Updated: 12/25/19 —
Sometimes in life you get truly lucky and get to do something you’ve wanted to do since you were a kid. Other times you head to your favorite spot in Chinatown only to discover it’s been shut down after sources discovered employees making dumpster dumplings in the alley surrounded by rats. Hey, you win some, you lose some, maybe you get food poisoning. C’est la vie mes amis. But since you’re here looking for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips, you’re clearly winning.
But this post isn’t (just) about a possible hantavirus contraction; it’s about fulfilling childhood dreams and channeling the spirit of your grandmother. Last month I attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and it was as magical as I always dreamed it would be. Not as magical as the Magic Eye book I got for Christmas 20 years ago, but pretty damn close. (For the love of god, how do those things work?!?!?!)
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE TIPS
Before my trip to New York City I scoured the interwebs for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips for attending (also “how do rear view mirrors work” because I’m infinitely curious). Most of them were on blogs with ‘mommy’ in the title but sometimes you’ve just got to work with what’s available. Like that time I killed a spider with half a can of hair spray. (Unless you want to chip away at the spider’s hardened corpse that’s stuck to your bathroom tile, don’t kill ’em with hair spray.) Mothers of toddlers aren’t the only people who dream of attending the parade, just clearing that up.
Some Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips were useful, others just ridiculously stupid. “Dress warm,” you say? No kidding, thanks for the insider tip! I’m brand new to this thing you call ‘weather.’ Oh, I should get a hotel room overlooking Macy’s for the best view of the parade, is that right? It’s only $1000 a night? I could literally get a Black Hawk flyover from the U.S. military for a better price. They owe me a few favors anyway.
Step aside mommies! Ambitious, childless couple coming through!
DO STUDY THE PARADE ROUTE BEFOREHAND
On the official parade website, they post a map of the upcoming parade route each year. Using this you can map out the best spots to watch the parade, where you’ll want to stay during your visit to NYC, how you’ll get to the route, and much more. On the left side of the page, they give you Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips on best viewing spots and where to avoid.
DO GET THERE BEFORE 6 AM FOR THE BEST SPOT
The first of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips I read was: if you want a spot up front you need to get there at 6:30 AM (for the 9 AM parade) – so I vowed to get there at 6. Then I read 6 is better, so I vowed to get there at 5:45. I’m an overachiever if there ever was one. Is the day after Halloween too early?
Because I thought it would be a good idea to take public transportation to Central Park West on a major holiday (I was like, really tired), I instead arrived at the parade route in Midtown at the late hour of 6 o’clock and guess what? I was one child back from the barricade. One child who got there at, you guessed it, 5:45 as a place holder for her mother who was sleeping in. See? Get there before 6. (Or, ya know, birth some offspring to use as stand-ins.) Go big or go home, people! Second behind the barricade is first loser, everybody knows that.
And actually, I take back the title of this section. The best spot would be inside one of the curb side bus stations–built in seating, a roof over your head, protection from the elements. Sounds dreamy. Probably smells like urine, but dreamy all the same. These coveted parade-watching spots fill up around 4:00 am, so I’ve heard. #futuregoals However, if you’ve traveled all the way to New York City for this event and there’s crappy weather in the forecast, meh… it wouldn’t be the worst thing.
DON’T TAKE THE SUBWAY TO THE PARADE ROUTE
I was aiming to grab a spot at Central Park West near the start of the parade at 75th Street. Since my morning began at the Pod Hotel at 51st Street and 3rd Ave, I decided to take the subway to the Upper West Side. The New York City subway, I may be the only one who has ever said this, has never let me down. Until now. We waited for half an hour for a train that never came. “FORGET IT! WE’RE WALKING!” I never said I was a patient person. This may help explain the whiskey you’ll read about later.
We exited the station and walked two blocks straight to the parade route and popped a squat right there at 6th Ave and 52nd Street. I realize now that was what we should’ve done in the first place, but if I had done everything perfectly this wouldn’t be much of an article, now would it? The route was already lined with people as far as the eye and my 50x zoom lens could see so we just picked a spot on a corner and broke out the muffins. They actually might have been Pillsbury… hoo-hooo!
