Portlanders all know about the Starlight Parade and the Grand Floral Parade in June as part of the Portland Rose Festival. Father’s Day weekend is the annual Gay Pride Parade. There are neighborhood parades from St. Johns to Hollywood to Beaverton throughout the year. And we even have the Christmas Ships Parade on our rivers…but did you also know that this year we have our very own Macy’s Holiday Parade?

Macy’s buy out of Meier and Frank did not kill the annual holiday tradition - simply added to it. For the 18th annual event - held the morning after Thanksgiving - there will be more floats and more costumed characters in the parade - and for the first time the 400+ member One More Time Around Again Marching Band (or the old people’s marching band as I affectionately call them - but I’m allowed - I’m one of them!)

The Parade kicks off at about 8:45 am and lasts just about an hour - it will also be broadcast live on KGW beginning at 9am if you just can’t make it out of the house.

Santa - the Parade Marshall - will be inside Macy’s once the parade is over, signaling the beginning of the “official holiday season.” And if you haven’t gotten enough of crazy crowds and are still downtown in the evening - the official tree lighting occurs at 5:30 in Pioneer Square - provided they have the tree all in one piece by then.

It has begun.