Direct answer: At the end of most Thanksgiving parades in the U.S., the event wraps up with a final grand moment centered on Santa Claus arriving to signal the start of the holiday season. After Santa’s entrance, the parade concludes its performances, and the crowds disperse as the route is cleared. This closing beat is a long-standing tradition for major parades like Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and similar city parades, and it marks the transition from Thanksgiving celebrations to Christmas festivities.
Details you might find helpful:
- Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade typically ends with Santa Claus arriving in Herald Square, a ritual that has been part of the event since its early years, and serves as the ceremonial finale of the day’s festivities.
- In addition to Santa, parades often feature a final performance segment or broadcast wrap-up as the floats and balloons pass the last viewing points and photographers/guides wrap up coverage.
- Some historical notes mention variations, such as balloons being released or other concluding elements in earlier decades, but the current standard practice is to close with Santa and a final musical/television wrap-up.
