Early Morning For Parade Volunteers In Center City
By Tim Jimenez
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A lot goes into putting together the Thanksgiving Day Parade with a lot of volunteers starting off their holiday before dawn.
For these volunteers, their Thanksgiving Day started while most are in bed. Many of the volunteers gathered in center city around 4:00 a.m. preparing the floats for their stroll through Philadelphia.
"We are inflating a whole bunch of balloons to be in the parade," said one volunteer.
Mr. Potato Head, The Grinch, and Strawberry Shortcake, among the cast of characters pumped up at 20th and JFK. And part of the Santa Garfield team is Karen from the Northeast, in her second year helping out.
"The people are happy to see you," she said. "The Kids, the looks on their faces is pretty fun. and the best part is we get our workout before the turkey."
She watched the parade growing up, and to be part of it now and see it thrive. Also excited, Mayor Michael Nutter. Here for his final parade in office.
"Of course I grew up here in Philadelphia," Mayor Nutter said. "I used to come to the parade when I was a kid and it's one of the incredible, great traditions of the city."