Last year I missed Thanksgiving. I missed the Macy’s Thanksgiving day Parade – the best parade ever.... bar none according to Mr M – and the pumpkin pie. This year I was going to have it all.
Bright and early Thursday morning, Mr M and I hopped on the subway, destination West 86th Street. Our plan of attack (because you do need one) was to grab a coffee and donut and then enter Central Park at West 86thand Central Park West, above the parade preparation area. From here we headed south.
So I am no expert – this was my first Macy’s parade – but Central Park really is the best place to be (unless you managed to get a spot street-side). The Park although full of people, offers much more manoeuvrability and some good vantage points especially if you are willing to climb a tree, a wall or a fence, or if you are one of the people who brought a step ladder.
And the parade - Kermit the Frog, Don Mclean, Spiderman, Elmo, Sonic the Hedgehog and high school marching bands blasting out musical renditions of ‘Move like Jagger’ and ‘Super Bass’ – was awesome.
Our evacuation plan was seamless as well - we headed East across the Park to the 4/5 train on Lexington for our trip home.
Later that afternoon I got my pumpkin pie.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Tips
- Avoid the streets
- Enter Central Park from 86th street or above on the west side and head south or walk west across the park from Fifth Avenue on the east side
- It is nice to be able to see the street, but you can just find a spot to sit in the park on the West side and watch the balloons go past.
