Of course we all know of the traditional holiday specials like Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, and the Tournament of Roses parade. Those are all aired nationally. But I've noticed there's a lot of lesser-known syndicated holiday parades and specials that are seen on some stations, but not others. There was this "Festival of Lights" show that was out of Chicago, and I believe it was produced by WLS-TV in Chicago. There's also the Neiman Marcus Annual Children's Parade from Dallas, and the Winterfest Boat Parade. They usually air at really weird times, like on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, and some stations even air them on Christmas day. Just wondering, has anyone here ever watched those?
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Obscure Holiday Parades/Specials
- Thread starter ssetta
- Start date
Though not exactly "holidays" unless one lives in Indianapolis or Northern Virginia but I can think of two parades that were seen nationwide on weekends back in the 70s. Both of course were tape-delayed even though the Indy parade may very well had aired live in that city.
The Indianapolis 500 Parade ( I assume that is what it was called ). I dont remember who hosted it but I do remember the floats and bands marching on this huge checkered flag. I am pretty sure it was WRTV that produced it. I have no idea how many markets aired this but I do remember watching it on WBFF-TV out of Baltimore.
Then there was the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival from Winchester, Virginia. I have been told the parade coverage ( edited to one hour since the spring time parade itself is over three hours long ) was seen in between 50 to 60 markets and on some stations as far away from Virginia as Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Tom Bosley ( Happy Days ) and Norman Fell ( Three's Company ) I remember seeing hosting the coverage one year. I am about 90% sure it was Staunton, VA's WVPT-TV who provided the cameras and such ( oddly it wasn't one of the DC or Baltimore stations though the parade did air in those two cities on then WTOP-TV and WBFF ). There is a story about the 1978 parade and Los Angeles, granted I am not sure how true this is but that year the special guest was Dolly Parton. The festival people had her sing her then-current hit "Two Doors Down" on a float for then-local country radio station WRFL-FM ( today its 92.5 WINC-FM ). In the viewing audience was Jane Fonda who saw Dolly do that song along the streets of Winchester. That gave Jane the idea to cast Dolly in the upcoming movie 9 to 5. Again I am not sure how true that is but I do know the nationwide broadcast of this was discontinued in 1980 as I can recall per-request of the town of Wentachee, Washington who had/has their own Apple Blossom Fesitval. I guess having two cities with the same name of a festival and at the same time would cause confusion or whatever.
The Indianapolis 500 Parade ( I assume that is what it was called ). I dont remember who hosted it but I do remember the floats and bands marching on this huge checkered flag. I am pretty sure it was WRTV that produced it. I have no idea how many markets aired this but I do remember watching it on WBFF-TV out of Baltimore.
Then there was the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival from Winchester, Virginia. I have been told the parade coverage ( edited to one hour since the spring time parade itself is over three hours long ) was seen in between 50 to 60 markets and on some stations as far away from Virginia as Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Tom Bosley ( Happy Days ) and Norman Fell ( Three's Company ) I remember seeing hosting the coverage one year. I am about 90% sure it was Staunton, VA's WVPT-TV who provided the cameras and such ( oddly it wasn't one of the DC or Baltimore stations though the parade did air in those two cities on then WTOP-TV and WBFF ). There is a story about the 1978 parade and Los Angeles, granted I am not sure how true this is but that year the special guest was Dolly Parton. The festival people had her sing her then-current hit "Two Doors Down" on a float for then-local country radio station WRFL-FM ( today its 92.5 WINC-FM ). In the viewing audience was Jane Fonda who saw Dolly do that song along the streets of Winchester. That gave Jane the idea to cast Dolly in the upcoming movie 9 to 5. Again I am not sure how true that is but I do know the nationwide broadcast of this was discontinued in 1980 as I can recall per-request of the town of Wentachee, Washington who had/has their own Apple Blossom Fesitval. I guess having two cities with the same name of a festival and at the same time would cause confusion or whatever.
The Christmas lighting of the "Rich's (Macy's) Great Tree" from Buckhead and the "New Years Eve Peach Drop" from Underground Atlanta are shown on various stations around Dixie. I usually watch them down here in Florida. The tree lighting isn't shown live here, they usually show it on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon about a week after the actual lighting, but it is the same WSB hosted and produced version shown in Atlanta... even including a couple local Atlanta commercials.
I've caught a Christmas boat parade from Texas (I think it was from Corpus Christi, but it might have been from Galveston) on local TV here. I don't understand how that one made it on the local airwaves unless the station producing the broadcast in Texas is co-owned with the local station showing it. The Texas boat parade was edited down for local broadcast, I assume it was shown live in Texas.
