Typically, there's also an encore presentation that airs from 2 p. It will also be streamed live on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock , for the first time ever. While the hosts have not been announced yet, it's likely that the TODAY stars will direct the program again. The performers for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade have finally been announced, and this is one star-studded lineup you won't want to miss.
Some of the headliners include:. And so many more! Plus, a ton of new balloons showcasing fan-favorite characters like Grogu from The Mandalorian! Ree's Life. Food and Cooking. I am looking at this package for Could you please post how your experience goes? The package sounds ideal. We are visiting my daughter during Thanksgiving who just moved to Manhatten.
We would love to see the parade inside a location where we can have brunch or breakfast along the route of the parade. There are so many restruants in nyc, can locals please recommend somewhere I can call to make a reservation? We are staying at the new Hyatt Time Square on 45th between 6th and Broadway. The front door to our hotel is about ft. Being this far down on the route would we still need to get there around 6ish? Also anyone planning to watch the parade near 58th st.
Its inexpensive and pretty good. Hi Tommie! Yes, unfortunately you will. People will be out staking their spots all along the parade route. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving! Are these reserved seats or still general admission seats? Hi Chris! There are no tickets sold to the general public for the Parade.
Which would you choose? Hi Mari! Yes, you can bring a backpack with drinks and snacks. Maybe bring those collapsible camp style chairs that you can stuff back in their bag and sling over your shoulder once the parade starts. I just saw another reader posted this: Call the Healing Arts Initiative at for information on areas reserved for spectators with special needs.
Very helpful blog! My wife and daughter will be handling one of the balloons this year, and I would like to be on the curb to get some photos. Will be staying at a hotel near 6th Avenue and 40th Street. How early would you suggest getting to that intersection to have a shot at a front row spot?
How awesome Chuck! I would still be out there by 6am — am. We went out walking early in the morning and people were out in droves by then. I was thinking about taking my children. They are 4 and 7. I may just mske sure they do not drink a lot. No, there are not bathrooms.
If you have others attending the parade with you, like a partner or friends, you could take turns going to the bathroom while the others try to hold your spot. Wow Jennifer I have never seen a blogger answer so many questions from the people — very impressed.
Am in NYC now having arrived yesterday. Is it possible the 3. That is about people a meter, whereas it seems more like 60 people per meter both sides of the street. According to the tips above, I watched the parade in the recommended spot, arrived early and booked a thanksgiving lunch nearby.
But afterwards I met someone who watched the parade from Rockefeller center. He arrived only 15 minutes in advance and had a perfect view of everything only 3 people in front of him, he also saw the marching bands etc.
We only saw the balloons from afar. It sounds as though the gentleman you met got very, very lucky with arriving that late. I would suspect the poor weather this year played a role in keeping crowds at bay. As far as lunch, the restaurants around Rockefeller Center would have been very close in price. We have several family members who are uncomfortable in crowds, so the hotel packages are interesting. However, with about adults and several kids, hotels could get quite pricey. So glad to hear you had such a wonderful time, Jane!
NYC is one of our favorite cities and it is just even more magical during the holidays. What do you recommend?? I have stayed there before and can recommend it. Thanks for sharing that Denise! It is quite special to be able to get in to the Grandstand as that area is reserved for press and VIPs.
Hi Jennifer. I am travelling to NYC at this time with my daughter. My daughter has never been. Hi Sandra! You can certainly walk up to the Parade. I would just plan on being out there early as it gets extremely crowded along the Parade route. You might want to pack a thermos and ask your hotel if they provide kettles in the room. That way you can make yourself a thermos of something hot to drink. Just remember that there are no bathrooms along the Parade route.
The Parade is a truly memorable event to get to attend in person. Most people who want to view the Thanksgiving Day Parade cannot afford a parade view Hotel room. I speak from experience- a friend once invited me to view the parade from Trump Tower — and it was not nearly as nice as I thought it would be.
I missed being outside in the cold with the fun people. It is unrealistic to be at a certain spot at 6am with small children. There are many areas- like 72nd st…where you can be far back in the crowd and look up at the parade. If being in the front row to watch the marching bands is your thing- then yes 7am may be necessary- but I think most kids just want to see the fun balloons. SAVE your thousand dollars and spend it on shows, restaurants and treats…Balloon blow up the night before is fun.
Many hotels are available on Hotwire for a couple of hundred bucks, where you can walk to the parade in the morning…. Do you know where the balloons go after the parade? You can go to see the balloons being blown up the night before the Parade as it is open to the public. However, these areas are barricaded and guarded by police to afford the workers a safe work area. The balloon inflation the night before is the best place to view the process and results. Enter on 79th Street and Columbus.
The earlier you go the fewer balloons have shape, the later the crowds grow. Lights dimmed or off at 10pm.. I actually read that many stores are open on thanksgiving but close around p.
Is that true? No, some stores may open for a few hours on Thanksgiving but from our experience not many retail stores were open. Three adults going to New York for Thanksgiving this year Staying in Times Square would like to see the parade and book for a reasonably priced lunch somewhere near to the parade!