Related Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips: Walk to the parade route. Get a hotel near where you want to watch it. Taxis are iffy since many streets are closed for the parade. Horse carriages are just sad. Roller blades are always fun! ⇠ said no one who was popular in high school, ever.
DO BRING MUFFINS AND SHARE THEM WITH YOUR CURB BUDDIES
You’ll be trapped in your chosen spot for six hours, unable to move, because someone hijacking your space is an all-too-real probability. Sometime in those six hours hunger will strike so be prepared. My advice? Muffins! I recommend lemon poppyseed. I baked them at my house in Massachusetts at like 10:00 the night before, threw them all into a Ziplock bag, and shoved them into my backpack. Whatever, it worked. I may be giving you Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips but I never said I was Martha Stewart.
Don’t forget to share with the friends you’ve made on your street corner that didn’t bring anything more than their stories of life in small-town Minnesota to get by. Muffins are good and people will like you. Except for the one guy who “brought his own.” Sure, okay, whatever. Don’t take my muffins. Trust me, you’ll want your sidewalk neighbors in your parade posse when people start trying to sneak, shove, and crawl in front of you. OR THROUGH YOUR LEGS which is an actual thing that happened to me.
DON’T FORGET TO BRING SOMETHING TO SIT ON
(…New York City sidewalks and all.) Even though the real danger comes from above*, you’ll want something to separate your clean bootay from whatever is on the sidewalk. This is Manhattan–there’s going to be something on the sidewalk. Bring a blanket, a towel, a La-Z-Boy recliner, I don’t care. I brought a blanket I once bought at a Stuckey’s truck stop in Alabama. Solid purchase. Since it was Thanksgiving in New York City after all, I counted on the blanket pulling double duty when the freezing temperatures came. SURPRISE! It was 65°F that day. Alrighty, so just a butt protector then.
And since you’re wondering: yes, chairs are permitted. Fold-y outdoors-y chairs (is there a proper term for those metal and plastic ones you bring to BBQs?) are popular. Just remember that as the crowd grows, you’ll have to stand. And when you stand, you’ll have to either carry the chair, ditch it, prop it up against the barricade, something. Actually, an inflatable seat would be perfect here! Especially if you’re coming in from out of town. I saw a lot of these folding tripod stools too.
DON’T DRINK ANYTHING*
The mommies of cyberspace kept giving me Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips like “bring a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee” and to that I said, “Whaa? With this bladder? You crazy.”
And just where are you going to relieve yourself, lady? I know it’s New York City and all but I am not peeing on this street corner. And I’m certainly not moving because a very large woman and her six kids have started crowding me in an effort to overtake and gain ground. One even tried to squeeze through my legs to get in front of me. The polite and patient middle school teacher next to me said nice things like, “We’ve been here for a long time and we’ve earned our spot up front. Maybe when the parade starts we’ll let you up front to take a look but for now you will have to wait back there with your mom.” Me, on the other hand: “Awww Hellllll Naw!” *forcefully squeezes legs together* The parade struggle is real folks.
I brought my Camelbak filled with water for moments of dire dehydration but that. is. all.
Just know now: there is nowhere to pee. And even fewer places to do the other thing. The couple next to us took turns making trips to the Starbucks down the street but even that is dangerous. Making a purchase as Starbucks every time you have to pee? It’s a vicious cycle, people!
*Unless you have an iron bladder like my husband and watching a parade just won’t do without a flask of whiskey. There’s an exception to every rule.
DO BRING A BOOK TO PASS THE TIME
If you can’t sit and wait for things patiently, we would make great friends. Also, maybe you should bring a book to keep yourself occupied. I brought The Martian by Andy Weir. Have y’all read that? You’ve probably seen the movie. The book is loads better and hil-ar-i-ous. Hollywood apparently doesn’t want you to know this.
