Hob Nobble Gobble
Ford Field
Detroit, Mich.
Nov. 21, 2025
When you think of a black-tie event, a carnival doesn’t usually come to mind. But for Hob Nobble Gobble – the fundraiser for Detroit’s Parade Company – that’s exactly what it was.
The annual event supports America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White – the city’s main Thanksgiving Day event for non-football fans – plus the Ford Fireworks in the summer and other Parade Company endeavors.
Located at Ford Field – home of the Detroit Lions – Hob Nobble Gobble was off the charts this year, full of food, music, performances, giveaways, photo ops and a literal carnival with rides and games.
When we entered the stadium, we were greeted by Clownie, the Parade Company mascot, plus singing from the Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences choir.
The site as we entered the field was dazzling. A live band played dance favorites from a makeshift stage in front of rows of tables to the side of a sideline-to-sideline array of food. To the right were the lights, sounds and colors of a fair, complete with a Ferris Wheel in the back corner. I felt my excitement grow as we descended the stairs under a festive tunnel with a giant cow balloon jumping over the moon.
Your Generation performs
My friend and I started with the giveaways, gathering a collection that included a baseball cap, garment bag, Girl Scout cookies and a festive light necklace. Next we approached the food, trying to pace ourselves among an array of hearty fall favorites, carving stations and kid-friendly chicken tenders and mac and cheese, plus a sprinkling of Middle Eastern options and a giant shrimp display. The dessert options were also overwhelming – as I would later discover during my sugar crash – with a hot cocoa bar, candy display and rows of tables covered in shortbread cookies, chocolate covered strawberries and a collection of small chocolate mousses, tarts and cakes.
We danced a bit before making our way to the carnival section, where we indulged in childhood nostalgia. We were able to try out most of the rides, including a couple of the spinning ones, the swings and the Ferris Wheel – which was wild wearing formal gowns. They also had a small roller coaster for kids, a giant slide and a fun house (sadly, open-toed shoes were not allowed, so I was not able to partake). Everything was pretty popular, so we weighed our options when it came to lines and only played one of the games.
Halfway through the event, the Detroit Lions Honolulu Boom Drumline led a mini parade throughout the stadium, followed by dancing elves and Santa. The Inkster-based Funkateers – who performed this year in America’s Got Talent – also did a number, with Michigan native Uncle Kracker of “Follow Me” fame closing out the evening.
Hob Nobble Gobble was a great time and a fitting way to raise funds for an organization also based on whimsy and fun. I’m always a sucker for a glamorous evening and dressing up, but the carnival element took the event to a level that was over-the-top with a constant feeling of surprise and delight. By the end of the night, we were exhausted from all the activity, but in a good way and loved every minute.