Isn't the Rose Parade carried on 2 or 3 of the networks? How does that work? Seems like someone would get exclusive rights to it.
I've caught a Christmas boat parade from Texas (I think it was from Corpus Christi, but it might have been from Galveston) on local TV here. I don't understand how that one made it on the local airwaves unless the station producing the broadcast in Texas is co-owned with the local station showing it. The Texas boat parade was edited down for local broadcast, I assume it was shown live in Texas.
Isn't the Rose Parade carried on 2 or 3 of the networks? How does that work? Seems like someone would get exclusive rights to it.
I think since the Rose Parade is on a public street that exclusive rights can't be given to one network.
I know that is the case with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. NBC is the official network, but they can't prevent CBS from also airing the parade.
I believe there are some musical numbers that are for just NBC, but the actual parade is public domain.
I know that is the case with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. NBC is the official network, but they can't prevent CBS from also airing the parade.
I believe there are some musical numbers that are for just NBC, but the actual parade is public domain.
briancraig said:
At one point in time The Rose Parade was carried by all of the Big 4 networks, along with HGTV and possibly other cable networks. It really never made much sense to me since you would think that some network would stick to carrying its regular schedule or have another alternative like a bowl game. I think CBS dropped it in recent years.
CBS switched from carrying several different parades to just Macy's in recent years, but they just call it the Thanksgiving Day Parade without mentioning Macy's. NBC's coverage was from in front of Macy's at Herald Squrae. CBS's coverage was from Times Square.
WMBD-31 (CBS) Peoria, IL has, since its 1958 sign-on, has had live coverage of Peoria's Santa Claus Parade (the oldest continuously running parade in the US, which began in 1888 IIRC) the day after Thanksgiving at 10:30 AM CT.
I'm not sure if it's still carried on a one-week tape delay, but Peoria's WEEK-25 (NBC) has, at least in past years, aired the East Peoria Festival of Lights parade (which takes place the Saturday night after Turkey Day).
I'm not sure if it's still carried on a one-week tape delay, but Peoria's WEEK-25 (NBC) has, at least in past years, aired the East Peoria Festival of Lights parade (which takes place the Saturday night after Turkey Day).
The parade is now known as the 500 Festival Parade. WISH produces it these days, although I'm not sure how far it is distributed. WTHI in Terre Haute carries it.mleach said:
Peach Drop
I watched it last year for the first time. How refreshing! It's a change from anything that comes from New York.
Peach Drop TV Listings
poledo said:
I watched it last year for the first time. How refreshing! It's a change from anything that comes from New York.
Peach Drop TV Listings
Wow! Thanks for doing the research Jay. I had no idea the Peach Drop was shown from coast to coast. I thought it was just shown around Dixieland since Atlanta is the capital of our southern states.
Coverage in L.A., Vegas, Salt Lake, etc... I'm impressed at how big the Atlanta new years celebration has become. I remember the first year I saw the Peach Drop down here in Florida (after living in Atlanta for a couple years) and the production was cable access quality. They've really stepped it up over the years. I'll go out on a limb and predict that the Atlanta Peach Drop must be the biggest "small celebration" that's syndicated nationwide.
Now I'm wondering how many places get to see the lighting of the Atlanta Rich's/Macy's Christmas tree? ...but I'm still to lazy to research it.
Coverage in L.A., Vegas, Salt Lake, etc... I'm impressed at how big the Atlanta new years celebration has become. I remember the first year I saw the Peach Drop down here in Florida (after living in Atlanta for a couple years) and the production was cable access quality. They've really stepped it up over the years. I'll go out on a limb and predict that the Atlanta Peach Drop must be the biggest "small celebration" that's syndicated nationwide.
Now I'm wondering how many places get to see the lighting of the Atlanta Rich's/Macy's Christmas tree? ...but I'm still to lazy to research it.
For years, there was the old "Santa Claus Lane Parade" in Holly which was carried by KTTV 11 and KCOP 13 as well as other different stations in various years. All that changed when KTLA turned the parade into its own TV Special; they bankrolled the entire thing, which is how they were able to get away with 'Exclusive Rights'. It literlly was their show. As the ratings fell off, so did KTLA's inventment in the parade.
