It's time to welcome Tom Turkey, hundreds of clowns, a dozen marching bands, the Rockettes, giant balloons depicting Snoopy and the Pillsbury Doughboy, and much more for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! And the best part is, you can see those massive balloons taking shape on the night before Thanksgiving on the Upper West Side.
This year is the 97th edition of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Cher, the music and acting legend, will be performing, as will Jon Batiste, Bell Biv Devoe, Brandy, En Vogue, Katharine McPhee and David Foster, Ashley Park and Sesame Street cast members and Muppets, and Broadway productions like Gutenberg! The Musical, Shucked, & Juliet, Back to the Future, Chicago, Spamalot, and How to Dance in Ohio. There will also be floats galore, and, yes, Santa Claus will be making his annual appearance. That guy has never missed a parade. You can read about the entire line-up here.
On Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023, balloon inflation starts at 12 p.m. Visitors enter at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue and walk up Central Park West to the inflation area (West 77th, Columbus Avenue, and West 81st Street). Dozens of balloons, from the huge characters to the novelty designs, will be brought to life thanks to the parade's crews. Visitors exit the area at Central Park West and 86th Street.
You can see Macy's interactive map of the inflation area here.
Subway
72nd Street and Columbus Avenue is a block or two within multiple subway and bus lines.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 23rd, 2023, and kicks off at 77th Street and Central Park West, making its way 2.5 miles down to Macy's flagship store at Herald Square. Spectators can line up along certain areas of the route; the NYPD manages the crowds.
You can see Macy's interactive map of the parade route here, with tips about where viewing is restricted and suggestions about when to head there.
For more know-before-you-go Thanksgiving week transit details, check MTA.info.
