Imagine waking up in one of Manhattan’s swankier hotels, pulling yourself off the pillow top mattress, and catching a peek of a sky-high Spider-Man balloon brushing by your floor-to-ceiling windows.

It’s a scenario that sure beats watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV from your overcrowded couch, in between stirring the mashed potatoes and picking up relatives from the airport.

The annual Thanksgiving Day spectacle draws more than 3.5 million onlookers to the parade route, and whether it’s on your bucket list or just an idea to float to the family, making a trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade a new tradition is quite doable with a little planning and patience.

The History of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade that first snaked through the usually bustling NYC streets back in 1924 was quite different from today’s televised event. Originally called Macy’s Christmas Day Parade, the star attraction wasn’t balloons, but rather a menagerie of animals borrowed from the nearby Central Park Zoo.

The first balloon didn’t burst onto the scene until 1927, when Felix the Cat joined the fray. Two years later – at the same time Mickey Mouse appeared – helium technology evolved to the point where the balloons could soar up alongside the skyline.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has since run continuously, with one exception: a shortage of helium and rubber put the celebration on hiatus during WWII, from 1942-1944.¹

Sure, today’s modern presentation looks a bit different than its 90-year-old predecessor; technology has transformed balloons and allowed for elaborate song-and-dance street and Broadway performances. But this idea that it’s an event designed to bring together New Yorkers and tourists alike in the spirit of the holidays remains the same.

The Spectacle in the Sky

It takes more than 8,000 volunteers to make the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade happen. Much of that labor of love involves preparing, steering and securing the dozens of balloons, floats, falloons and balloonicles each year.

Wait. What and what? A falloon is a float-based balloon and a balloonicle is a self-powered balloon. (It’s important to know the parade lingo if you’re going to make the trip so that you can impress family, friends, and strangers.)

The stars of the parade comprise classic Disney characters such as Snow White, comic book heroes such as the aforementioned Spider-Man, and increasingly, charismatic corporate mascots including the Energizer Bunny, Kool-Aid Man and the Aflac Duck.¹

The balloons, which fit into storage containers that are 12’ x 8’, inflate up to about 50 feet high and nearly 30 feet wide, making them susceptible to the occasional accident.²

Characters that experienced bumps, bruises, rips, and tears through the years include Buzz Lightyear, who ended up in river after ripping his helmet, as well as Felix the Cat, who caught fire during his inaugural flight after tangling with some high wires.

Macy's Parade Viewing Guide

Arriving in NYC is the easy part. Whether you drive through the Lincoln Tunnel, take a train to Penn Station, or fly into one of three nearby international airports, the trip is pretty straightforward.

Deciding on a viewing strategy for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, however, is a bit trickier. While the route stays fairly similar through the years, you’ll still want to check and ensure that your viewing strategy and the latest route are in synch. Here are some tips for following the parade depending on whether you plan to rough it on the streets with millions of new friends or book a room to view the floats in your pajamas.

• Hotel high life: There are a number of highly rated hotels right alongside the parade route. These include the Mandarin Oriental, Warwick New York Hotel, JW Marriott Essex House, Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square and Trump International Tower.³ You’ll want to book at least six months in advance; keep in mind there are travelers who make this trip each year and are booking even further ahead than that. Also, be sure that your room faces the parade route. You’ll pay a premium – a room with a view can cost $1,000 or more – but you want to avoid shelling out for an expensive room with a view of the fire escape, brick wall and Dumpsters.³
  
  
• Hitting the streets: Set your alarm and wear comfy shoes. The parade begins down Central Park West and ends each year at Macy’s Herald Square. You’ll want to stake out the action at one of the public viewing locations dotting the 2.5-mile parade route, including:
• Central Park West: West side of street from 70th Street to Columbus Circle & east side of street from 70th to 65th
• Columbus Circle: West side of street 
• 6th Avenue: Between 58th & 34th Streets
• 34th Street: South side of street between Broadway & 7th Avenue⁴
• Be sure to arrive at least two to three hours before the parade starts at 9 a.m. Also, dress warmly, preferably in layers if it’s chilly and windy. And be sure to get a close up of the route by following Macy’s parade route tracker.

Depending on who you know, there is also penthouse parties aplenty across the parade route. Of course, if you watch "Seinfeld," you may already know this.

If you want to take in the entire adventure, then be sure to head over to the American Museum of Natural History on Wednesday afternoon on “Thanksgiving Eve.” This is when they blow up all the balloons and prep them for the big day on Thursday. And you’ll only have to contend with thousands spectators, not a few million.⁴

The 2017 91st Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade is Thursday, Nov. 23, beginning at 9 a.m. If you can’t make the trip, you can tune in on NBC. And if you can’t wait for the show, follow along with the Macy’s countdown online or sneak a peek at Macy’s parade’s Twitter feed.

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