The parade set up starts around 2 a.m. That is when my Aunt reports for duty to Herald Square in New York City...
Our family stayed at the famous New Yorker hotel, home to Joe DiMaggio while he was on the Yankees! The ballon handlers and clowns all meet here around 5 a.m. You can see some of the Spomge Bob handlers haviong coffee..the rest of the people on line are getting their costumes! By this time, my little girl and my Mom were at Macy's putting on costumes as my Mom rode on the float as well! She is now retired but was a longtime Macy's employee.
My eldest daughetr and I took our Golden Tickets for the Macy's Grandstands and were able to get into the store through the 35th Street entrance. Thanksgiing Day the store is closed but open to all who have tickets. You sit in the stands outside the front doors of the building and when you feel cold come in to get hot chocolate or a bagel. Macys is a sight to behold during the holiday season!
We sat right across from Matt Lauer and Meredith ....my husband and Aunt were working this section of the parade, making sure all the floats turned the corner of 34th to 7th Avenue safely...
The parade begins with big fanfare! Each person is given a confetti tube to throw! We were covered!
A New York HS band...they sounded great!
Snoopy!
Our family stayed at the famous New Yorker hotel, home to Joe DiMaggio while he was on the Yankees! The ballon handlers and clowns all meet here around 5 a.m. You can see some of the Spomge Bob handlers haviong coffee..the rest of the people on line are getting their costumes! By this time, my little girl and my Mom were at Macy's putting on costumes as my Mom rode on the float as well! She is now retired but was a longtime Macy's employee.
My eldest daughetr and I took our Golden Tickets for the Macy's Grandstands and were able to get into the store through the 35th Street entrance. Thanksgiing Day the store is closed but open to all who have tickets. You sit in the stands outside the front doors of the building and when you feel cold come in to get hot chocolate or a bagel. Macys is a sight to behold during the holiday season!
We sat right across from Matt Lauer and Meredith ....my husband and Aunt were working this section of the parade, making sure all the floats turned the corner of 34th to 7th Avenue safely...
The parade begins with big fanfare! Each person is given a confetti tube to throw! We were covered!There are cheerleaders from all over the USA...
Dancers from the Broadway play South Pacific...
A turkey float, of course!
A New York HS band...they sounded great!Tons of ballons! Smurf...
Snoopy!Shrek--he was gigantic!
Many singers as well...Miranda Cosgrove from Nickelodeon's icarly show...
And the big event--Mylie Cyrus!
What would the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade be without the Radio City Rockette's?
And lastly, the big guy himself! The kids in the grandstands all yell out their holiday wishes to him!
We had the greatest time! There is nothing like New York City on Thanksgiving morning!
36 comments:
Oh what fun! Thank you for taking us along with you. Your photos are spectacular - I felt almost like I was there. My uncle grew up in New Jersey and Macy's parade was part of their Thanksgiving every year. He instilled in my cousins and I the fun and the awe of being there. We watched it on TV each year and, while it is beautiful on TV, no parade is ever the same on TV as in person. Lucky you. And your daughter won't ever forget being in the parade. ~Adrienne~
WOW! I have never been, but I must put that on my "to do list". I'm closer to Philadelphia and Phillie has the Mummers Parade. The year we planned to go it snowed and was canceled. We never planned to go again.
How fun that must have been to actually be there! We watch it every year on TV. I bet your daughter will never forget that day!
How exciting, Tara! The photos are fabulous!
We watched the parade on tv. Looks like so much fun!
Hugs,
Donna
How wonderful!!! Just like Miracle on 34th Street! We always watch that movie right after the parade, and just think...you were there!! Lucky!
Whoo Hoo! Feels like being there, thanks for bringing us along. Your daughter must have been thrilled. You are so good to your family. Those scones you posted sound great.
Wowzers..what an incredible event..we have nothing close to that here..and such a thrill for your daughter!!
Wonderful photos..esp love the smurf and snoopy balloons! :D Gx
Oh what FUN!!! Your daughter must have had the time of her life! You, too! ;)
xoxo,
Mary
What a wonderful adventure! I always have the parade on while I fix Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks for sharing some behind the scenes secrets:>)
Oh How COOL! I love it! What a great thing for your daughter and mom! I love NYC during the holidays...and to be in the parade...well can't get any better! Reminds me of Miracle on 34th st!!
Hi Tara!
What an exciting day for you and your family!!! So much fun~~ I live sooooo close to NYC and have NEVER attended the parade! Been to the city plenty of times, but tend to avoid the crowds if at all possible. The San Genaro Feast was probably the most crowded event I have been to in the city....You guys are soooo patient!
Hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving, Tara!!!
Thanks for stopping by, dear friend!
XXXOOO Ruth
Hi Tara! So many times in New York but never on Thanksgiving; so it was interesting to see your pictures of the Macy's parade!!
