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The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of the best things to see. Watching giant balloons such as Bluey and Grogu fly down the streets of New York City is one of the highlights of the holiday season.
If you don't live in New York or the immediate area, you'll need to delay your Thanksgiving meal at home. Once your child sees their favorite cartoon characters float by, it will be worth the effort to pass on this tradition.
More than 3.5 million people attend the Macy's parade in person each year so it's important to plan your visit so you aren't far from the curb.
It is safe to say that there are several things you will want to keep in mind as you plan your day at the parade. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place in the year 2022.
If you haven't booked yet, what to do.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation is a great way to get a good view of the balloons in the parade. You will be able to see the balloons come to life.
The inflation begins at noon on the Upper West Side near the American Museum of Natural History. You can get a glimpse of what's to come during the parade for several hours.
The earlier you arrive, the less crowded the event will be. You should arrive closer to 3 p.m., which is when most of the balloons are starting to take shape, because inflating a giant balloon the height of a four-story building takes time.
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Extra time is allowed to get to the event location via public transportation, as the subway station at 77th Street tends to get very crowded as the afternoon wears on. If you want to avoid delays, you should walk a block or two north of the gated off section.
Take the 1 or 2 train to Broadway and 72nd Street. Follow the crowds, but it is a bit further away.
The best New York City hotels for families are listed.
After the parade made its way from the Upper West Side to Macy's, we grabbed a spot on 55th Street and Sixth Avenue. We arrived a little before 7 a.m., which was too late to get a spot on the curb, despite the parade starting at 9 a.m. Since the people ahead of us were willing to let the little kids line up in the front, we were able to be in the second row.
You need to show up before 7 a.m., as the streets were already lined as far as the eye could see, if you want to get a front-row spot on the curb. It's a good idea to get a curb spot on this part of the route at 6 a.m.
If you have a specific location in mind, plan accordingly, as other portions of the route may need an earlier wake-up call. The prime seats in the bus stops are filled by 4 a.m.
You can pay for a view of the parade if you have deeper pockets. You should look into these reservations in advance as they fill up fast.
There are a lot of holiday events in New York City.
The side streets leading to the parade are closed off for those arriving later in the morning. You can still see most of the action, even if you're not in the middle of it.
There is a parade at Central Park West. Since the route is 2 1/2 miles long, the lead marchers don't reach Macy's until about 9:40 a.m.
snacks, breakfast, and portable games are some of the things you'll want to bring to keep your kids occupied while you wait for the parade to start. It's a good idea to have a backup charging point.
My family ate breakfast on the street before coloring and watching some shows on their phones. We sat as much as possible before the parade so that we wouldn't lose our standing ability when the balloons show up.
Since everyone seems to stand, you can bring camping chairs, buckets, or anything else you want to sit on to the parade. You'll probably want some hotel towels or blankets to sit on instead of the hard, cold, gum-covered New York City sidewalk. Since the weather can quickly turn in late fall, don't forget proper attire, too.
While we all attend the parade with images of the event in our heads, it's not the same in person.
When the parade starts, everyone gets excited, and before long, they start cheering as the parade comes into view. Clowns with balloons were the first thing we saw. The New York Police Department motorcycles, horses, marching bands, cheerleaders, floats and huge character balloons followed.
You might not know that the experience at home can be very interactive. Our daughter got to participate in the parade because we were so close to the front row. She got high-fives from clowns and confetti in her hair, as well as having a face-to-face encounter with the Globetrotter.
The parade route isn't the place to see everything on TV. The Radio City Rockettes and various singing and dance groups only perform in front of Macy's Herald Square. Managing your expectations is something you will want to do. Don't fret about what you don't have. The floats, balloons and festivities are in front of you.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade covers so much of the city that it's hard to find a good hotel to stay in.
There are some windows at hotels that are close to the route that offer good views, but hotels are savvy and sell those rooms as part of expensive parade packages. You will have to pay more and meet minimum stay requirements to see the parade from your hotel room.
If you don't want to spend a lot of money to see all the action from your room, ask if your hotel has a viewing area. Some hotels on the parade route have places where people can watch the parade.
There are a few properties on the parade route.
Staying a block or more off the parade route will allow you to save money if you have trouble securing a room.
We went to New York a few years ago and stayed off the parade route. It was a short walk to and from the parade, which was appreciated when the parade ended, as it was a cold day.
There are other hotels that are close to the parade route.
People who love the holidays can find festive hotels.
We walked away from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade thinking it was great. The balloons flew high, the weather was nice, and the people were great. The snow started to fall before Santa arrived.
Since New York City is an amazing place to be for the holidays, there are many other ways to celebrate. Santa can be seen at Santaland on the eighth floor of Macy's on 34th Street. When you're not at Rockefeller Center or watching a performance of "A Christmas Carol" you should check out the holiday markets in the city.
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