Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade gets a new route
Quick Summary
The 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade gets a new route, introduces four balloon giants and floats a number of freshly minted celebrities.
Photo credit: Timothy Fadek | The Spider-Man balloon returns to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. It is being tested here in a parking lot in Rutherford, N.J. (Nov. 7, 2009)
The 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade puts Santa in a new souped-up sleigh, introduces four balloon giants and floats a number of freshly minted celebrities. Here are the highlights and changes to a spectacle that is as much a part of the day of feasting as college football and the stuffed bird.
>>See photos of the new balloons
>>See photos from the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
NEW PARADE ROUTE
The biggest change to the Manhattan holiday season opener, a Thanksgiving tradition for generations of Long Islanders, is the new footprint.
For the first time, the parade will bypass the traditional parade path on Broadway to avoid the recently installed pedestrian plazas. Instead, the march will zigzag along Sixth and Seventh avenues. It still begins at West 77th Street and Central Park West, and ends about three hours later, at Macy's 34th Street flagship store.
BALLOON DEBUTS
Among the helium-filled newbies: Spider-Man, absent for a decade, returns with a modernized look and more muscles to celebrate Marvel's 70th anniversary. Mickey Mouse has been outfitted in red-white-and-blue sailor gear, and perched on an anchor. There's also a new Pillsbury Doughboy balloon with outstretched arms and bright blue eyes, and a skating Ronald McDonald. On a smaller scale, look for new basketball and "Big Man Santa" specialty balloons.
CELEBRITIES
Some recently minted celebrities are appearing along with opera hunk Andrea Bocelli, Kermit the Frog and Great Neck Olympian Emily Hughes. The fresh faces include Boston-based rockers Boys Like Girls, DJ Lance Rock and other cast members of the popular Nick Jr. children's show "Yo Gabba Gabba!" and reigning Miss America Katie Stam.
Long Islanders can cheer for the Bohemia-based Spirit of Long Island Mounted Drill Team.
BY THE NUMBERS
Parade participants: 8,000
Giant balloons: 15
Floats: 24
Entertainment: 1,500 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers
Clowns: 800
Marching bands: 10
Spectators: 3.5 million (estimated)
TV viewers: 50 million (estimated)
DETAILS
83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: 9 a.m. Thursday at West 77th Street and Central Park West, ending at Macy's on 34th Street, Manhattan. Public viewing of balloon blowup 3-10 p.m. Wednesday at West 77th and West 81st streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.
GETTING THERE
For the best viewing, Macy's recommends spectators arrive between 6 and 7 a.m. and find a spot between West 61st and West 72nd streets on Central Park West. The Long Island Rail Road will be adding trains.
INFO
212-494-4495, macysparade.com, Free
>>See photos of the new balloons
>>See photos from the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
>>Complete guide to Thanksgiving on Long Island
comments