Thanksgiving Parade Map: Where To See Macy's Balloons Get Inflated

Map:

Where To See
Macy's Thanksgiving
Parade BalloonsGet Inflated

Before you get ready for your Thanksgiving feast (and tangling with loved ones), enjoy the delightful warm-up to the big Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade:

The parade's Thanksgiving Eve balloon inflation on the Upper West Side.

The balloons slowly emerge outside of the American Museum of Natural History starting at 3 p.m.: You enter at West 79th and Columbus Avenue and enter the viewing area which takes you south to West 77th, then east to Central Park West, and then up CPW to West 81st Street. This handy map shows exactly where each balloon is, from beloved favorites (click through the gallery above) to newbies making their debut this year.

Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, told us how she's amazed at how the balloon inflation has become an "event unto itself. It used to be a sleepy little event where those who lived in the neighborhood knew...now it's become a significant event—we could get a million people here!"

 

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Inflation, Wednesday, November 23. Inflation begins at 3 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.

https://www.macys.com/social/parade

WHERE TO WATCH

START TIME
The parade begins at 9AM ET. Get your spot along the route.
THE ROUTE
There's 2.5 miles of public viewing! Please note: grandstand tickets are not for sale to the general public.
VISITOR CENTER
See us on the mezzanine level of Macy's Herald Square and get your 10% off Visitor's Savings Pass. Plus, we can arrange your tickets to must-see attractions and help you get the most out of your visit!

Balloon Inflation Viewing
Frequently Asked Questions

I want to see the balloon inflation before the Parade. When does that start?
Join us for the Macy's Giant Balloon Inflation from 1pm to 8pm on the day before Thanksgiving (Wednesday, November 22nd) outside of the Museum of Natural History (between West 77th and West 81st Streets).

 

Where is the entrance to the balloon inflation viewing areas?
The entrance has moved! This year, the new entrance to the giant balloon inflation area will be at West 74th Street and Columbus Avenue.

Will there be street closures?
Central Park West will be closed from West 72nd Street to West 86th Street beginning 12pm Wednesday, November 22nd through 12pm Thursday, November 23rd.

73rd Street through 85th Street will be closed from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue beginning 12pm Wednesday, November 22nd through 12pm Thursday, November 23rd.

The 79th Street Transverse will be closed from 12pm Wednesday, November 22nd through 12pm Thursday, November 23rd.

What are the closest subway stops?

For arriving guests:

• 72 St. station (at Central Park West) — B, C trains
• 72 St. station (at Broadway) — 1, 2, 3 trains

For exiting guests:

• 81 St.-Museum of Natural History station (at Central Park West) — B, C trains
• 79 St. station (at Broadway) — 1 train

Volunteers can be found at the subway entrances on Central Park West at West 72nd Street and West 81st Street to help with directions.

When I arrive, where do I go?
Guests arriving from the West Side can cross Columbus Avenue south of West 77th Street to join the viewing line at West 74th Street and Columbus Avenue.

Guest arriving from the East Side should utilize the 65th Street Transverse, then head northwest to join the viewing line at West 74th Street and Columbus Avenue.

Once I join the viewing line, where do I go to see the giant balloons?
Upon entering at West 74th Street and Columbus Avenue, volunteers will be located along the route to help guests find their way.
Guests will view the balloons moving clockwise around the Museum from the north side of West 77th Street, then the south side of West 81st Street.

 
Where do I go when I exit?
Guests may exit via:

• Subway entrance at West 81st Street and Central Park West (B, C trains)79th Street Transverse (entrance at West 81st Street and Central Park West)82nd Street heading west toward Columbus Avenue

What should I bring?
Weather can be unpredictable so dress in layers, wear comfy shoes and bring a poncho!

What items are prohibited?
For your safety, the following items are expressly prohibited: umbrellas, backpacks, large bags, alcoholic beverages, drones and e-cigarettes.
No personal property can be left or abandoned at the entrance or checkpoints.

As dusk fell and many tried to flee the city for the Thanksgiving holiday, plenty of New Yorkers headed to the Upper West Side to watch balloons get inflated for the 89th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, marveled at how the Thanksgiving Eve balloon inflation has transformed into an "event unto itself. It used to be a sleepy little event where those who lived in the neighborhood knew...now it's become a significant event—we could get a million people here!"

Thousands were waiting at 6 p.m. (the inflation began at 3 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.): Lines of families snaked around the streets surrounding American Museum of Natural History, excited to catch a glimpse one of the seventeen giant character balloons—like Eruptor from Skylanders, Snoopy Woodstock, Hello Kitty, Thomas the Tank Engine—or the smaller balloonicles, such as the Kool-Aid Man or the Happy Hippo. Spotted among the awed onlookers was former Mayor Michael Bloomberg with his grandson Jasper Bloomberg, who looked very happy, on his shoulders. 

One of the new balloons this year is the Sinclair Oil dinosaur, DINO. And this actually isn't his first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: Kule said the life-sized Apatosaurus was first in the parade in 1963 and was in the lineup for 13 years, "We're ramping up for the 90th anniversary of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and it's a time for us to not only look forward to significant milestones that we have coming but it's also a chance to look back...[DINO] has a very deep history with the parade. Not having seen it for 40 years, we're extraordinarily honored to have it back in the parade."

Mother Nature also appeared to be cooperating. Kule admitted the past three years have been challenging (remember the threat of the Noreaster last year?) making this week much appreciated, "We've been blessed with beautiful weather tonight as we bring these inflatables to life and tomorrow as we entertain the 3.5 million people along the route and the 50 million people watching on television."

"This is one of the great nights every year in New York City," Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference at the corner of West 77th Street and Central Park West. "It’s something we’re proud of and something that makes us realize just how great this city is." In addition to thanking Macy's for their "incredible work" in putting on the parade—"What a showcase for all that is great about New York City"—he added, "I want to thank all the men and women of the NYPD who are protecting us tonight, will be protecting us tomorrow, who protect us every day."

Police Commissioner Bill Bratton was also present, announcing, "I’m anticipating that we may have record-breaking crowds. I don’t recall a year when we’ve had such ideal weather - incredible weather. Tomorrow, I think, might actually break a record on that... In anticipation of those very large crowds we’ve increased the number of officers - I think we’ll have the largest number of officers we’ve ever had for this event - over 2,500 - and the thousands of other officers that are on patrol throughout the city." 

He, too, thanked the members of service on duty tomorrow, "They’ll be away from their families during the day. While you’re here celebrating, they’re here working," and was nostalgic, "I can remember - last time I was commissioner in 1994, ’95, I lived on Columbus Circle - 240 Central Park South, 7th floor balcony - I could literally touch - reach out and touch those balloons as they came around the circle - an incredible thrill."

As for next year's 90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Kule says they are about halfway done with planning it.

The 89th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 9 a.m.; here is the parade route. The parade is also broadcast on NBC.