The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an American tradition as beloved as the holiday itself.
This year, 3.5 million spectators will line the streets of New York City to watch as 116 giant character balloons, 1,000 clowns, 43 novelty balloons, 26 floats, and 12 marching bands take to the streets in a great spectacle.
Whether it's your first time to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or you've seen it a time or two, here's everything you need to know to have a great viewing experience.
The festivities begin at
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 9:00 a.m. EST and ends at about 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 22nd. If you want to grab a great spot on the street to watch the parade, you'll need to arrive at about 6 a.m.
Visiting NYC, but you don't want to attend the parade
If you'll be in New York City, but don't want to wake up at 6 a.m. to find a spot, hate the cold, or just don't like crowds, consider seeing the balloons being inflated on Wednesday, November 21st from 1:00-8:00 p.m. EST.
Spectators can enjoy the pre-parade event at 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, outside of the American Museum of Natural History.
The pre-parade inflation can get crowded, so if you prefer fewer crowds, watch the post-parade balloon deflation on the side streets near 34th and Sixth Avenue.
The route
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 77th street and Central Park West and march south on Central Park West.
Once it arrives at Columbus Circle, it will turn left (east) on Central Park South, and then right (south) at 6th Avenue. Once the parade hits 34th Street, it will turn right (west) and end at Macy's Herald Square.
The route is 2.5 miles long.
Best places to see the parade
There are limited views of the parade at the beginning of the route near West 77th Street and Central Park West.
Visitors will find great views on the west side of Central Park West from West 75th to West 59th, though most people argue that Columbus Circle is the best place to view the parade.
If you choose to watch the parade on the Upper West Side, you'll be able to leave "early" or before 12:00 p.m. since that's where the parade begins.
You might also want to camp out between West 50th and West 38th streets to see the parade go along 6th Avenue.
Take note that you can't see the parade between West 34th and West 38th Streets or on West 34th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. This is where the national television broadcast is located and it limits public viewing immensely.
Grandstand area
Most people have seen the grandstand area while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television, but most visitors aren't aware that tickets to this area are not available to the public.
Grandstand tickets are reserved for friends and family members of the parade participants and Macy's employees and volunteers.
Occasionally, these tickets are available to purchase on Craigslist, though they're reportedly very expensive.
Hotels along the route
If you haven't booked your hotel room yet, you could get a prime viewing spot of the parade from a few hotels along the route.
The following hotels offer views of the parade:
Mandarin Oriental, New York, New York Hilton Midtown, Warwick New York Hotel, JW Marriott Essex House New York, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, The Quin, and the Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square.
Many of these hotels provide Thanksgiving Day packages, and while they may be pricey, the views are worth it.
How to get to and from the parade
The easiest way to get to and from the parade is by subway. However, there are some things to keep in mind - like how the subway will have a Sunday operating schedule on Thanksgiving, meaning there will be fewer trains running and frequent changes to the schedule.
The closest subway stations to the starting point of the parade are 72nd Street, 79th Street, 81st Street, and 59th Street-Columbus Circle.
There will be additional service on the 42nd Street Shuttle and increased early morning service on the 1 line to help spectators get to the parade.
Furthermore, some exits at 59th Street-Columbus Circle will be closed, as will some at Penn Station and stations along the Sixth Avenue B, D, F, and M line. Trains could skip the 72nd Street B/C station if it's crowded before the start of the parade.
If you opt to take a bus, be aware that it could experience delays or reroutes especially near the parade route. The 79th Street Transverse will be closed until noon on Thursday.
To learn about other changes to the rail or bus systems to or from Manhattan, check out this page on MTA.
Travel by car is not recommended to and from the parade route due to crowds and road closures. Uber and Lyft will most likely be expensive and waiting in taxis as they maneuver through road closures can rack up high fees.
Parade forecast
It's going to be cold. The temperature forecast is between 24-29 degrees, so dress warm and with fabrics that will prevent cold wind and weather from seeping in. Multiple layers, gloves, hats, scarves, and blankets are a must to battle the cold. Handwarmers might be a great idea, too!
Food and Beverages
Enjoying the parade is a large time commitment so be sure to bring snacks, a thermos full of a hot beverage, and water.
But remember - when you eat or drink, you'll eventually need a bathroom. There are no public bathrooms provided by the parade, so when you choose a spot along the route, you might want to keep a lookout for a coffee shop or store nearby. Since most shops require that you be a customer to use their bathrooms, be sure to have cash or card on you.
You'll be starving after the parade, as will the thousands of other people. You might consider reserving a table at a nearby restaurant to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal. Not only will it satisfy your hunger, but it also allows some time for traffic and congestion to clear before you make your way to your next destination.
Other things to consider
There are no handicapped areas for viewing which could be a drawback for many.
Consider bringing something to sit on before or during the parade. Mini foldable stools are a great option as they are small, light, and don't take up too much space.
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