Schedule
11/22/08	9am-noon

Related Event

11/21	Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation

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For their 81st Thanksgiving extravaganza, the team at Macy's has assembled the likes of Hairspray's Nikki Blonsky, Sarah Brightman, and country-music legend Dolly Parton to perform on—or wave from—various floats. Need more incentive to brave the expected 2.5 million spectators or the potential cold? How about eleven character balloons, 24 floats, 800 clowns, and the Radio City Rockettes performing a kick line in front of Macy’s? Among the balloons debuting this year are Sesame Street resident Abby Cadabby and iconic ogre Shrek. Four new floats, including a fantasia of M&Ms starring in Broadway musicals, will also be unveiled. In addition to the NYPD band, eleven college and high-school marching bands will also appear.

The parade starts at Central Park West and 77th Street, veers onto Broadway at Columbus Circle, heads to Macy's doorstep at 34th Street, Herald Square, then heads west to Seventh Avenue. Folks start lining up at 6 a.m. with bleachers reserved for Macy's employees. Other good curbside vantage points can be had at:
• 70th Street to Columbus Circle on the west side
• Broadway between 38th and 58th Streets
• 34th Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenue on the south side

Related Stories

Featured In

• Q&A With Macy's Parade Runner Bob Rutan (11/27/06)