>> WHEN THEY SET THE TABLE TO CELEBRATE IN PLYMOUTH, IT STARTS LIKE THI AND INSECT LIKE THIS.
THOUSANDS ARE -- ENDS UP LIKE THIS.
THOUSANDS ARE INVITED.
>> THANKSGIVING BELONGS IN PLYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS.
WE OWN IT.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AMERICA’S HOMETOWN THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION DOESN’T JUST LOVE THIS PARADE, HE LIVES IT.
>> I GO TO BED AND MY MIND IS ROLLING WITH DIFFERENT IDEAS AND CONCEPTS.
ALWAYS TELLING THE GREATNESS OF OUR LAND.
TO ME, IT IS PERSONAL.
I IMMIGRATED TO THE U.S. IN 1966 AS A YOUNG BOY.
WE MOVED TO DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS AND LIVED IN A THREE-DR. WITH 14 OF US IN ONE SECOND FLOOR.
I HAVE A TREMENDOUS APPRECIATION FOR THIS GREAT LAND.
>> HELD ANNUALLY ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, THE PARADE IS THE CENTERPIECE OF A THREE-DAY CELEBRATION.
SPECTATORS STAKE OUT A SPOT A STONE’S THROW AWAY FROM PLYMOUTH ROCK TO BE ENTERTAINED BY MUSICAL GROUPS.
♪ >> ACTORS, AND FLOATS TELLING THE STORY OF AMERICA.
PAUL IS THE HISTORICAL CONSULTANT FOR THE EVENT.
>> SOME OF THE EARLIEST PARADES WERE ONES THAT TOLD THE STORY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE ILLITERATE AT THE TIME AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE STORY VISUALLY FLOAT BY THEM.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THIS IDEA OF FLOATS.
THE FLOATS SPEND EVERY DAY EXCEPT PARADE DATE IN ONE OF TWO PLACES, STORED IN THE OLD SEARS LOCATION AT THE KINGSTON MALL, OR MASTERLY CRAFTED BY VOLUNTEERS AT A SPACE DONATED.
MANY FLOATS CHANGE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO THEM THAN MEETS THE EYE.
>> THIS WAS AN OLD SCHOOL BUS.
WE BEGIN TO BUILD AROUND IT.
THIS IS ACCESS TO WHERE THE DRIVER WOULD GO.
IT IS BLACKED OUT BECAUSE IF IT WASN’T COMING YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH THE WINDOWS.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS DARK.
NO ONE SEES THE DRIVER INSIDE.
THAT CAPTIVATES PEOPLE.
♪ >> THIS MADE FROM AN OLD GOLF CART.
HIS HEAD TURNS.
HE GOES BACK AND FOURTH.
HIS WINGS GO UP AND DOWN.
THIS IS THE BACK OF THE TURKEY WHERE A DRIVER WOULD GET INTO IT.
IT IS HOLLOW INSIDE.
DIFFERENT KIND OF STUFFING IN THIS TURKEY.
THE DRIVER SNEAKS IN HERE AND GOES UP FRONT AND THIS IS HOW HE DRIVES THE TURKEY DOWN THE STREET.
>> WITH OVER 100,000 ATTENDING ANNUALLY, IT IS JOYFUL AND STRESSFUL FOR MICHAEL.
>> IT IS MOVING ART.
IT IS A TALENT TO SECURE MOVING ART IN SUCH A WAY THAT ADDRESSES THE THREATS OF TODAY, WHICH ARE NUMEROUS HIM UP IT DOES NOT GET IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE ENJOYING THEMSELVES.
ANOTHER FIXTURE IN THE PARADE HAS BEEN THE TEAM FROM NEWSCENTER 5’S EYEOPENER, INCLUDING RANDY AND INTRANET, WHO SERVED AS PARADE MARSHALS.
>> THIS IS AN AMAZING EVENT, NOT JUST THE PARADE, THE PEOPLE LINING THE STREETS IN PLYMOUTH.
THESE ARE THE WARMEST PEOPLE.
>> UNLIKE THE SLICK NATIONAL PARADES, THIS IS HOME-GROWN, VOLUNTEERS, A LIMITED BUDGET, AND IT IS AN UNBELIEVABLE DISPLAY OF TRADITIONAL AMERICAN VALUES.
>> AS FOR THOSE SLICK NATIONAL PARADES, THE GOOD PEOPLE OF PLYMOUTH AREN’T ABOVE HAVING A LITTLE FUN IN A MARKETING MESSAGE FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO.
>> YOU SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT ANIMATED ANIMALS AT MACY’S.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THE TREMENDOUS STORY OF A TREMENDOUS COUNTRY TOLD BY ITS OWN PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH THEIR HANDS, ALL VOLUNTEER.
>> SOMEONE WALKED UP TO ME AFTER THE EVENT AND SAID YOU HAVE MADE MY THANKSGIVING.
IT IS AS IF I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT BEING AMERICAN, ABOUT OUR HISTORY.
♪ ANTHONY: I AM READY.
I AM IN THE SPIRIT.
THE PARADE STARTS AT 11:00 A.M.
PROFESSIONAL TIP, GET THERE EARLY.
GOOD SPOTS ARE HARD TO COME BY.
SHAYNA: THIS YEAR, A FLOAT HONORING THE BOSTON RED SOX, AS WELL AS ONE HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR..
2018 MARKS 50 YEARS SINCE HIS DEATH.
IT SHOULD BE A FUN DAY.
AFTER THE PARADE, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING A NEW WINE AND BEER GARDEN.
ANTHONY: THEY CAN’T FORGET THE TIME WILD TURKEYS LINED UP IN THE CROSSWALK.
>> IT WAS SO SIMILAR