Thanksgiving Parade 2026

                     

Click HERE for Online Sponsorship Payments


For questions or more information contact call Catherine White 914-632-5700 or email catherine@newrochamber.org

Parade Participation Form

FILL OUT FORM

Parade Participation Guidelines

DOWNLOAD HERE

Presenting Sponsor: New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District

The New Rochelle Downtown Business Improvement District (NRBID or the BID) represents Downtown New Rochelle. Established in 1999, the NRBID is a nonprofit organization representing over 800 assessed properties and stakeholders, including property owners, businesses, and institutional entities, within the downtown district.
Today, the NRBID works to support a clean, safe, and welcoming Downtown while advancing economic development, strengthening local businesses, and fostering community activity and engagement.
Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.


NR Fund Annual Pancake Breakfast!

The New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence’s Annual Pancake Breakfast! Enjoy a delicious breakfast served by New Rochelle’s school and district administrators and teachers, just before the New Rochelle Thanksgiving Parade!

Breakfast from 8am to 9:30am. Enter NRHS House 4 Cafeteria through the doors facing the Twin Lakes and North Avenue. 
NO VEHICLE ENTRANCE AT HOUSE 4 PARKING LOT –  NO EXCEPTIONS!

  • North Avenue near tennis courts will be CLOSED for the parade to ALL vehicles!
  • Park in Teachers’ Lot on Clove Road and walk over through the Baseball Field Entrance to House 4. 
    $5.00 per person.

2026 Parade Theme:

We the People…Celebrating America’s 250th!

2026 Thanksgiving Sponsorships

PLATNIUM PRESENTING PARADE SPONSOR – $15,000  SOLD – NEW ROCHELLE DOWNTOWN BID
“Presented By” recognition and prominent logo placement on event marketing materials: logo & sponsor name on all posters, parade banners, outdoor kiosk & banner advertisement, emails, electronic boards at the train station, 20+ digital community calendars, opening & closing credits of the NRTV multiple re-broadcasts of the parade on Thanksgiving Weekend and social media from the City & NR Chamber. Participation in the official Parade Kick-Off Photos. Sponsor marches in VIP/Dignitaries Section leading the Parade. Sponsor recognition repeated throughout NRTV Broadcast. Sponsor will be interviewed for NRTV Broadcast.

GOLD PARADE SPONSOR – $5,000
Logo & sponsor name on all posters, outdoor kiosk & banner advertisement, emails, electronic boards at the train station, 20+ digital community calendars, opening & closing credits of the NRTV multiple re-broadcasts of the Parade on Thanksgiving Weekend, and social media from the City and NR Chamber. Sponsor recognition repeated throughout NRTV Broadcast. Participation in the official Parade Kick-Off Photos.

SILVER PARADE SPONSOR – $3,500
Logo & sponsor name on all emails, 20+ digital community calendars, opening & closing credits of the NRTV multiple re-broadcasts of the Parade on Thanksgiving Weekend, and social media from the City and NR Chamber. Sponsor recognition repeated throughout NRTV Broadcast.

BALLOON SPONSORSHIPS
Balloon Sponsorship includes banner with Sponsor’s name and logo. All Balloon Handlers will be wearing T-shirt with both Parade Branding and Sponsor’s name and logo. Sponsor recognized on NRTV as balloon passes Broadcast Booth. Sponsor is encouraged to bring their own team of volunteer handlers to walk balloon in Parade. Specifics for each balloon will be provided.

  • MIGHTY MOUSE BALLOON  $4,000 – LEAD PARADE BALLOON
    Mighty Mouse is the FIRST BALLOON in the Parade and is the most iconic. It’s beloved in New Rochelle and always gets so much attention.

  • GIANT PARADE BALLOON – $3,300
    Other Parade Balloons include Tom the Turkey, Fred Flintstone, Strawberry Shortcake, Peppa Pig, and others!

  • CO-BRANDED BALLOON – $2000

FLOAT SPONSORSHIPS – $2,200
Float Down North Avenue & Promote Your Business!
Ride in the Thanksgiving Parade in style while highlighting your Business or Special Event on a Parade Float!

Parade Floats are rented and include: design in colors of your choice, 3 signs with logo & tagline, vehicle with driver to tow the float, generator on float for electric use and full insurance.

Sponsors are Needed for these Special Floats:

  • NRHS Homecoming Court Float – $2,700  SOLD MONTEFIORE NEW ROCHELLE
    FIRST Float in Parade in Division 1. Sponsor signage & logo on both sides of float. NRHS Homecoming Court & Senior Officers on float with DJ. Sponsor & co-workers or family may also ride on float.
  • Super Hero Capes for a Cos Float – $2,200
    Capes for a Cos is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating custom, adaptive cosplay for children with disabilities. They have volunteered to be in the Parade in their Super-Hero costumes to raise awareness for their group and the disabled children they support. Sponsor signage & logo on both sides of float. You may ride with Super-Heroes

BAND SPONSOR – $1,000
With more than 9 Bands in the Parade, help is needed to defray transportation costs. Sponsorship includes Logo & sponsor name on Banner before Band & emails, closing credits of the NRTV multiple re-broadcasts of the parade on Thanksgiving Weekend, and social media from the City and NR Chamber.

