New York City hosts the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade every year as a tradition. Since its inception in 1924, it has grown to be among the most recognisable parades in the country.
Large helium balloons, floats, marching bands, celebrities, and performances are all part of the procession. It takes place on Thanksgiving Day and travels across Manhattan’s streets.
Millions of onlookers watch the parade on the streets of New York and via TV broadcasts as it ushers in the holiday season
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- Every year on Thanksgiving Day, New York City hosts the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- It has been an annual tradition since 1924 and is one of the most recognisable parades in the country.
- The parade starts in the morning and travels through Manhattan’s streets. It begins at 77th Street and Central Park West, proceeds down Central Park West, makes an easterly bend onto Central Park South, and then turns south on 6th Avenue until it reaches Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square.
- The enormous cartoon balloons inflated with helium are one of the centrepieces of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is broadcast nationally on television, enabling spectators from all across the country
Note: Thanksgiving Day will be celebrated on November 28 in 2024.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Route
There is a set path that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes across Manhattan in New York City. The parade’s normal route is seen below.
- Start The parade kicks off at Central Park West and 77th Street.
- Along Central Park West, the procession travels in the south.
- In Columbus Circle, It travels further along Central Park West till it arrives there.
- In Central Park South The parade turns east onto Central Park South at Columbus Circle.
- Following that, the procession turns south on 6th Avenue.
- At Macy’s main shop in Herald Square, which is situated between 34th and 35th Streets, the parade finally comes to an end.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live Stream
- The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is often broadcast live on television, allowing spectators from all around the country to take in the show from the comfort of their own homes.
- NBC, which has been the event’s official broadcaster since 1952, airs the parade on a regular basis.
- On Thanksgiving Day, you may watch NBC to see Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live.
- Depending on how long the procession is, the coverage of it typically starts in the morning and lasts until noon or early in the afternoon.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
- The Balloons are inflated close to the American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side the evening before the procession.
- This occurrence is called the Balloon Inflation
- The tallest and longest balloons may soar up to 60 feet in height and 40 feet in length.
- Popular figures from cartoons, movies, and other media are represented by balloons.
- They are helium-filled to make them buoyant and allow them to float in the air.
- Each balloon is expertly crafted to capture the personality and physical attributes of the character it symbolises.
- Smaller balloons referred to as “trycaloons” and “balloonicles”
Which balloon character has flown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade more times than any other?
A: Snoopy has appeared in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade more frequently than any other balloon. Over the years, Charles M. Schulz’s famous beagle from the “Peanuts” comic strip has made multiple appearances in the parade, becoming a recognisable and regular character.
Where to Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
You can watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person or on television from a variety of locations.
- In order to see the balloons, floats, and acts up close, viewers can line the streets along the parade route in Manhattan, New York City, where the parade takes place.
- The parade is live-broadcast on television, making it accessible to viewers across the nation and abroad.
- For information on the precise channel and timeslot in your area, consult local listings or the official Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade website.
- On a number of outlets, such as the official Macy’s Parade website and NBC’s website, the parade is frequently streamed live.
- Numerous localities host watching parties or other events.
- These can take place in public spaces, schools, community centres, or even in homes
When was the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade?
On November 27, 1924, the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held. It was once referred to as the “Macy’s Christmas Parade,” and it was put together by the department store workers of Macy’s, many of whom were immigrants.
Reference: macys.com/social/parade/
When was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade first broadcast in colour?
In 1952, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was televised in colour for the first time. The introduction of colour television allowed spectators at home to take in the colourful and merry atmosphere of the parade more fully.