West Side Rag
  • TOP NEWS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT US
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT
West Side Rag
No Result
View All Result
SUPPORT THE RAG

Search the site

No Result
View All Result
Get WSR FREE in your inbox
SUPPORT THE RAG

MAPS: BALLOON INFLATION AND THANKSGIVING PARADE

November 26, 2014 | 10:14 AM
in NEWS
4

kermit

On Wednesday from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m., Macy’s will inflate the Thanksgiving balloons that will coast down Central Park on Thursday. The map for the inflation is below (click it to enlarge, or download the pdf here). Beware: it can get insanely crowded. Read our piece about how much quieter it was in the olden days.

balloon route 1

On Thursday, the parade itself starts at 9 a.m., but if you want to get a good spot on the parade route, you generally have to get there hours earlier. People who show up at 6 a.m. with children deserve a medal of some sort, or at least a stiff drink. The map’s below (pdf here).

Happy Thanksgiving all! As always, we’re thankful for our readers,and for homemade stuffing, but not in that order.

parade route4

Share this article:
SUPPORT THE RAG
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

4 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Lucien Desar
Lucien Desar
10 years ago

The crowd is insane during the balloon inflation but everyone seems to be in good spirits. There probably will be a slightly lesser amount of people because of the weather today.

0
Reply
Cato
Cato
10 years ago

I remember when this was a lovely neighborhood event. You could drop in, walk out, come back, all at leisure.

Then, probably around 20 years ago, the tour buses started arriving. Crowds of camera-toting out-of-towners saturated the local streets. No longer a walk in (or around) the park, it became a challenge.

Then, of course, the neighborhood stopped being a neighborhood, and this became just another push-and-shove opportunity for the Me-Firsters who now reign supreme in this area. This local alternative to seeing the actual parade live has become so unpleasant that it’s no alternative at all.

And the parade itself, of course, is like moon landings (for those who remember them) — intended, designed and planned to be watched on TV. Only.

Ah, progress.

0
Reply
webot
webot
10 years ago
Reply to  Cato

sounds more like just getting older, like the rest of us.

and maybe just maybe less tolerant.

The past was not always better, we were just younger…

0
Reply
Sean
Sean
10 years ago

It’s the magic of Macy’s.

0
Reply

YOU MIGHT LIKE...

New Version of Silver Moon Bakery Expected to Open This Week on Upper West Side
FOOD

New Version of Silver Moon Bakery Expected to Open This Week on Upper West Side

July 14, 2025 | 2:13 PM
New Digital Screen With Accurate Bus Wait Times Installed on Upper West Side
NEWS

New Digital Screen With Accurate Bus Wait Times Installed on Upper West Side

July 14, 2025 | 12:00 PM
Previous Post

POLICE BODY CAMERAS, BURGLARIES DISCUSSED AT LOCAL NYPD MEETING

Next Post

BOOK CULTURE, FIRST NEW UWS BOOKSTORE IN YEARS, IS OPEN

this week's events image
Next Post
BOOK CULTURE, FIRST NEW UWS BOOKSTORE IN YEARS, IS OPEN

BOOK CULTURE, FIRST NEW UWS BOOKSTORE IN YEARS, IS OPEN

DEAR STRESSED UPPER WEST SIDERS: IT’S TIME TO REJUVENATE (SPONSORED)

DEAR STRESSED UPPER WEST SIDERS: IT'S TIME TO REJUVENATE (SPONSORED)

LASKER RINK REOPENS AFTER PLUGGING LEAK

LASKER RINK REOPENS AFTER PLUGGING LEAK

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT US
  • NEWSLETTER
  • WSR MERCH!
  • ADVERTISE
  • EVENTS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TERMS OF USE
  • SITE MAP
Site design by RLDGROUP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • TOP NEWS
  • THIS WEEK’S EVENTS
  • OPEN/CLOSED
  • FOOD
  • SCHOOLS
  • OUTDOORS
  • REAL ESTATE
  • ART & CULTURE
  • POLITICS
  • COLUMNS
  • CRIME
  • HISTORY
  • ABSURDITY
  • ABOUT
    • OUR STORY
    • CONTRIBUTORS
    • CONTACT US
  • WSR SHOP

© 2025 West Side Rag | All rights reserved.