Mark Holden of Grosse Pointe.

Holden added his family tries to come to the parade every year. "But, with two small kids, the weather doesn't always permit," he said.

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