The 99th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings giant balloons, festive floats, marching bands, and Santa Claus to Manhattan streets. For families visiting New York, it’s a holiday tradition that creates memories worth the effort.

Here’s what first-timers don’t realize: seeing the parade in person takes planning. You’re competing with millions of spectators for sidewalk space. Subway stations close. Streets shut down. This guide covers where to watch, how to get there, and what works for families with kids.

The 2025 Parade Route and What’s New This Year

The parade starts at 8:30 AM on Thursday, November 27th at West 77th Street and Central Park West. From there, it travels south to Columbus Circle, turns onto Central Park South, then heads down Sixth Avenue to Macy’s Herald Square at 34th Street. The full route covers 2.5 miles.

This year’s parade features new balloons including Mario, Pac-Man celebrating his 45th anniversary, Buzz Lightyear in a fresh design, and Shrek’s Onion Carriage. Performers include Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Broadway shows, and the Radio City Rockettes.

Best Viewing Spots for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Central Park West & Why Works Best

The stretch between 60th and 75th Streets offers the most comfortable viewing for families. Streets are wider here, and you’re catching floats at the beginning of their route. Once the parade passes, you can leave before traffic locks down the entire city.

Target the blocks between 61st and 69th if possible. You’ll see everything without the crush of crowds that builds further downtown. The earlier position means less waiting around after floats pass your spot.

Sixth Avenue as Your Backup Option

The section between 59th and 42nd Streets gets packed but delivers solid views. If Central Park West fills up, this becomes your backup. The uptown-facing angle gives great photo opportunities of balloons floating toward you.

Getting an Elevated View at Bryant Park

Enter on the library side so you can stand in the Winter Village area. This section sits slightly elevated and provides a viewing platform above street level. It’s less crowded than sidewalk spots and offers a different perspective.

Locations to Avoid

Columbus Circle is reserved for the NYPD and closed to the public. Herald Square near Macy’s at 34th Street is restricted for TV broadcast crews and VIP seating. Even surrounding sidewalks get so jammed they’re not worth trying.

Macy’s Parade Viewing Guide by Location

Location	Crowd Level	Why It Works	When to Arrive
Central Park West (60th-75th St)	Moderate	Wide streets, early route position	6:00 AM
6th Avenue (59th-42nd St)	Heavy	Good balloon views	5:30 AM
Bryant Park	Moderate	Elevated viewing from Winter Village	7:00 AM
Columbus Circle	Closed	Reserved for NYPD	Avoid
Herald Square (34th St)	Closed	TV broadcast area	Avoid

What Time Should You Get There?

Front-row spots disappear fast. Plan to reach your chosen location by 6:00 AM. Some areas need even earlier arrival. Yes, it’s dark. Yes, it’s cold. But that’s the reality of securing good views.

If dragging kids out of bed at 5:00 AM sounds rough, the balloon inflation offers a better alternative.

Should You Skip the Parade for Balloon Inflation Night?

The balloon inflation happens Wednesday evening on the Upper West Side near the American Museum of Natural History. Crews work between West 72nd and 81st Streets, inflating the massive balloons from noon to 6:00 PM. Try to arrive between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

The event is completely free. You can walk right up to the balloons, snap photos, and let kids see characters up close without fighting parade-day crowds. No standing in one spot for hours. No arriving before dawn.

Many families find this more enjoyable than the parade itself. Children see their favorite characters at eye level instead of floating high above a sea of people.

Planning Your Trip to the Parade

Getting your family to the parade route presents the toughest logistics hurdle. The city shuts down on Thanksgiving morning, and subway disruptions require advance planning.

The Challenges with Public Transit

Multiple subway stations along the route close entirely or operate as exit-only. The B and D trains near Columbus Circle, the N/Q/R lines at Herald Square, and several stops along the 1 line all face restrictions. Street closures prevent buses from running normal routes.

If you’re arriving from JFK for the holiday, factor these disruptions into your morning timeline. Navigating closed stations with kids, strollers, and bags in 30-degree weather creates problems.

Can You Simplify Parade Day with Private Vehicles?

A driver familiar with alternate routes can drop your group close to your viewing spot and arrange a post-parade pickup location. You avoid hunting for taxis after the parade ends and traffic goes sideways.

For extended family gatherings, a private bus keeps everyone together. No coordinating multiple rideshares or losing track of kids in the chaos.

What to Know When Bringing Children

Getting Through Hours of Waiting

Folding chairs or blankets help during the long wait. Bring thermoses of hot cocoa. Pack snacks and water since leaving your spot means losing it. November mornings in New York start in the low 30s, so layer up. Once you’re standing in a crowd, body heat helps, but wind chill bites.

Portable chargers keep phones and tablets alive. Download movies or games ahead of time. Kids get bored waiting two hours for floats to appear. Entertainment devices help.

Set Up a 30-Minute Family Rotation

If you’re visiting with other families, take turns holding the viewing spot. Others can duck into nearby cafes to warm up, use bathrooms, or grab coffee. Rotate every 30 minutes so no one stands in the cold the entire time.

Planning Your Post-Parade Departure

After the parade passes your location, downtown traffic becomes a nightmare. Floats move slowly through southern sections of the route. If you watch from Central Park West, you can leave by 10:00 AM and beat the worst congestion.

Coordinate your pickup location in advance. Don’t wait until after the parade to figure out where to meet your driver.

Your Parade Day Essentials Checklist

Item	Why You Need It	Pro Tip
Folding chairs or blankets	Sidewalk sitting for hours	Bring bungee cords to secure your spot if stepping away briefly
Thermos with hot drinks	Warmth and hydration	Fill with coffee or hot chocolate; avoid glass containers
Snacks and water	Can’t leave your spot	Pack protein bars and fruits—easy to eat one-handed
Portable phone chargers	Photos and kid entertainment	Fully charge the night before; bring charging cables too
Tablets loaded with content	Keeping kids occupied	Download content at home; parades often have poor cell service
Extra layers of clothing	Cold mornings, warming afternoons	Wear zip-offs or hoodies you can tie around your waist
Small backpack	Carrying everything hands-free	Choose one with multiple pockets for quick access to essentials

Dress in layers since temperatures climb as the morning progresses. Hands-free storage helps when you’re managing kids and holding spots.

If You Can’t Make It to the Street-Side

Hotels along the parade route book up months in advance, but rooms with views at the New York Hilton Midtown on 54th and Sixth Avenue offer views from above. Some restaurants offer brunch packages with parade views, though these run several hundred dollars per person.

If in-person viewing doesn’t work out, NBC broadcasts the event live starting at 8:30 AM EST. Streaming options include Peacock, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and other services.

Getting Ready for the 99th Annual Macy’s Parade

The parade creates lasting memories, but it takes preparation. Pick your viewing location based on crowd tolerance and arrival time. Book your transportation before Thanksgiving week arrives. Decide if street-side viewing or the balloon inflation fits your family better.

Sort out transportation, know your viewing spot, and pack right. The logistics take effort, but they’re manageable once you know what to expect from the 99th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.