The 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City took place on Thursday, November 27th at 8:30 am, attracting millions of people to the streets of Midtown Manhattan. Despite the cold weather, the enthusiasm of the crowd watching the parade performances was undiminished, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere in the city from early morning.
This year’s lineup was dazzling with 34 giant character balloons, 28 elaborate floats, 11 marching bands, 9 performance groups, 33 clown units, and 14 professional performance groups, along with several well-known celebrities joining the parade, transforming Sixth Avenue into a festive and magical street. The giant balloons weaved through the skyscrapers, the floats were colorful and creative, the bands and dancers energized the audience with music and dance, receiving applause and cheers wherever they went.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade spanned 2.5 miles, starting from 77th Street and Central Park West, moving down the west side of Central Park to 61st Street, then turning into the south side of Central Park, continuing down Sixth Avenue to 38th Street, and concluding in a grand finale at Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street.
Several Chinese faces were also seen at the event. Mr. Zhou, originally from Beijing and living in the U.S. for over thirty years, attended the parade with his wife for the first time. He expressed gratitude for his parents and the country, mentioning his humble beginnings in the United States and recognizing it as a great nation despite its challenges.
Mr. Liu from Guangxi, currently visiting the U.S., shared his joy in watching the parade and emphasized the importance of gratitude for a better life, comparing the systems in China and the U.S. and feeling positive about his experience in America.
Courtney from Florida and her family attended the parade for the first time, appreciating the festive atmosphere and the special opportunity to witness the event in person, thanking her mother for arranging their front row position.
Stephanie, Courtney’s mother, shared her excitement for being able to bring her family to watch the parade after her husband’s retirement from the NYPD, expressing gratitude for their family and the memorable Thanksgiving celebration.
Rocky from New York and his family were thrilled to attend the parade for the first time, expressing thanks to their parents, siblings, children, and all the attendees, wishing for a world full of love, happiness, and peace. They planned to enjoy a cozy Thanksgiving dinner at home.
Jennifer from New Jersey and her family stayed at a Manhattan hotel the night before to secure a prime viewing spot for their first live parade experience, expressing anticipation for the giant character balloons and K-pop’s Demon Hunters their children were excited to see.
Emily, dressed as Santa Claus, expressed her love for the appearance of Santa at the end of the parade, planning to thank her family and give them gifts for Thanksgiving.
Ella thanked her mother for taking her to the parade, expressing her love for Thanksgiving and excitement for the upcoming One Piece float. The girls also showed gratitude to their grandmother, Micky, who warmly shared the celebration with her family.
The audience waved and cheered at the parade teams, children screamed in delight at the giant balloons, and adults captured moments of joy on their phones. The cheers echoed through the city, enveloping it in the warm atmosphere of Thanksgiving.