The Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade is the 2nd oldest parade in the country and this year promises to be the biggest ever. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade kicks off at 77th street and Central Park West at 9:00 a.m., then goes by Central Park West (early birds should aim to get there at 6:00 a.m.), and heads up the west side of Central Park West from 59th to 75th street. The parade then turns to Columbus Circle onto Central Park South. The parade makes it final stop in front of Macy’s Herald Square having moved a full 2.5 miles.
In addition to the host of fun floats and marching bands from around the country, look out for Sting, Idina Menzel, The Taney Dragos, Nick Jonas, Miss USA and the cast of Sesame Street. More than 8,000 people are expected to attend the 88th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade festivities. More than 3.5 million people in NYC head to out to watch the parade festivities! If you’re one of them here are a few helpful tips for viewing:
- Dress warmly. Typically parade viewers are outside for nearly 4-5 hours so it’s important you layer- wear a hat and gloves to stay warm and prevent frostbite. We recommend packing hand warmers as well, which are a very helpful item to avoid the chilly NYC November temperatures.
- Scope out a great viewing location early. Parade watchers are known to scope out their spot early, so be sure to identify where you want to watch the parade a view days beforehand and arrive early.
- Pack snacks. If you are viewing the parade with young children we recommend packing an assortment of treats so you don’t have to leave mid-parade for sustenance.