Also are the shops open the following day on the Friday? Any information would be appreciated! Hi Maureen, you all will have a great time! There are loads of restaurant options near Times Square, if you plan to stick close to your hotel. We will be at the parade this year to watch our teenagers march!.
Go Sharks! Anyone have a suggestion of where to watch the NFL game that day after the parade and have lunch?? Congratulations to them! Some bars offers specials depending on which team you support. Another option could be to watch in your room and order room service. I imagine the kiddos will be tired after an early wake-up call and marching in the Parade. Do you know if the trains run early enough to get me into the city to get a good spot by 6AM?
Hi Jim! You could still stay in Manhattan. If you were planning to stay in Newark, the AirTrain has service from 5am — 2am. I avoided all tolls into the city and parking fees. Am I missing something? Have you considered taking the train from DC to save on the gas and tolls? I will be attending the parade this year and wanted to get an idea as to how cold can it get.
Should I take Sorels boots or thermal inserts for casual boots? We are going to be standing and walking so comfortable shoes are priority for me. I assume as long as my head and feet are warm layering ideal. What other items should one pack to be prepared? Your blog has been very helpful for us to figure out where to watch the parade we wanted to be outside with the crowd to really get an authentic experience , and what things we should consider like what time to be there!
Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge with those of us who just want to get it right the first time around! Hi Jennifer! I wanted to follow up with you to say thank you for your wonderful advice!
We had a great time in NYC at the Parade, and attribute so much to your suggestions. We went to see the balloons the night before and given the long lines to get into that area thought it was going to be packed, but once we were allowed into the balloon area everyone spread out and it was a lot of fun to check out the balloons and take photos. Thankfully our friends got to the parade route around AM and scoped out a spot right at Park and 6th where the parade turns — great location!
There were a few people watching from their rooms at the Ritz Carlton, but I felt like they really missed the essence of the experience of watching the parade among the crowd. Overall, we would definitely do this again! Thanks again, and Merry Christmas! Hi Jen! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with us.
Happy Holidays! I DO live in NY. This will be my 1st attempt to making it to the parade. I live in Queens. Wish me luck!! I hope your daughter gets to see Shawn Mendes and you have a great time! I was planning on getting there at 6AM as suggested and doing Columbus Square.
Also, is there a preferred place at Columbus Circle? Jim, try calling the Healing Arts Initiative at for information on areas reserved for spectators with special needs. Just wondering if you could suggest on what would be the best spot to see the parade.
We are staying at Marriot Marqui at Times Square. Thank you for your informative blog. One of them will be going with me. We are planning on driving in to Newark to travel by train in to the city. Looks like we can take a 6AM train or one to be there by 6 AM. We are trying to find out weather we can use handicapped accessible subways hopefully. So to be sure we want to book train return giving us enough time to make it there by foot and wheel ,if necessary. So any clue how much time to allow?
I was wandering around the park yesterday and found bleachers all along central park west up around 72nd. Almost seems like it would be too good to be true! We are still going to try to go and just get there early. We are all really looking forward to it!! Jim was on a waiting list for handicap seating when he called the information line we told him to call.
It sounds like you were lucky to be given seats since your son was in the Parade. Unfortunately, tickets to the seats are extremely limited and not at all available to the general public.
We will be watching the parade around 59th and 7th. Just wondering if there are any bagel places open that early so we can grab something to eat and still find a good spot? Enjoy the Parade! Hi Jennifer — great post! Hi Anthony, some people book from a year in advance. Of course, the closer you wait to book the less rooms that will be available.
And not all rooms have a Parade view. We are on the 53rd st side but we have a clear view of 6th ave at the 53rd st intersection. We will have a birdseye view of the parade. We heard the sales pitch this morning, then walked the High Line. In the late afternoon we went to the Museum of Natural History, which for some reason was free admission by the time we arrived and then saw the balloons on 81st st.
By arriving by subway at the museum stop and exiting the museum on Central Park West, we avoided most of the line to see the balloons. All in all, a fantastic Thanksgiving parade strategy on the cheap! No complaints about the hotel — quiet, free wifi, friendly attentive service. Thanks Jim. When did you book? How much would it be without the timeshare? Hi Anthony, I listed the Hilton as an option without the timeshare in the article.
I, however, had an awful experience staying at the Hilton Midtown and would never stay there again and certainly cannot recommend it. Glad Jim had a good experience with the hotel. Hi my family and I are going to NYC in November for thanksgiving and wonder if you could recommend a place to eat for a traditional thanks giving meal? Look forward to hearing from you Ali.
Hi Ali! We really like going to Rock Center Cafe. They have a traditional meal with all the American fixings and the atmosphere is great since the restaurant is situated at the ice rink level. It has floor to ceiling glass windows so you can see all the skaters. Do you have recommendations for Thanksgiving morning brunch and indoor parade viewing? We went to NYC for the parade two years ago and it was freezing despite the layers!! There are a lot of delicious places to have brunch though. We are going to New York for thanksgiving this year.
