Few issues evaluate to seeing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in particular person on a brisk November morning. Watching large balloons like Snoopy and trendy favorites corresponding to Bluey and Grogu (aka “Child Yoda”) fly down the streets of New York Metropolis is an iconic vacation expertise on many households’ journey want lists.
Assuming you do not stay within the Huge Apple or the fast space, seeing the parade would require forgoing (or delaying) a conventional Thanksgiving meal at dwelling. Nevertheless, passing on this custom will probably be effectively definitely worth the effort when you see your baby giddy with pleasure as their favourite cartoon characters float by.
Greater than 3.5 million individuals attend the Macy’s parade in particular person every year. It is vital to strategize your go to so you aren’t removed from the curb, struggling to catch a glimpse of the road.
We’ve got attended the occasion ourselves, and it is protected to say there are a number of belongings you’ll need to bear in mind as you intend your day on the parade. Listed below are our high suggestions for viewing the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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Catch the balloon inflation the day earlier than
If you wish to get an up-close view of the balloons featured within the annual parade, you will not wish to miss the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation. Throughout this occasion, you will see the balloons come to life as they’re inflated.
Occurring the day earlier than the parade, the inflation begins at midday on the Higher West Facet at 72nd Road and Columbus Avenue close to the American Museum of Pure Historical past. It runs till 6 p.m., providing you with a number of hours to get a sneak peek at what’s to return through the parade.
Not surprisingly, this preparade occasion could be very fashionable. Lengthy strains type because the balloons turn into absolutely inflated within the early night. The sooner you arrive, the much less crowded will probably be as you stroll the organized path to see the balloons. Know, although, that inflating a large balloon the peak of a four-story constructing takes time. So, it’s possible you’ll wish to check your luck by arriving nearer to three p.m., when a lot of the balloons begin taking form.
To get to the occasion location by way of public transportation, enable additional time; the subway station at 77th Road tends to get very crowded because the afternoon wears on. You may as well hail a cab or use a ride-hailing service, although you will wish to stroll a block or two north of the gated-off part to keep away from delays.
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TPG tip: Take into account taking the 1, 2 or 3 prepare to Broadway and 72nd Road as an alternative. It’s kind of farther away however a straightforward stroll — simply comply with the crowds.
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Line up very early on the parade route
One time we noticed the parade, we nabbed spots round fifty fifth Road and Sixth Avenue, a number of blocks after the parade turned from the Higher West Facet to go down towards Macy’s. Regardless that the parade began at 9 a.m., we arrived just a little earlier than 7 a.m. This was already too late to get a spot straight on the curb.
Nonetheless, we managed to be within the second row, which was adequate, particularly because the individuals forward of us have been completely happy to let all of the little children line up within the entrance to get good views.
In case you do not wish to depend on luck and as an alternative want to snag a coveted front-row spot on the curb, you will want to point out up earlier than 7 a.m., because the streets have been already lined so far as the attention might see by that point. Primarily based on conversations with some parade execs round us, 6 a.m. is the magic time to get a curb spot on this a part of the route.
Different parts of the route might require a good earlier wake-up name, so plan accordingly when you’ve got a specific location in thoughts. For instance, we have been instructed that the prime seats within the lined bus stops refill by round 4 a.m.
Ought to you might have deeper pockets and wish to keep away from being outdoors within the components, you may pay for brunch with a view alongside the parade route. Simply make sure to look into these reservations effectively upfront, as they have a tendency to refill shortly.
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TPG tip: For these arriving later within the morning, you may stand within the closed-off aspect streets resulting in the parade. You is perhaps 10-15 individuals again, however you may nonetheless see a lot of the motion.
Convey one thing to maintain you occupied — and heat
The parade begins at 9 a.m. at Central Park West on 77th Road. For the reason that route is 2 1/2 miles lengthy, the lead marchers do not attain Macy’s till about 9:40 a.m. This implies you will have some idle time earlier than you can begin watching the spectacle.
Since you might end up ready a number of hours till the parade reveals up, you will wish to deliver some stuff to maintain your children occupied, corresponding to snacks, breakfast and moveable video games. A backup charger is a good suggestion, too.
