The 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is fast approaching and all of New York City is preparing. Are you? Whether you’re planning to visit New York City to see the parade in person or would prefer watching the show from home, The Manhattan Club has put together a last-minute guide on how to get the most out of this beloved NYC holiday tradition!
Before the big day (TODAY – Wednesday, November 24)
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation 2021
Before Charlie Brown and the Red Power Ranger take to the air, they need to be inflated. From noon to 6 p.m. on the streets around the American Museum of Natural History, the larger-than-life balloons will be blown up to their gargantuan final size. It's truly a sight to behold! Entry is at 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue, with balloon viewing at 77th and 81st streets. *masks are required and everyone age 12 and older must provide proof of COVID vaccination to enter.
Find the Best Place to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Don’t wait until Thanksgiving morning to pick your viewing destination. With past crowds typically drawing around 3 million spectators, it’s best to have a few spots in mind along the route. Walk from The Manhattan Club to the best viewing spots in just minutes. For the early risers, we suggest scoping out Central Park West, from West 75th to West 61st Streets. Along 6th Avenue is also ideal for great viewing (from West 59th to West 38th Streets).
IT’S PARADE DAY! (Thursday, November 25)
Get to your spot…early. Although the parade starts at 9 a.m., many are out claiming their spots long before the sun comes up. If you are traveling into the city, consider the holiday traffic (or maybe next year, decide to stay with us at The Manhattan Club to avoid the inevitable delays!).
Be prepared and have a wonderful time!
Temperatures are often in the upper 30s in NYC on Thanksgiving, so be prepared for the cold weather with lots of cozy layers, hats, and gloves. After the last balloon has passed, travel to your Thanksgiving festivities with caution. Many of the other parade attendees are also dispersing, so the city gets quite hectic once the parade ends. The worst traveling time is said to be around 1 p.m., so consider catching a bite to eat or spending some time walking around and enjoying the magical sights of NYC.
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from home
Tune in to NBC to see hosts Hoda Kotb, Al Roker, and Savannah Guthrie announce the parade live on Thursday, November 25 at 9 a.m. in all time zones. The parade will also be streaming on Peacock and Telemundo.
Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Located in the heart of Midtown, The Manhattan Club is your perfect home-base for Thanksgiving in NYC. Now for a limited time, book our Dine on Us special offer for 15% off our best nightly rate, plus gift cards to area restaurants including the Red Eye Grill and the Brooklyn Diner (both of which have special prix-fixe Thanksgiving menus for the holiday!).
