The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been a beloved way to kick of the holiday (and holiday shopping) season in New York City since its début in 1924. In its earliest years, the parade was made up of Macy’s employees dressed in vibrant costumes and animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo, marching from 145th Street down to the store to unveil the Christmas windows. While the tradition of employees and their friends and families volunteering to orchestrate and staff the proceedings continues to this day, by 1927, the live animals were replaced by larger-than-life animal balloons. 

 

In the early days, these balloons were released at the end of the parade, and anyone lucky enough to find one that had touched down in Long Island or the outer boroughs could turn it in for a prize. That contest ended abruptly when a small plane was almost felled by a balloon caught in its propeller.

 

Today, the balloons, floats, and their hybrids (named with Seussian portmanteaus like falloons, balloonicles, and floaloonicles) share the parade route with marching bands, choruses, cheer squads and dance teams from around the country, as well as performers from some of Broadway’s most exciting shows. While this year’s slate of live performing artists is yet to be confirmed, floats will include Bluey, Grogu, and Beagle Scout Snoopy.

 

To get the most out of the parade as a spectator, we have two key pieces of advice: a. wear layers and b. be sure to pick your perfect parade perch well in advance. With more than 3.5 million people in attendance, the importance of this cannot be overstated! Here are some of the best viewing spots in the city:

Central Park West 

The parade begins at 9 a.m. at 77th Street and Central Park West, but public viewing is from West 75th to West 61st Street. To get anywhere close to the action, plan to arrive by about 6 a.m.

St. Cloud Rooftop at The Knick

Our very own St. Cloud Rooftop provides the best bird’s eye views of the parade in town, with the added bonus of being above the crowd. Make a day of it by enjoying Thanksgiving lunch or dinner at Charlie Palmer, then watching the sunset as you listen to live music back at St. Cloud.

Columbus Circle

Columbus Circle is a main thoroughfare for the parade, offering fantastic views as it rounds the turn from Central Park West to Central Park South, and then onto Sixth Avenue. The sidewalks are not open to the public, but spectators are welcome to watch from The Shops at Columbus Circle — a warmer option than outside, though the festivities’ sounds are on mute.

Sixth Avenue

Public viewing is available all along Sixth Avenue until W. 38th Street, where viewing is limited due to television broadcasting of the parade.

At a Parade Viewing Brunch 

Rue 57 Brasserie and Sarabeth’s, two restaurants right on Central Park, have become Thanksgiving-famous for their parade viewing brunches. At Rue 57, you can watch inside through wraparound windows, from a private viewing area outside, or on the big screen in the restaurant, all while partaking of an extensive brunch buffet and bottomless cocktails. Sarabeth’s has outdoor-viewing only, followed by a three-course brunch with live entertainment.

Thanksgiving Eve at the American Museum of Natural History

Some people opt to skip the parade entirely and make a tradition out of watching the balloons being inflated on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving outside the American Museum of Natural History. Go between noon and 6 p.m. for the spectacle of seeing multi-story balloons come to life.

 

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All parade photos by Ryan Gannon for Macy’s.