BUT DON’T READ IT
First of all, it’s dark out. Leave your book light at home, nerd. Second of all, there’s too much to see! The people watching is phenomenal. You’ll form a symbiotic curb relationship with strangers from Minnesota. And you will spend hours playing “What’s That Cop’s Job?” where you try to figure out an officer’s position within the NYPD based on how they’re dressed and what type of vehicle they arrived in. Wow, it was actually a lot more fun than it sounds, promise. OK fine, I’m a nerd! Whatever. Let’s move on…
What I’m saying is… take it all in. Watch them set up for the parade, watch the people pour in, make friends with all the *other* crazy people around you who thought waking up at 4:30 AM on a holiday was serious business. Don’t retreat into the pages of a book and forget where you are–the most magical event in the most amazing city!
DO GET INTO THE PARADE SPIRIT
I should preface this by saying… you will never find me at another parade. I don’t like parades. I don’t get the point and I think they’re stupid. There. But like I said earlier: Go big or go home. If I’m going to go to a parade, it’s going to be the parade. Besides, it’s easy to get into the spirit when you’ve been watching this event on TV since you acquired the ability to actually lift and point your head towards the TV, and have dreamed about being a part of it ever since.
Stop trying to look cool and let your inner dork out. It’s easier for some of us, I get it. What’s the worst that could happen? They could show you on TV, geeking out after a high-five with a clown dressed as a cheerleader for the Turkey Tech Gobblers, to the millions upon millions of viewers nationwide? You’re going to be exhausted and covered in confetti regardless so you might as well have fun.
DON’T TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CLOWNS
Seriously, I don’t know what to make of the clowns at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Honestly, I kind of liked the giant pencils (who wouldn’t!), but the old men dressed as babies? That’s my weirdness limit for the day. The breakfast clowns were cool ’cause ya know, I like breakfast. But the “wacky graduates“? Where do they come up with this stuff?
There was one really big clown that just scared the bejeezus out of everyone in Manhattan.
Everyone within earshot: “Oh my god! He’s looking right at us!”
DO TAKE THIS GUY’S ADVICE IN A BIND ⇡⇡⇡
So you didn’t read any Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tips at all and showed up late and can’t get a spot anywhere close to the route? You can do as one page suggested and “see it from a hill or playground”…huh? Or you can follow this guy’s lead and just walk back and forth repeatedly. Sounds equally ridiculous, but hear me out: being at an intersection, the police let people cross the street in between balloons and floats. This guy walked back and forth over and over, stopping in the middle to take pictures of the action. I may have arrived three hours early but I bet this guy got the best photos. Also, he wasn’t the only one doing this. Apparently word gets around in Chinatown.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF TERRORISTS
Despite the increased terror alerts for that day at that event in that city, I honestly felt I was in the safest place in the world that morning. Every type of law enforcer imaginable was out there. NYPD counterterrorism, FBI, bomb squad, swat team, the A-team, ministry of magic, the Night’s Watch, and cute little puppies. OK, they were ferocious, man-eating beasts but still, adorable. If I had given in to all the warnings that day I would have missed out on fulfilling one of my life’s goals and a momentous and unique experience. Don’t let fear dictate your lives and especially not your travels.
It was ironic how Christmas-y the Thanksgiving parade was. But, judging by how sad those pilgrims were at the get-go, I don’t blame them for pulling the ol’ switcheroo…
DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE PARADE AFTERMATH
One surprising advantage of visiting New York City on Thanksgiving is that 6th Avenue is closed all. day. long. Having an entire New York City avenue all to yourself is something you never knew you wanted so badly that comes along almost never.
MORE INFO
Heading to New York City? Find great places to stay here.
But where do I recommend? For the parade, either Pod 39 Hotel or Pod 51 Hotel.
Want to see more of the city? The New York CityPASS saves you 41% on NYC’s top attractions.
What else have I covered in New York City? Check out these posts.
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Too bad they didn’t have the Baby Trump float in the parade. It would have gotten a lot of cheers.
What a trip that would’ve been!
