The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a historical, quintessential New York experience, and introducing your children to the spectacle is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity theyll remember forever. This year, an estimated 3.5 million people gather on the Upper West Side to take in the 84th annual parade in person. As always, the parade will feature the country’s best marching bands, amazing floats, cheering clowns, celebrity appearances, and of course, giant balloons of some of kids favorite characters!
The parade begins its route at 77th Street and Central Park West, heading southeast towards its final destination Macys Herald Square. The parades famed giant helium balloons have been a Thanksgiving Day institution since 1927, and this year is no exception. Kids can expect giant balloon appearances from Buzz Lightyear, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Horton, Kung Fu Panda, Spongebob Squarepants, Shrek and many more. Of course, Snoopy, the character with the most appearances in the parade history, is also expected to attend.
There are dozens of impressive floats in this year’s line up, including “Elves on the Roof,” the “Smurf Mushroom House,” “Santa’s Sleigh,” “Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure,” “Snoopy’s Dog House” and much, much more!
Families can also look forward to performances from the Arya Dance Academy, the Stepper-ettes and the Tap City Youth Ensemble, plus celebrity appearances from Kanye West, Jessica Simpson, Gladys Knight, Arlo Guthrie and many more.
There are public viewing areas all along the parade route at Central Park West from 70th Street to Columbus Circle, on 7th Avenue between 58th and 42nd Streets, along 42nd Street between 7th and 6th Avenue, on 6th Avenue between 42nd and 34th Streets and on the south side of 34th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue, where the parade culminates.
Parade goers generally arrive around 6:30 a.m. for the best views of the festivities, which begin at 9:00 a.m.
Of course, if your family is traveling on Thanksgiving day (or you simply rather sleep in on Thanksgiving morning) another fun option is to watch the balloons get inflated the day before Thanksgiving, which is becoming an annual tradition of its own. Families can head over to the area outside the American Museum of Natural History (on 77th and 81st streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue) on Wednesday afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., to watch the balloons take shape.
Macy’s suggests that spectators bring warm layers (and umbrellas, if the forecast doesn’t change) but to leave folding chairs at home. For more guidelines about the parade and helpful tips, click here.
