The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual spectacle on television, but it’s also a unique New York experience for anyone willing to brave the elements and watch on the ground. Here are the best places to see the parade in person.
Hotel rooms with a view
The best views of the parade are from above. Several hotels can be found along the parade route, including the Mandarin Oriental at Columbus Circle and the New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue.
However, many hotel rooms with parade views are booked months in advance and are often expensive.
The shops of Columbus Circle
Seasoned parade watchers know that similar aerial views are available for free at The Shops at Columbus Circle, a shopping center that overlooks the parade bend from Central Park West to Sixth Ave.
The second and third floors of the mall have glass windows that allow a wide view of the parade, but it’s best to get there early to make sure there’s a spot available.
Central Park West (Eighth Avenue)
The parade starts at 77th Street and is closed to the public. However, the west side sidewalks will be open from 75th Street to 61st Street for anyone claiming a spot early Thanksgiving morning, before the parade begins.
Sixth Avenue.
The parade is blocked off for spectators on the ground as it moves from Central Park West to Sixth Avenue. However, the route from Central Park South to 38th Street is open to spectators on both sides of Sixth Avenue. This part of the parade is often busier than the previous section of Central Park West.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 2022
Shawn Inglima for the New York Daily News A Snoopy balloon is seen during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Manhattan, New York on Thursday, November 24, 2022.
Other barricaded portions of the route include Columbus Circle itself, the performance area in front of Macy’s Herald Square at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, from 38th to 34th Streets. The Herald Square grandstand is reserved for artists, family members, employees and volunteers.
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