COSTUME CHARACTER SPONSORSHIP – $1,000
Characters like Bluey and Paw Patrol will be the HIT of the Parade! We need Sponsors for each Professional Character. Sponsor logo will appear on a Banner preceding the Characters. Sponsor recognized on NRTV as Characters pass Broadcast Booth.

PARADE PATRON – $500
Parade Patrons support the General Parade. Sponsor logos will receive individual posts on Social Media and will be on the Parade Patron Banner in the Parade. Sponsor’s name will appear in the closing credits of the NRTV multiple re-broadcasts of the parade on Thanksgiving Weekend.

MARCHING FEE – $50
A $50 per organization fee has been added to cover increased costs of the Parade.

VEHICLE PARTICIPATION – $500
All Vehicles in Parade must submit license plate number for permit to enter Parade.

Co-BRANDED HOT CHOCOLATE SPONSOR – $300
Hot Chocolate and Cookies for over 1000+ Parade Marchers. Multiple signage in Parade Line-Up Area and on social media.

Click here for Online Sponsorship Payments

For questions or more information contact call Catherine White 914-632-5700 or email catherine@newrochamber.org

Parade Route

Parade marches along North Avenue from Eastchester Road to Bonnefoy Place

  • Parade kicks off at 10am at the intersection of Eastchester Road and North Avenue
  • Performance Area – North Avenue across from Anderson Plaza
  • Parade ends at Bonnefoy Place

Parking Available At:

  • New Rochelle High School
  • City Hall Parking Lot
  • New Rochelle Transit Center Parking Garage (train station)
  • New Roc City Garage
  • Library South Parking Lot
  • Library Lot
  • The Skyline Garage

*Please note, North Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic for Parade. Use directions that do NOT include North Avenue to enter Parking Lots.

2026 Grand Marshal - NRFD Chief Andy Sandor, Ret.

Biography – NRFD Chief Andy Sandor, Ret.

Andrew “Andy” Sandor dedicated three decades of his professional life to public safety and the people of New Rochelle, culminating in his service as Fire Commissioner and Chief of the New Rochelle Fire Department.

Chief Sandor has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Iona University and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fire Science from Corning Community College.

Chief Sandor began his career with the New Rochelle Fire Department in 1996 after serving as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance. During his military service, he completed three overseas deployments and participated in Operation Provide Promise/Deny Flight in 1995.

Over the course of his 30-year career with the department, Sandor steadily advanced through the ranks, serving as a firefighter, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief before being appointed Fire Commissioner and Chief of Department in 2018. As a company officer, he served in all five of New Rochelle’s fire stations and developed a reputation for professionalism, strong leadership and an unwavering commitment to his firefighters and the community they served.

His career also included service well beyond New Rochelle. Sandor responded to Lower Manhattan following the attacks of September 11, 2001, and served as both a New York State and Westchester County fire instructor. He also chaired the Westchester County Fire Advisory Board, contributing his experience and expertise to fire service leadership throughout the region.

As Chief, Sandor led the New Rochelle Fire Department through a period of significant growth and change. His tenure emphasized disaster preparedness and recovery, firefighter health and wellness, cancer prevention, training, technological innovation and stronger engagement between the department and the community. Under his leadership, the department continued to adapt to the challenges created by New Rochelle’s growth, including the increasing demands of high-rise development and a busy urban emergency-response environment.

For Sandor, the heart of the job was always the people. He often acknowledges the privilege and responsibility of being there for residents during the most difficult moments of their lives. That philosophy defined his leadership and helped shape a department recognized for its courage, professionalism and commitment to service.

After 30 years with the New Rochelle Fire Department, Chief Sandor retired in June 2026. His departure marked the end of a distinguished career defined by military service, firefighting, leadership and an enduring commitment to the City of New Rochelle.

His legacy is reflected not only in the department he led, but in the firefighters he mentored, the lives he and his members protected, and the stronger, more resilient fire service he helped build for the future. Chief Sandor will be joined in celebrating the Thanksgiving Parade by his wife Robin and their children Hope and Tyler.

Congratulations Andy!!!

 

 

Looking for Volunteers to Carry Giant Balloons!

Show your New Rochelle Pride at the New Rochelle Thanksgiving Day Parade! Volunteers must be able to walk the entire one-and-a-half-mile length of the parade route.

Volunteer for Parade!

Help the city made this years parade better than ever! Invite your friends and family by sharing this link.

Sign Up Today

There are two major roles: Balloon Holders & General Volunteers.

Balloon Holders

  • Giant Parade Balloons: these volunteers help carry the giant balloons! No experience necessary, but volunteers must attend a short training and be 14+ to hold a balloon
  • Display Balloons on Sticks: these volunteers help carry the smaller balloons! No experience necessary

General Volunteers

  • Check-In Table Attendant: help check-in parade marchers and balloon-holders
  • Banner Holders: help carry six banners leading the parade balloons (will walk the 1.5 mile route)
  • Hot Chocolate Distributors: help with setting up a hot chocolate table and distributing hot chocolate to marchers
  • Clean Up: help pick up any trash or litter left behind by marchers, take down tents and tables, and other miscellaneous tasks
  • Information Volunteers: help pass along information about the parade
    Sign up for your preferred role below! Specific tasks for General Volunteers will be assigned as volunteers arrive.