As far as Parades that I remember watching but they don't air anymore in Atlanta (at least I don't think so):
Indianapolis 500 Parade
Portland Rose Festival Parade
Hollywood Christmas Parade
Citrus Bowls Parade
Fiesta Bowl Parade
Orange bowl Parade (they don't have it anymore unfortunately)
Holiday Bowl Big Balloon Parade
As far as parades aired nationally now that haven't been mentioned - WGN now broadcasts the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade which is the same parade they used to broadcast when I was growing up as the "Brach's Holiday Parade" each weekend after Thanksgiving for several years. I also saw Detroit's Thanksgiving parade syndicated on a religious-Independent WATC.
I'm wondering if Atlanta's Christmas parade was at one time syndicated. The parade raises money for a local children's hospital but used to be sponsored by Macy's a long time ago (in fact many of the balloons and floats from New York were shipped down here for that). I don't think it would be syndicated now cause it is really scaled down. WSB-TV still covers it but it definitely has a much lower budget.
Indianapolis 500 Parade
Portland Rose Festival Parade
Hollywood Christmas Parade
Citrus Bowls Parade
Fiesta Bowl Parade
Orange bowl Parade (they don't have it anymore unfortunately)
Holiday Bowl Big Balloon Parade
As far as parades aired nationally now that haven't been mentioned - WGN now broadcasts the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade which is the same parade they used to broadcast when I was growing up as the "Brach's Holiday Parade" each weekend after Thanksgiving for several years. I also saw Detroit's Thanksgiving parade syndicated on a religious-Independent WATC.
I'm wondering if Atlanta's Christmas parade was at one time syndicated. The parade raises money for a local children's hospital but used to be sponsored by Macy's a long time ago (in fact many of the balloons and floats from New York were shipped down here for that). I don't think it would be syndicated now cause it is really scaled down. WSB-TV still covers it but it definitely has a much lower budget.
The Festival of Lights parade and celebration is still going and is as big as ever. And, it's still sponsored by WLS (TV, AM and FM) as well as by Disney. We actually attended it in person this year and it was a great time!
Another obscure and strange (to me) holiday parade is the Mummer's parade in Philadelphia. A bunch of people dress up as if it's Mardi Gras and dance around in the street and play instruments out of tune. It's a pretty big deal to Philadelphians though and it's carried live on New Years Day by the market leader, WPVI-6 and one of the main sponsors is Southwest Airlines.
Another obscure and strange (to me) holiday parade is the Mummer's parade in Philadelphia. A bunch of people dress up as if it's Mardi Gras and dance around in the street and play instruments out of tune. It's a pretty big deal to Philadelphians though and it's carried live on New Years Day by the market leader, WPVI-6 and one of the main sponsors is Southwest Airlines.
Do any markets more than 250 miles from New Orleans broadcast (local or syndicated) Mardi Gras parades? If so, are they held the weekend before Mardi Gras or on Fat Tuesday?
Is there any syndication of the Savannah Saint Patrick's day parade?
What type of television coverage do the Tampa Gasparilla parades get (family or adult version)?
Are there any television specials covering any of the strange festivities held in Key West?
Is there any syndication of the Savannah Saint Patrick's day parade?
What type of television coverage do the Tampa Gasparilla parades get (family or adult version)?
Are there any television specials covering any of the strange festivities held in Key West?
Houston's KHOU-11 airs the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade, in place of the CBS airing of the Macy's parade. For years, it was sponsored by Foley's Department Stores (which is now, incidentally, known as Macy's), then by Washington Mutual (and its Houston predecessor BankUnited) and now by HEB Grocery stores (a major Texas chain based in San Antonio). According to the website, it's syndicated beyond Texas - which makes me wonder if its not just offered to the Belo Stations Group exclusively.
When I lived there, KTRK-13 would air the Galleria tree lighting ceremony, with it's parade down Post Oak, on Thanksgiving night. I don't know if they still do or not.
When I lived there, KTRK-13 would air the Galleria tree lighting ceremony, with it's parade down Post Oak, on Thanksgiving night. I don't know if they still do or not.
BRNout said:
Hagerstown, Maryland also has their own Mummers Parade too and from the way you describe Philly's, sounds like a twin. Except the Hagerstown version isn't carried live on TV, at least not on WHAG NBC 25 though it might have aired live on the local cable there. I think at one time the USAir airlines was the main sponsor then later Martins/Giant Food Stores and Sheetz Convience Stores. Have no idea who the main sponsor is now.
Troy Goodwin said:
It has, yes. As I said, H-E-B Grocery Stores is the presenting sponsor for the Houston parade, now.
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