How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

A flying turkey, loads of confetti and dazzling dancers. It’s time to kick off the holidays in New York City.

The 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is happening Thursday, bringing huge crowds to Manhattan’s streets to marvel at the magnificent floats and balloons and catch a celebrity appearance or two.

Beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m., the procession is expected to be the largest in the parade’s history, with more than 5,000 volunteers lending a hand to pull off the grandeur.

Where is the parade?

As is tradition, the festivities will kick off at West 77th Street on the Upper West Side, before heading south along the border of Central Park and down Sixth Avenue to the Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square. Spectators will be allowed only at designated watch points along the 2.5-mile route.

Those hoping to find a good place to watch often start arriving as early as 6 a.m., and the spots along Central Park West are generally considered the best. No public viewing will be allowed along the park between West 59th and West 60th Streets.

Macy’s also asks attendees to avoid watching the parade along Sixth Avenue between West 34th and West 38th Streets, and along West 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, because of prohibitions from national television broadcasters.