The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is truly a New York City extravaganza and has been for the past 82 years. The historic parade delights grown-ups and children alike – tourists and locals brave chilly New York weather for a chance to see the world-famous larger-than-life balloons, marching bands and celebrities.

Parade Travels New Route
Originally, the Macy’s Christmas Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade marched down Broadway Avenue through midtown Manhattan. This year, the Parade whose theme is “Holiday Entertainment for Children Everywhere,” moves from Broadway to debut on 7th Avenue beginning at 77th St. and Central Park West. The route travels south on Central Park West and then turns east onto Central Park South, instead of going down Broadway. When the parade reaches 7th Avenue, it travels south at the corner of Central Park South and heads to 42nd St. and Times Square. The parade will then travel east down 42nd St. to 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas). Heading down 6th Avenue, the parade then continues to 34th St. and Herald Square, ending in front of Macy’s on 34th St. and 7th Avenue.

Rise and Shine!

Due to the popularity of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, tickets aren’t sold to the general public. The only way to see it is to set your alarm to “early,” dress warmly and get out on the parade route. Many people stake out their spot along the Parade route the evening before and spend the night. Where is the best place to watch the parade? Right in front of Macy’s – it’s the parade-watching rock star spot! But the area between 61st St. and 72nd St. on Central Park West is more residential and less congested so your chances of scoring a better viewing spot are much greater. Plan on arriving by 6:30 a.m. for securing a great position along the route; the band and balloons start marching at 9 a.m. sharp. The City of New York officials don’t recommend bringing folding chairs and large objects that would intrude on the space for other spectators.

Bundle Up and Peel Off
NYC on Thanksgiving Day is predicted to be 47 degrees – normal for this time of year, but could be “brisk” for travelers from warmer climates. Dress in layers and peel off as you warm up. Light winds in the morning will make it feel very chilly and there is a chance of rain too, so bring your umbrella!

How to Get There?
Streets will be closed all over the city, so bus routes may not travel the usual streets. A cab may keep you sitting in traffic with the meter running. The best mode of travel? Be a New Yorker! Take the subway! Hop on the E, N, R, W, B, D, and F lines to 34th Street Station. It’ll put you right at Herald Square and Macy’s. Once you get there, walk uptown along the route until you find a spot. There will be plenty of places for a hot cup o’ joe or creamy hot chocolate along the way at places like Dunkin’ Donuts, Tom Horton’s Coffee and a Starbucks. For lunch after the parade, check out www.opentable.com before you go and book a reservation NOW. Places fill up fast on Parade day. There won’t be any restrooms available except in the local cafés and coffee shops. So plan ahead! If you’re traveling to NYC and haven’t booked your hotel yet, do it now and look for areas convenient to Central Park and Times Square. Everything is walking distance from these landmarks.

New York City on Parade Day

The Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Day parade is one of the country’s most famous events and always draws a large crowd. There will be hundreds of NYPD officers on duty patrolling the area throughout the day. Remember, as in most U.S. cities, you can’t drink alcohol on the street. If in doubt, don’t! Call a local precinct ahead of time if you are unsure about anything. From NYC, dial 311 from any phone. You can always call the Parade Hotline at 212-494-4495 or the Macy’s Visitor Center at 212-494-2922. In case you’re coming to New York City to shop, Thanksgiving Day is a holiday the Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square will not be open.

Don’t like crowds? Even if you are going to be in New York but aren’t big on chilly weather and crowds, you can still a part of the Thanksgiving Day Parade: catch the entire event live on NBC, local Channel 4.

Image via