My daughter’s band, JMU, is marching in the parade this year. Go Dukes! So,we used this as an excuse to go to NYC. lol. We have no problem going out to the route early. Sadly, I do have a nervous bladder. No restroom equals more of a need to go. It’s a crazy mind thing that started after menopause. Is it hard going to find one? My husband and other daughter will be with me. Short of wearing an adult diaper, as suggested by a coworker who did this, is leaving to use the restroom possible?
I loved your article. It was informative and hilarious. Thank you.
Hi Rose! So cool that your daughter is going to march in the parade! It shouldn’t be too hard to find a restroom. There are Starbucks and coffee shops open all over town and open very early. You’ll just need to get a spot along the parade route next to one. As long as you have someone holding your space for you while you go. (You might also have to make a purchase each time you go?) However, as the crowd thickens it will get harder and harder to get in and out of your spot, but by then you should be so distracted you’re not thinking about it. And if you’re not drinking or eating, there shouldn’t be anything to get rid of anyway — LOL, science lesson by Ashley. ALSO, your coworker isn’t crazy. Think about it, if you’re wearing an adult diaper, you’ll have your restroom right there with you, meaning you won’t have to go at all given the way your mind works. 🙂 Good luck!
I am an MRD Mom too! Going with my husband and older son. So excited but I am a bit nervous about the waiting, getting a good spot and bathroom breaks! This was on my bucket list so what better time to do this! I loved the article and it was helpful knowing not to take the subway, because we would have! We are on 34th and we are trying to figure out where the best place to watch from is for us, I heard the lower streets you can get to later, but I am skeptical! Blanket to sit on is a great idea too!
Well, if it helps, I have the smallest bladder ever so I was worried about it too – and it was never an issue. I think you just get so distracted with the whole experience that you don’t think about it. 34th street is the center of the whole parade (in front of Macy’s) so getting a spot there might be impossible. It’s true that the farther down the parade route you go, the later it happens. The parade officially starts at 9 am, but that’s way up in Central Park West, so by the time it gets to the end of the route it’s much later. If you’re willing to get up and go super early in the morning, I’d say walk up as far north along the route as you can, just to be on the safe side. 🙂 Have fun!
Hi Ashley, LOVE all your tips and info.
I’m a West Coast’er and I just booked my first trip to NYC, to cross something off the bucket list in going to the parade. I’m beyond excited. But, my time is limited. My daughter and I will arrive on Thanksgiving morning into Newark at 5am, then, we will hightail it to…somewhere, I am trying to gather all the good intel I can to see what the best plan of attack will be in finding a place to watch, given our arrival circumstances. I’m planning to take the NJ transit to Penn Station, (dump our bags at a storage facility rather than take them all the way to the Marriott Marquis, time is of the essence).. then, either head uptown…I’ve seen other blogs that say the further uptown you go (IE like to Columbus Circle) the less crowded it is, or, alternatively, save the time going uptown and just try to find someplace comfortable on 6th. I’m making peace with the fact that we won’t be up on the barricades and that is just the way it is.
Any tips, given the above info?
Hi Cori! Your trip is gonna be so fun! (And fast paced for sure)
I, too, tried to get uptown towards Columbus Circle but had issue with the subway that morning. Because of that I ended up in Midtown, HOWEVER – it was easy because I was there super early. For you, I’d say try to get as uptown as you can–that’s something I have read a lot too. By the time you get to the parade it’s going to be crowded anywhere you go but you’ll still be able to see all the floats just fine! I hope you have an amazing time!
Hi Ashley! Great post. I especially like the part about dressing warmly- lol. I am considering heading to the parade this year to chec it off my bucket list. Heading in from Mass. as well. Did you drive in, bus, train? What do you recommend to get into the city itself?
Thanks!
Thanks Shelley! I get there via a combination of ways: I drive to New Haven, CT (and park my car at the station) then get on the Metro North Railway straight to Grand Central Station. Altogether it takes 4 hours and is a super cheap option. From Grand Central you can grab the subway or a taxi to wherever you’re headed in the city since it’s smack in the middle. Have a great time!
