SMC Luncheon Speaker Tony Michaels

Tony Michaels, president & CEO of The Parade Company, was our SMC Luncheon Speaker on Tuesday, September 25th. The Parade Company will present Detroit’s annual Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van. This Annual Event is recognized as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This year’s Thanksgiving Parade will be held on Thursday, November 22, 2018. The Parade will be featured on WDIV-Local 4, including a one-hour national broadcast reaching more than 190 major cities across the country. News/Talk 760 WJR’s Paul W. Smith and CBS Radio will also broadcast live from the parade route. 104.3 WOMC’s Stephen Clark and JoAnne Purtan (Mornings WOMC) will be hosting the live broadcast.

Jim Nantz, a three-time Emmy Award winner and five-time National Sportscaster of the Year recipient, will serve as Grand Marshal for the 92nd America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit. Tony Michaels said, “We are thrilled to have Jim Nantz serve as Grand Marshal of America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit presented by Art Van and look forward to having him join us on Woodward Avenue on Thanksgiving morning.” Jim is a veteran sportscaster for the National Football League (NFL), National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Men’s Basketball and the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour for CBS Sports since 1985.

To commemorate the life and legacy of longtime parade supporter Art Van Elslander, “Art!! Heart & Soul!” has been announced as the theme of the 92nd America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Art Van Elslander, a friend of the parade for over 30 years, is a great supporter of the Detroit community. Art Van Furniture, now under new ownership, continues the outstanding partnership with The Parade Company as presenting sponsor of America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van.  There are ten major sponsors of this nine million dollar parade to make it bigger and better every year. Ford Motor and Quicken Loans are two of the major corporate sponsors. The parade takes a three mile path down Woodward Avenue with 120 floats. It uses nearly 2,500 volunteers, including the Big Head Corps and the Distinguished Clown Corps. The attendance is estimated as 1.1 million. Michaels said that the sponsors are interested in creating a vibrant, successful Detroit. The parade is a specific answer to bringing people together in a way that nothing else does.

The Parade Company is the marketing and operating division of The Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation and also produces the Ford Fireworks, Hob Nobble Gobble, the Turkey Trot, as well as props and floats for companies around the country. They also offer tours of their studio on Mt Elliott.

Grandstand tickets to view America’s Thanksgiving Parade® presented by Art Van are now on sale. Ticket prices start at $45. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit The Parade Company website