Photo by Scott Lynch.
The Upper West Side is the center of the Thanksgiving universe starting on Wednesday afternoon.
The balloon inflation party long ago ceased to be a sweet neighborhood affair and became a major destimation event. This year, you’ll have to enter on 73rd Street and Columbus Avenue. Pro tip: make sure the kids pee in advance, it can be tough to find a bathroom on the route!
One other pro tip: PS 334 holds its fall carnival starting at 4 on Wednesday across the street from the inflation on Columbus between 76th and 77th Street. “Oh, and there will be hot chocolate to warm everyone up!” a parent tells us.
On Thursday, the parade itself starts at 9 a.m. at 77th and CPW but people line up (on the building side of CPW) well in advance. The route is below:
These are the streets that will be closed:
THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
Manhattan: At the discretion of NYPD
Formation:
- Columbus Avenue between 81st Street and 77th Street
- Central Park West between 81st Street and 86th Street
- 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- 76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- 73rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
- 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
- 62nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
Route:
- Central Park West between 81st Street and East Side of Columbus Circle/59th Street
- Columbus Circle between 59th Street and Broadway
- Broadway between 59th Street and 58th Street
- 59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
- 6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th Street
- 34th Street between 6th Avenue 7th Avenue
74th street is completely clear of parking starting today.
Last year it was closed Weds & Thurs. Are you sure it’s 73rd and not 74th for the inflation and closed for the parade?
Why, why, why? Don’t the residents of the area get a voice on this expansion of balloon expansion? This is a major imposition on the entire UWS.
Blame cable news. This used to be a low-key, friendly neighborhood event until it got national publicity.
You are probably the same person who complains about empty store fronts. Guess how the stores around here stay in business? I agree that this has gotten a bit out of control but I really wish this was my worst problem in life.
Party pooper?
Watching the balloons be inflated USED TO BE fun. Now it’s just another NYPD-curated nightmare . . .
For all of the comments that the parade “used to be nicer”, I would bet that the same thing could be said of you. And also you probably used to be more thankful for what you have too. Children whose faces are filled with wonder as they look up at the balloons know nothing of your What Used to Be!
It’s all a giant free commercial for Macy’s
How is it free?
Free? The cost of the parade is huge and Macy’s share is no small amount.
The new route was highly diruptive to all of the tenants living in small brownstoans on west 73rd street, who ever came up with this idea needs to be fired. The noise from the sirens and police on bullhorns all day was worse tjen the spectators. This needs to be resloved before next year.