After an evening of partying we’d all like to sleep late on New Year’s Day. There is, however, a dedicated crowd of people who are committed to making sure the New Year gets all of the attention it deserves.

These are the people who put on New Year’s Day parades around the world – with music, floats, and competitions that rival no other.

Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade – Dallas, TX

The Comerica Bank New Year’s Parade will be held in Dallas, Texas at 2:30pm on January 1, 2010. Held in the Metroplex area, the parade is one of the best family-friendly New Year’s events in Dallas. The parade is just one part of a string of events designed to entertain both locals and visitors who are in town for the Cotton Bowl Classic.

[Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_NzWU84j9A]

The day’s events begin with a performance by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as they put on their New Year’s Concert at Meyerson. Tickets are required for this event. The opening ceremony for the parade will be held at 2pm at Ross Avenue and Harwood and the parade itself will begin at 2:30pm. Afterwards, at 4pm, visitors can enjoy the post-parade Pep Rallies held in Victory Park. Dress warm and, if you’re from out of town, make sure you book your Dallas hotel as far in advance as possible.

The London Parade – London, England

The New Year’s Day Parade and Festival in London is one of the most planned and well attended events in England each holiday season. January 2010 will mark the 24^th anniversary of the parade, which begins at 12 noon each year.

The parade itself begins in Piccadilly and will feature more than 10,000 performance artists representing at least 20 different countries. The parade, which also features clowns, acrobats, huge balloons, marching bands, and other forms of entertainment, is usually broadcast around the world via satellite. It is expected that more than ½ million people will flock to the streets of London to watch the parade crawl along its 2 mile route.

The London Parade is one you should see at least once in your lifetime. Reserve a London hotel room, pack your bags, and enjoy your holidays in a romantic foreign destination.

The Philadelphia Mummer’s Parade – Philadelphia, PA

The Mummer’s Parade, as it is affectionately called, has been held every year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since 1901. In the beginning, the costumes worn by performers were very simplistic but have, over the past 100+ years, evolved into some of the most elaborate and ornate costumes in existence.

Parade participants truly love what they do. While there are prizes valued at more than $400,000 awarded to the best Fancy Brigades, the amount of money put into costume design and choreography could never be matched by any prize package. Competition divisions include comics, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades.

Sadly, budget cuts in Philadelphia have limited the amount of money the city contributes to this annual tradition. The city has in the past donated more than $1 million for the event but in 2009 gave only $300,000. They are not slated to make any contributions in 2010, leaving all financial obligations for police presence, costumes, and prizes up to the Mummers and their supporters and sponsors.

Shake off those hangovers, bundle up in your warmest clothing, and hit the streets for some of the most entertaining New Year’s Day parades and accompanying parties you’ll ever witness. What an awesome way to ring in the New Year with friends and family!