Touchdowns and traditions! Louisville's Juice Bowl continues to score on Thanksgiving

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It's a Louisville football tradition more than 70 years in the making.

The annual Juice Bowl was held Thanksgiving morning at Shawnee Park, but these aren't your typical backyard games of football after a turkey dinner.

The tradition started at Chickasaw Park in 1956 with only a handful of guys and no equipment as a high school championship. Now it is a full-on tournament with amateur football players.

The event includes three games -- one each for men and women of all ages and another for young players.

The Juice Bowl is a tradition that draws a lot of pride and memories for spectators like Shannon White, who said she has been coming to watch for 37 years.

"This is what we do every thanksgiving! We all get together, have a good time, and we appreciate seeing each other again and taking part in something that's been around since before I was born --and I'm old," White joked.

This year, a parade kicked off the festivities. Organizers hope the parade will also become an annual tradition.