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Mayfair-Holmesburg Thanksgiving Parade
Philadelphia's Largest Neighborhood Parade
Since 1974 Northeast Philadelphia residents have welcomed in the holiday season by lining Frankford Avenue for Philadelphia's largest neighborhood parade. The parade has its usual assortment of string bands, high school marching bands, military units, local Scout troops, floats, community groups, politicians, and personalities. Parade themes vary from a colonial Christmas, to saluting our military, to bringing music to Mayfair. Each year the parade draws over 100,000 spectators.
Mayfair has had a neighborhood parade since 1967. The Thanksgiving Parade began in 1974. Kevin Kologinsky, past president of the Mayfair Merchants Association, which sponsored the event with the Kensington String Band Association and independent merchants said "It has two purposes. It's for merchants to kick off the Christmas shopping season, and it's our 'thank you' to the community and our customers." It all started when two or three merchants wanted to put on a parade for the community. "It took off from there," said Jack Fluehr, one of the original parade organizers.
While everyone looks forward to the marching units make their way down Frankford Avenue from Rhawn St. to Knorr St. there was a time when the parade made it's way northward on the Avenue. The route was eventually turned around after marchers complained that they were marching up a hill instead of going down the hill as they do today.
Dee Simmer, a Holmesburg resident and a secretary at Mayfair Jeweler's, started with the parade in 1974 and remained active for about 20 years. She served as co-director of the parade for 4 years. For several years, she made costumes for the children who rode on a float and served as Santa's elves, including three of her own four children.
When Dee stepped down Gary Cozens and the Mayfair Optimists stepped up to keep the parade going.
Parade Costs Go Up.
Like everything else the costs to put on the parade continue to go up. In 1974 a float cost about $350 for one day. Today the cost is near $1000. In 1985 the parade cost about $18,000 to run. Today the cost is higher. In past years when funds were down Santa arrived in grand style on an antique fire engine instead of a traditional Christmas float. In 2009 the costs to put on the parade became so high that organizers had to suspend the parade on Frankford Avenue and host a Parade of Talent at the Perzel Community Center. As Gary always said “It's about the kids.” Starting in 2010, the Mayfair Business Association, under the leadership of Suzanne St. Marie, brought the parade back to Frankford Ave.
Volunteers Step Up
Each year organizers wonder if they have another parade in them. There are challenges of soliciting sponsors, recruiting VIPs, renting floats, working with the various marching groups, setting up the order of march, updating the parade website, and hundreds of other tasks. All to make sure that the man in the red suit makes it down the Avenue.
Organizers say "It's the biggest high to stand on Frankford Avenue after months of work and see smiling faces all around. Families - many equipped with lawn chairs, cameras, blankets and baby strollers - lined the two-mile route between Rhawn and Knorr Streets. For some it's a reunion weekend as family members return to the area. For some fans, the parade has become as traditional as turkey on Thanksgiving.
Over the years many organizations have supported and continue to support the parade. These include the surrounding area businesses, civic associations & Mayfair Business Improvement District
Our thanks to the community for keeping the tradition alive.