New Rochelle's Thanksgiving Parade returns for its 62nd year on Saturday, November 21, stepping off at 10 a.m. from Eastchester Road and North Avenue and heading south down North Avenue to Bonnefoy Place. This year's theme ties the parade to the country's 250th anniversary: We the People, Celebrating America's 250th.

The grand marshal is Andrew Sandor, who retired in June after 30 years with the New Rochelle Fire Department. Sandor joined the department in 1996 after serving as a sergeant in Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, worked his way up from firefighter to lieutenant, captain and deputy chief, and was appointed Fire Commissioner and Chief of Department in 2018. He responded to Lower Manhattan after the September 11 attacks, taught as a state and county fire instructor and chaired the Westchester County Fire Advisory Board. His wife, Robin, and their children, Hope and Tyler, will ride with him.

What is in the lineup

Mighty Mouse leads the giant balloons again, followed by Tom the Turkey, Peppa Pig, Fred Flintstone and Strawberry Shortcake. Behind them come marching bands, floats, vintage cars, fire trucks, motorcycles, dancers and singers, along with groups from Iona University, Monroe University, the city's schools and local businesses. Santa Claus closes the parade.

The reviewing grandstand is near Anderson Plaza in the Vanguard District, where performers stop for special numbers, so that stretch is the place to stand for the full show. Restaurants and shops along North Avenue will be open with food and refreshments.

The parade is run by the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce with the City of New Rochelle. The New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District is the presenting sponsor this year. The city notes the event began as a small nighttime celebration on Thanksgiving Eve and has grown into one of the largest Thanksgiving parades in New York State.

Breakfast first

The NR Fund's annual pancake breakfast runs from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the New Rochelle High School House 4 cafeteria. It is open to the public, costs $5 a person, and is served by the district's administrators and teachers.

Parking, closures and where to watch from home

North Avenue closes to traffic for the parade, so plan a route to parking that does not use it. The city lists these lots for parade day: the New Rochelle High School teachers' lot, the Hamilton Avenue lot, the City Hall lot at 515 North Avenue, the Lawn Avenue lot, the Transit Center garage at the train station, the New Roc City garage and the library's south lot.

NRTV records the parade and airs it through Thanksgiving weekend on Optimum channel 75 and Verizon Fios channel 28.

March or volunteer

Community organizations, dance schools, nonprofits, businesses, cosplayers and performers can still register to march through the chamber's online form. The parade also needs volunteers, especially balloon handlers to walk the giant characters down North Avenue; sign up through Volunteer New York. Details, updates and the registration links are on the chamber's parade page.

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