18 Forgotten Thanksgiving Parades From Small-Town America

Many small communities once used Thanksgiving parades to bring people together before the holiday meal. These events often featured homemade floats, school bands, local clubs and simple decorations. Over time, rising costs, weather issues and shifting community priorities caused many of these parades to end.

1. 1. Maple Ridge, Vermont

This parade began in the early 1900s with children marching in handmade costumes. Local farmers often decorated wagons with corn stalks, hay, and pumpkins. Residents looked forward to hearing the school band lead the procession. The event ended when winter storms made late November too difficult for outdoor gatherings.

2. 2. Pine Hollow, Pennsylvania

The parade started after World War II to welcome families back into community life. Floats were built by church groups using recycled wood and cloth. People lined the streets to watch local veterans march proudly. It faded in the 1970s when volunteers struggled to keep the tradition going.

3. 3. Cedar Brook, Michigan

This parade was known for its long line of vintage tractors decorated with ribbons and fall produce. Local orchards gave out apples along the route. Small marching groups performed simple routines for families. Economic downturns eventually forced organizers to stop the event.

4. 4. Riverbend, Ohio

The town created a Thanksgiving parade to highlight local craftspeople. Floats carried baskets, quilts, and homemade goods. Children loved seeing the final float, which always held a giant cornucopia. When the craft market shifted to indoor fairs, the parade gradually disappeared.

5. 5. Willow Creek, Nebraska

Families gathered to watch horses pull wagons filled with harvested corn and wheat. School choirs sang songs about gratitude on small moving platforms. The parade grew for decades but faced fewer participants as farms consolidated. It ended quietly when turnout dropped too low.

6. 6. Oak Valley, Indiana

This small-town parade featured firefighters driving decorated trucks as the main attraction. Residents tossed popcorn balls and small treats to the crowd. The event played a central role in starting the holiday season. Rising safety rules and insurance costs eventually made it too expensive.

7. 7. Briar Falls, New York

The community held a parade that moved from the town hall to the old mill. Handmade banners showed scenes of harvest and family life. Local dancers performed simple folk routines in the street. When the mill closed, the route and crowd shrank until the event ended.

8. 8. Silver Lake, Wisconsin

The parade celebrated the end of the fishing season with decorated boats pulled through town. People wore knitted hats and scarves made by local seniors. Hot cider stands were set up along the route. Interest faded when younger generations moved away.

9. 9. Ashford Glen, Kentucky

Residents built floats based on classic folktales linked to autumn. Marching bands from nearby schools visited to boost attendance. The parade brought music to the town’s quiet streets each year. It stopped when budget cuts removed support for outside performers.

10. 10. Red Bluff, Missouri

This parade often highlighted local hunting traditions with displays of old equipment and handmade decoys. The town brass band played lively tunes that echoed down Main Street. Children helped carry large painted signs showing forest scenes. Declining town population brought the tradition to an end.

11. 11. Pinecrest, West Virginia

Coal miners once marched in uniform to honor work and community. Local bakeries made large bread sculptures placed on floats. Families considered the parade a moment of unity before the holiday. When the mines closed, the event lost its core supporters.

12. 12. Lakewood Springs, Minnesota

The parade included skiers pulling small sleds decorated with autumn leaves. Stores stayed open late to offer warm drinks to visitors. Floats often featured handmade wreaths and dried flowers. Warmer winters made these snow-themed displays harder to keep alive.

13. 13. Fairview Junction, North Carolina

This parade focused on local rail history, with a small engine rolling slowly behind the marching groups. Children dressed as conductors waved to the crowd. The event drew visitors from nearby towns for many years. It ended after the railway museum closed.

14. 14. Golden Branch, Arkansas

The parade showcased musicians playing folk instruments like fiddles and dulcimers. Families walked together carrying baskets of homemade food for later community meals. Brightly colored ribbons decorated nearly every float. When funding for the town festival was cut, the parade ended too.

15. 15. Summit Ridge, Colorado

Marchers carried large painted panels showing mountain wildlife. Scouts built small wooden floats with pine branches and carved animals. Residents enjoyed seeing snow-covered streets lined with lanterns. Increased tourism changed the town’s focus, and the parade was quietly dropped.

16. 16. Harbor View, Maine

Fishermen led the parade with nets, buoys, and lobster traps. Boats were placed on trailers and filled with autumn decorations. The smell of fresh seafood often drifted along the route. It faded when harsh coastal weather forced repeated cancellations.

17. 17. Elm Creek, Kansas

This parade highlighted local harvest machinery, from old plows to small combines. Children rode on bales of hay stacked on flatbed trucks. The town square hosted a pie table at the end of the route. As farming modernized, interest in these displays declined.

18. 18. Snowfield, South Dakota

The parade was known for handmade paper lanterns carried at dusk. Families bundled up to watch small marching groups move through the early winter cold. Floats used simple wood frames covered with painted canvas. It ended when outdoor evening events became too difficult to host safely.

• Tags:
• small towns
• thanksgiving history
• lost traditions
• holiday parades
• American culture