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98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City
(New York, NY) — Tomorrow will mark the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. But they may need to fly lower — due to high wind gusts. Still, the hope is they will be up in the sky for the festivities. On Wednesday crews pump helium into the big balloons and crowds gather to watch, on the Upper West Side.
Before the parade, 34 balloons are laid out flat on the streets around the American Museum of Natural History on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. There, technicians fill the giant balloons, along with novelty balloons, and balloonicles, with helium and help tether them to the ground. The Macy’s balloon inflation celebration has been held on Thanksgiving Eve since 1994.
For many, it’s an event just like watching the parade itself. This year, the celebration is open to public viewing from 1 pm until 6 p.m., with the entrance point at 72nd street and Columbus Avenue. Historically, the balloon inflation was held at night, but now takes place mostly during daylight hours. In addition, all spectators are subject a security screening by the NYPD. As guests exit the balloon inflation area, they will also have the opportunity to see select float assembly between 81st and 86th Streets.
