Thousands in sunny Detroit for Thanksgiving parade

Thousands enjoy mild, sunny weather to watch Detroit's Thanksgiving parade; Lions host Jaguars

11/22/2012

DETROIT — Thousands of people have made the most of the mild, sunny fall weather to watch Detroit's Thanksgiving parade, hours ahead of the Lions’ annual home game.

Floats and marching bands poured down Woodward Avenue on Thursday morning, with many spectators forgoing the cold-weather gear of past parades. Detroit's temperature hit 52 degrees at 11 a.m., with a warm wind blowing from the South.

The Troy Athens High School band entertained watchers, performing an international version of “Jingle Bells.”

Floats ranged from cartoon characters to a Community Garden flatbed bearing giant strawberries and carrots.

Parade participants also included NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, a 28-year-old Rochester Hills native and the first Michigan-born driver to win the Sprint Cup Series.

At 12:30 p.m., the Lions host the Jacksonville Jaguars at nearby Ford Field.