I appreciate this information! We are planning for my parade bucket list experience and your pictures and description made me even more excited to go!
Thanks so much Stacey! It’s such a fun time – you’ll love it!
Are you allowed to bring any kind of chair to sit on while you wait? What about backpacks?
Hi Ed, yes you can bring chairs to sit on and backpacks. Have fun!
We are in the middle of planning for this year’s parade! Traveling all the way from Guam, its a dream for my sister who’s wanted to watch in person for like forever. Thank you for sharing your experience. Most we may not do but it’s a big help either way. Since I don’t think we will watch twice in our lifetime, I want to make sure we have an awesome experience!!
That’s amazing! Y’all are going to LOVE IT! If I have just one piece of advice to give–it’s get to the parade route EARLY. The earlier the better. It’s a long wait but having a spot up front is the best decision you’ll make! Have fun!
Whenever I’m in the USA I love visiting Macy’s. I could wander around for ages browsing the various departments. I’d love to go to the parade.
It’s great–I hope you get to someday!
Ashley!! I honestly can’t remember the last time I lol’d while reading a travel blog post, so THANK YOU. That bit with the Ronald McDonald balloon killed me. Honestly why are clowns a thing… they are so terrifying. Anyways, thanks for sharing your experience at the parade! As a sad little Canadian living north of the border, I’ve always dreamt of seeing it (cuz they always talk about it in tv shows and stuff haha). Good to know it’s every bit as magical and dorky as I always imagined!
Haha, well you’re welcome and you’ve come to the right place! Check out any of my other articles any time you need a giggle. 🙂 And you’re right about clowns. There was a skit about the parade (and the scary clowns) on SNL last week–if you missed it I shared the video on my Facebook page, you should TOTALLY check it out haha!
Even as a non-American, I can appreciate at least to some extent, what a huge deal the Thanksgiving Day Parade is, seeing of course how heavily featured it is in popular culture. Certainly, I’ve always wanted to experience Thanksgiving in the States and this would seem like the perfect way to do it. Some really great advice too and I really enjoyed your writing style, very engaging and funny. Looking forward to reading more
I invited a friend from England to my family’s Thanksgiving dinner one time and he thought it was THE GREATEST event ever. And thank you very much for your compliments! Love yours too–there aren’t enough funny bloggers out there!
I love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade on TV, but in person looks amazing!!! Also, that wait makes the Disney parades look amateur, you only have to wait 2 hours before the parade since they have a few per day. Great tips for securing the beat spot!
It really is awesome in person!! And 2 hours?? I feel like the Magic Kingdom is just one constant Disney parade haha. Those are pretty awesome though too. 🙂
Macy’s Parade is probably one of the most iconic parades around the world and rightly so. Haven’t ever attended it but have often seen it on TV or in movies too. Loved the photos and the details and tips. I think it’s really cool that they close the street for the whole day and like you said walking on it after the parade can be really nice. As for that “guy” tip, I often do that, walk across whenever I can and take photos.
Yeah! I’m definitely going to start doing that more often. I guess when I’m in NYC I’m just concentrating on not getting run over!
I wish I could attend a Thanksgiving parade soon! It looks like so much fun! Love the comprehensive yet practical tips – it’s always tough dealing with the crowd on such big events.
Abigail of GlobalGirlTravels.com
Yeah, 7 million people is about the biggest crowd there is but it’s totally manageable!
For us as a Europeans, thanksgiving only means the turkey dish…but hey, this parade looks amazing! I’m sure we would love to watch it if we were still kids!
Haha, you’re right. But here watching the parade every Thanksgiving morning has been a tradition for a lot of families–and being there was a childhood dream come true!
I love this post! I’ve never been to the Thanksgiving Day Parade but these tips are great for the day that I do decide to brave the crowds. My favorite tip was not to drink anything. So true for me! After securing a coveted spot along the barrier there’s no way I would be giving it up to find a restroom!
Thank you Marissa! And yeah, what a disaster it would’ve been had I needed a bathroom at any point!