My household opted to get pleasure from breakfast on the road earlier than coloring and watching some Netflix reveals on our telephones. We sat as a lot as potential earlier than the parade arrived, which I extremely advocate doing — on the very least, on your little ones — to protect your standing capacity for when the balloons make an look.
You possibly can deliver tenting chairs, buckets or anything it’s possible you’ll wish to sit on to the parade, although these things should not very useful for the parade itself since everybody appears to face. Nonetheless, on the very least, you will most likely wish to have some resort towels or blankets to sit down on as an alternative of the exhausting, chilly, gum-covered New York Metropolis sidewalks.
Do not forget correct apparel (suppose: jackets, hats, gloves and umbrellas, too, if rain is within the forecast) because the climate can shortly flip in late fall.
Dwell within the second
Whereas all of us attend the parade with photos of the annual occasion from our TV screens enjoying in our heads, know that the celebration is just a little totally different in particular person.
Like at dwelling, everybody begins getting excited because the parade begin time nears, and earlier than lengthy, cheers erupt because the parade comes into view. The very first thing we noticed was clowns roller-skating with bundles of balloons. Quickly after got here the New York Police Division bikes, horses, marching bands, cheerleaders, floats and, in fact, the massive character balloons.
Nevertheless, what it’s possible you’ll not understand from watching at house is how interactive the expertise might be. Being so near the entrance row meant that our daughter acquired to be a part of the parade. Along with receiving high-fives from clowns and getting confetti in her hair because it was thrown, she acquired to get pleasure from a face-to-face encounter with a Harlem Globetrotter.
All the things you see on TV would not occur alongside the parade route, both. Some performances, together with these by the Radio Metropolis Rockettes and varied singing and dance teams, solely happen in entrance of Macy’s Herald Sq. (the place the cameras are). Consequently, you will wish to handle your expectations. Don’t fret about what you are lacking. As a substitute, deal with all that is happening in entrance of you: the floats, balloons and festivities.
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E book a resort close to the parade route
The parade covers a lot of town that there is not one finest resort for attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Whereas some resorts are bodily on the parade route, it is not so simple as reserving a room at one in all these properties and watching the festivities out of your window.
Positive, some home windows on the route-adjacent resorts provide good views, however resorts are savvy, so these rooms are sometimes offered as a part of pricier parade packages. As such, you will need to pay extra and sometimes meet minimal keep necessities to see the parade out of your precise resort room.
In case you do not wish to splurge to see all of the motion out of your room, ask in case your resort has a particular viewing space for friends. Typically, resorts on the parade route have some area outdoors the place patrons can watch the parade because it passes.
The next are a number of extremely regarded properties on the parade route:
Ought to you might have bother securing a room at a property on the parade route or want to save just a little cash, take into account staying a block or extra off the route.
We have stayed at each The St. Regis New York at Park Hyatt New York on parade mornings and cherished each of their places. Each are a really quick stroll to and from the parade, which was a lot appreciated when the parade ended. The Park Hyatt has the added perk of some enjoyable indoor swimming for the household when the parade is over!
Professional tip: Resort factors are a good way to get a really good resort close to the parade route and preserve money in your pockets.
Some points-friendly resorts which can be inside strolling distance of the parade route embody:
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Backside line
The couple of instances that my household has attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, we walked away pondering the occasion was great. The balloons flew excessive, the climate was respectable for late November, and the individuals throughout us have been implausible. One time, it even began to snow proper earlier than Santa arrived on the finish in a approach you could not plan.
Since New York Metropolis is an unbelievable place to be for the vacations, there are every kind of different methods to have a good time the season after kicking it off with the parade.
You’ll want to see Santa in particular person at Santaland on the eighth ground of Macy’s on thirty fourth Road (reservations are required). Additionally, peruse a number of the festive vacation markets all through town once you’re not busy ice skating at Rockefeller Heart or catching a efficiency of a Christmas basic like “The Nutcracker” or “A Christmas Carol.”
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