You will never confuse the Jacksonport Thanksgiving Parade and Benefit for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, but its impact on the community is incomparable. Instead of a 2.5-mile route that stops in front of the world's most famous department store with balloons and Hollywood acts, the Jacksonport Thanksgiving Parade and Benefit and its eclectic floats make two passes of Lakeside Park along its route before calling it a morning. The pride of the event is its philanthropy, raising thousands of dollars each year for a specific cause. Last year, the Lasnoski family was the beneficiary after Stephanie became paralyzed and suffered additional medical issues due to multiple auto-immune diseases.  Previous parades have raised money to support a Sturgeon Bay boy with retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye), the Jacksonport Fire Department, a community member with Lou Gehrig's disease, a young mother with stage four brain cancer, and a boy with viral meningitis and encephalitis. This year, Valmy Happy Hour owner Kirk Volkmann and his family are the beneficiaries after he developed stage four kidney cancer. Parade organizer Jorna Taylor says this year's parade is a fitting tribute to a man who has given so much to the community.

All are encouraged to participate in the parade. Line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Jacksonport Fire Station before leaving at 10:30 a.m.