Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: The crowds and pizzazz are back for 2021
What a difference Covid-19 vaccines and 12 months make.
Last year, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a muted affair. Because of the pandemic, it was a TV-only event. No animated crowds lining Manhattan’s avenues. No long parade route.
The 2021 spectacle returned to the more familiar parade of yore on Thursday.
Travelers and residents have 2.5 miles of public viewing as balloons, floats and bands make their way from the Upper West Side to Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square.
About 2.5 million people were expected to attend this year, according to a Macy’s spokesman. “We’re so thrilled to be back,” Orlando Veras told CNN’s Miguel Marquez.
Veras said “we have 6,500 participants in the parade, but there’s thousands of more people who are supporting behind the scenes from various agencies in New York City, state and federal government. You know, it is one of the largest events in New York City and a national tradition.”
Longtime New York City resident Lisa Fischer was simply delighted about the 95th annual parade
“Obviously, I had to watch it on TV” last year, she told CNN Travel. “It was still fun and brought back great memories.” But Fischer said it wasn’t the same experience without the energy of the street and the usual traditions.
Fischer has a lot of inperson, treasured experiences with the parade.
When her two children were younger, Fischer used to take them to watch the giant balloons being inflated. Then they’d catch the parade on TV the next day in their pajamas at home.
Around 2004, they had a particularly memorable time watching up close.
“We got to be in the stands right in front of Macy’s,” Fischer said. “I was fortunate enough to get tickets and right in front where they televised it. That was really fun.”
The 2020 parade was held in a small area around the Macy’s flagship store -just enough room to stage it for broadcast.
For those watching from home, the parade hosts were Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of the “Today” show.