Every Thanksgiving in New York City, millions of people line the streets for an ultimate bucket list scratch: attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade! While viewing it on TV is certainly special, there is nothing quite like watching the massive floats and balloons in person. Everyone is in such a good mood and it really brings out the best in humanity. If you’re looking to attend in person, there are a few things you need to know ahead of time. Here are my top 10 tips for attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in NYC!
1. Get up earlier than you think!
I’m definitely an over-planner. So for my first year attending the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (in 2019), I scoured blogs and forums and tried to get as much advice as I could with regards to arrival time. Overwhelmingly, it mentioned between 6:00 am – 6:30 am. So in 2019, we did just that. We were able to get a spot right at the front of the gate on Sixth Avenue in the high 50’s. It was a dream!
Mistakes were made when we thought we could do the same on our second time viewing in 2022. One important thing that we didn’t factor in was the weather. In 2019, there were high wind warnings and they were calling for cold temperatures. In 2022, the forecast looked perfect. It made sense then how when we arrived at 6:00 am in 2022 that we couldn’t find a single front-row spot for over fifteen blocks! We ended up sitting “second row”, right behind a lovely family who eventually squeezed us in, but we were very fortunate. I’d recommend arriving on the street no later than 5:30 am to guarantee your spot. Yes, it’s a long wait but it goes by fast and having a front-row spot will be worth it!
New for 2023! The parade start time has been moved up a half hour, and will now start at 8:30 am (Source). Plan to arrive a little earlier!
2. Bring something to sit on
Unfortunately, you’re on the street for about 3-4 hours before the parade even starts on the Upper West Side. You’re going to want something to sit on! A lot of people brought fold up lawn chairs like this, but we were just fine with a picnic blanket. We laid the blanket down and were able to sit, and even (somewhat) lay down with our legs stretched. Whatever you bring, you’ll want it to be foldable or otherwise have it able to be put away for the parade. We brought a tote bag filled with other goodies (outlined below), so once the parade started we just folded up the blanket and put it back in there. Easy!
3. Best Viewing Points
The jury is still out on what is THE best place to view the parade, but I will fight to the death on my spot. Try to set up on Sixth Avenue in the mid-50’s. In 2022, we were in between 52nd and 53rd and it was perfect. You’ll get to look uptown and watch the balloons slowly wind around the corner from Central Park South, but can’t see too far ahead to spoil all of the surprises! CBS studios is also located in the area, so we found that the marching bands or other performances would start to play when they walked by us. Almost a guaranteed show!
Tip: you’ll want to set up on the East side of the street! That way when the sun rises, it’s on your back and not shining in your face.
4. BYO Coffee or Breakfast
Silly me to think that “The City That Never Sleeps” wouldn’t be asleep on Thanksgiving. Other than one stray bodega or Starbucks (that had a line out the door and down the block), there are little to no storefronts open for food or drink. Do yourself a favor and pack a thermos of your favorite coffee and throw a few snacks in your bag to nibble on. You’ll need all the energy for the parade!
5. There are no bathrooms
For as few food/beverage options you’ll find, there are even fewer restrooms. In 2019, I remember being allowed to use the restroom in a bodega, but in 2022 I found exactly zero options. All the stores (that are open) along Sixth Avenue and down the side streets will have a strict policy on no restrooms. Not even for customers! I tried everything – the Starbucks, bodegas, even hotel lobbies. None would let me use their restroom. Take it easy on the coffee and go before you head out in the morning!
6. Have ways to pass the time
Sitting on the street for 3-4 hours can feel really long. Make sure you have something to entertain you! My family would bring a deck of cards and play War or Rummy as we waited. Our first year, we also brought Uno and had quite the competition going! You could also download a Netflix show that you need to catch up on and plug in headphones. If you’re planning on relying on your phone for entertainment, just make sure you bring a portable charger!
7. Make friends!
When in doubt, talk to your neighbors! Everyone is in a good mood and just as crazy as you are for being on the streets that early. We would love to ask everyone where they’re from – our neighbors in 2022 came all the way from New Zealand! It’s amazing to hear everyone’s stories. A lot of people will know someone marching in the parade in some capacity, so it then becomes fun looking out for them during. Invite them to a game of cards or offer them a snack to make an instant friend!
8. Lean in to the spirit
The parade is what you make it – and it’s a million times more fun to lean in to the spirit! Cheer, wave, scream, and laugh! No one is judging you so let your inner child out and have some fun! I would love to see the fun balloons float by and chant along with the balloon handlers as they try to rev up the crowd. The clowns throughout the whole parade are in such great spirits and their happiness is contagious. I always end up losing my voice after the parade from cheering so much, and it’s tons of fun!
9. Getting out after the parade
Once the parade is over, it’s time for the max exodus. The majority of the subway entrances along Sixth Avenue are closed (think Rockefeller Center or the 57th St. F train) so you will have to walk a few blocks cross town. Also depending on what side of the street you’re on, the police don’t open the gates right away so keep that in mind. Whatever side you need to be on once the parade ends, plan to sit on that side. Or you might be waiting for quite a while. We ended up walking crosstown and planned to catch the 4/5/6/N/R/W at 59th St. and Lexington Avenue. It’s not a far walk and you can get to just about anywhere you need to go from those lines. On our walk, a M31 bus happened to pull up right in front of us so we ended up jumping on that to take us back to the Upper East Side! You can’t imagine how great a seat felt after standing and cheering for so long. Ahh.
10. Have a Thanksgiving lunch reservation
After the parade, you’ll be a little drained. I always feel like once I’m in motion, it’s easier to stay that way. I know that if I went straight back to the bed for a nap, getting up would be even harder. I’d recommend making Thanksgiving Day lunch reservations for right after the parade! You’ll already be out (and hungry!) and will beat the dinner crowd. In 2019, we had Thanksgiving lunch at Inside Park at St. Barts. It’s a beautiful old church that is repurposed into a restaurant and event space, and not far from the parade route. The menu was exactly the same for lunch or dinner so we didn’t miss out on anything. We got our fill of turkey, mashed potatoes, and all the Thanksgiving staples!
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