So exited. Hi Larraine! We really like Columbus Circle for viewing. If he makes it, we are loading up and heading to NYC. Your tips for viewing are great, but if he is going to be cold, so are we.
We will bring a stadium cushion and probably an old, throw away blanket to cover up with. We are staying near where the band stays in NJ. Have been researching Nyack Farmers Market and Josephs bakery. They are close to our hotel. Can you tell me if the town of Nyack is really pretty and a must see? There seems to be a lot going on there. Hi Jennifer, First off, thanks for the article!
We are planning to go next year so we are looking into hotels now. Do any of them have balconies to view the parade? I like the idea of having a special viewing area for hotel guests but I would prefer my own balcony. Thanks again!! NYC hotels, especially high rise ones, with balconies are pretty rare. None of the hotels with parade views have balconies, but the parade view rooms have floor to ceiling windows with excellent views. Your tips are very informative and I appreciate the ongoing comments and discussion about the parade.
You stated that you watched the parade from Columbus Circle, and it looks like you were sitting on the west side of 8th Ave north of the curve at the circle, is that right? I think watching the parade with that curved vantage point would be great! Can you elaborate about your viewing position? Thank you! Hi Adrienne! The street does curve there. There was public street viewing on the opposite side of the street all along Central Park West.
This blog is awesome!! Now both living out if state decided to take our children ages to see.. No bathrooms!! Def is a splurge.. Thank you!!!!!! We were wondering where would be the best place to watch the parade and get to see the band pretty good.
Also what is the best way to get into new york that early in the morning?? We have been checking out New York and have been told that Columbus circle is the best place to watch the parade but I have also seen comments that the grand stands are there and not for the public. Any help would be greatly appreciated….. My kids and I have watched this parade every year together for the past 28 years and this is our first time watching it live, so excited but not happy about the cold…lol.
Thanks for any help you can provide!! Happy Thanksgiving! There are some grand stands along Central Park West and yes, none of the seats are for the public. What area are you staying in?
Just be sure to be on the very early train or subway in to the city. I went for the first time last year and found out about the stands at Columbus Circle.
However, we moved just a little bit up Central Park West past the stands that were there and sat on the curb on the Park side of the street. I stayed in Newark and drove in, because my brother-in-law is handicapped and requires a wheel chair. We did a little touristy stuff after the parade and then drove out. Two things I would highly suggest: 1. Get there as early as you can stand it. Bring your patience if you drive in, because traffic is going to be bad, but it will be worth it.
Hi Jen- Thanks for your timely responses to this blog. This is our first year for the parade and are staying at 39th street near times sq. Do you agree? If you think there is a good restaurant or other place, please suggest. What about the 2nd or 3rd floors of shops at Columbus circle? Are they accessible early on parade day? That sounds really appealing for indoor and free viewing. Happy Thanksgiving Julie! I would say to be there by am at the latest. I really like the Thanksgiving menu at the Rock Cafe at Rockefeller Center, plus you can see the ice rink so the ambiance is nice.
Reservations are usually required though. You can pop in and see if they have an open table? Also, the website Open Table will give you availability, allow you to look at menus and reserve a table online. Awesome blog!!!! I should be asleep but my excitement about going to the parade in the morning is overwhelming.
So happy your blog post was at the top of my search when I googled about the parade!!! This was an awesome post and super informative! Nick and I are thinking about going in ! Hope you and Tim are doing well!!! Hi Hope! Hope that you guys make it there next year. The balloons replaced the zoo animals that were frightening to some children, and the first balloons included cartoon characters like Felix the Cat. At the conclusion of the parade, the giant balloons were released into the air.
In , pilot Col. Clarence E. Chamberlain snagged a balloon with his airplane's wing, leading to a ban on retrieval by airplanes the following year. But after the parade, another pilot attempted to capture a balloon and nearly crashed, leading Macy's to discontinue releasing the balloons at the parade's end [source: McCarthy ]. In , celebrities became an important element of the parade, with singer-actor Eddie Cantor joining the event that year. The Mickey Mouse helium balloon was also introduced that year.
From to , the parade was canceled because of the shortage of helium and rubber during World War II. Those three years are the only time the celebration has been called off [source: Macy's ]. When the parade returned in , it was broadcast on television for the first time and was bigger than earlier versions.
In , the parade wasn't canceled, though few spectators were allowed along the parade route because of the COVID pandemic, and there was no giant balloon Inflation Celebration and no marching bands.
Every year, the Macy's team behind the parade works to outdo the previous year's event. This evolution has meant bigger balloons, more floats, better materials and new technologies, all resulting in the flashy spectacle that rolls through the streets of New York today. The parade will feature 15 giant character balloons, 28 floats, 36 novelty and heritage inflatables, more than clowns, 10 marching bands and nine performance groups, a host of musical stars, and of course, Santa Claus.
Apart from performing talent, all other parade participants such as balloon handlers, are Macy's employees , their families and friends.
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