North Miami marks 50th Thanksgiving Day parade

NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — The sound of drums and cheers filled Northwest 125th Street on Thursday as North Miami carried on a beloved holiday tradition — its annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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Hundreds lined the route early, including longtime resident Joann Cesar, who has been attending for two decades.

“It’s a family tradition. We make it every time to support the culture and the residents,” Cesar said. “I love coming every year.”

City leaders say the parade has become a signature Thanksgiving morning event.

“For families, it’s coming together,” Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe said. “Who else has a parade if you can’t go to Macy’s, right? We have our own little Thanksgiving Day parade here in North Miami.”

It wasn’t just locals taking in the festivities. Cheng Li, visiting from China, said his family arrived early to get a good spot along the route.

“This is our first time celebrating this holiday because in China this is not a public holiday,” he said.

City officials say this year’s parade took a full year to plan, bringing together schools, community groups and local bands to help kick off the holiday.

“This is the only parade in South Florida on Thanksgiving morning,” Timothe said. “Here in the city of North Miami, we are celebrating with community, with schools, with local bands.”

This year’s event also carried extra excitement as North Miami prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday.

“We will be celebrating our centennial, so this makes it more special,” Mayor Alix Desume said.

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