Thanks for your comment on Blogtrotter, now at the Blue Village, Tunisia! Hope you enjoy and have a great week!
Alright, that's it, when I come back next time around, you are so gonna be my Mom or my Auntie - You are so amazing to those around you, showering them with hand baked goodies, taking them to the Macy's Day Parade - all while being a kind person to others - including me! Lucky me, cough, cough, spewing turkey feathers and confetti! tee hee!
Oh my gosh! How awesome!!! We watch this every year on tv, my boys LOVE it! What a cool experience!
Hugs,
Amy
great photos, Tara! looks like it was fun!
Hi Tara,
How amazingly awesome for your daughter and all of you! Looks like so much fun...
annie
thanks for stopping by Tara, nice to meet you! Awesome pictures of the parade, I'd love to go one year, Looks like you had a great time! have a great day! Sue
OOOOO, I am pretty sure I saw you on TV!! lol...we DID watch it, as always and I am thinking that to be there in person is quite an experience. Your photos are fabulous...and, bless your little daughter's heart...she will forever remember that day.
FANTASTIC post and thanks for sharing...
love, bj
Oh Tara that is a great memory and tradition. This sounds like the best time, I mean how many kids can say they did that, and in the same parade as Miley and ICarly....too cool. We live in Chicago and downtown is magical at this time of year, New York must be outstanding!!!!!
Great pictures thank so much for sharing!!
Kelly
You are having so much fun..wish I could go there :D
My girls will flip over for Miley..er..me too, been forced to watch her video way too many time!! I love that Snoopy :p
so many people, how do they all fit in?
a belated happy TG day to you all
Wow, what a remarkable time you must have had! I missed most of it on tv, but loved what I saw!
What a wonderful day you all had Tara! I never knew the parade people gathered at 2AM! Wow! That is dedication. What a thrill for your youngest daughter to sit on a float -- what special memories for her!
Your photos were such fun -- so much confetti! The weather was so nice this year for the parade too. I was out on Long Island at my brother's house that day.
I can't wait to take my grandson to the parade someday --we haven't been to it in years. Were still waiting for him to pick to pick his birthday ..lol!
Hugs, Pat
That is so cool!
If it had been me, I'd have tried to take the Snoopy balloon home with me....
Tara, thank you for taking us with you. What a delightful up close and personal look at the parade. I can just imagine how wonderful it would be to be there.
Also, thank you for dropping by
Karen
Oooo...so pretty! And what fun to see it all for real! I remember many a Thanksgiving growing up my sister and I would get up early to watch the parades...but the Macy's parade was always the best! ;o) This brought back some nice memories...Happy Days, Tara ((HUGS))
WOW!!! Tara sweetie, for once I am totally speechless.....and in awe! How wonderful for you all! Wow!! I have always wanted to see NY since I was a little girl, and this post is giving me itchy feet to get over there! lol Wishing you a wonderful day my friend!
Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)
WOW! What a treat! Your daughter on the float is just a wonderful thing! I miss the parade- wish they would at least show it on TV here!!! It's all part of the Thanksgiving tradition!
Oh how I have loved watching that parade whenever I could. But to be there...oh my that had to be wonderful. The pictures were great. Thanks for sharing.
I am still patting my Thanksgiving tummy and it is Wednesday. lol
I am actually patting my hips and thighs too. lol
Becky
OMG!!! I can NOT imagine the THRILL of being at that parade--AND to have your daughter (and MOM) on the Santa float and your hubby and Aunt directing traffic! You are a real insider! :)
I have watched the parade on TV---ever since I can remember! This year, however, I was so consumed with fixing the feast that I saw very little of it and I for SURE missed Santa! Boo-hoo! I wish I had at least seen his float with your girl and mom on it.
You took wonderful pictures, however, so I feel like I got to see parts of it!!
I love NY (as Pat of Mille Fiori Favoriti can tell you) and I love that parade--what a lucky gal you are!
Dana
Looks like a blast!
Tara, what great photos of the parade. Oh, you must have had such a gorgeous time!! I am going to NYC in two weeks, just for the day but I am going to go to the Metropolitan Museum of art and stroll through my old neighborhood. Great post.
Karen
Hi Tara
What an exciting day! I watch the parade on TV and have always thought how great it would be to go and see it live one day. It was nice to see first hand photos.
Hugs, Rhondi
Tara, How totally, unbelieveably cool!!!! I'll bet she was flying higher then the balloons to be in such a parade!!!!!! Happy Holidays sweetie, Lori
This was awesome!! Thank you so much for bringing us along! I will probably never get there for it, but it was so fun seeing it through your "backstage pass". Your daughter will remember this forever!! Lucky her (and you!!)
Thanks for your visit today! I'm so glad that I returned the visit because this post was a delight. I'll probably never see it first-hand, but I so enjoyed seeing it through your eyes.
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