November 22, 2011

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation

What: The night before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, New Yorkers gather to watch the famous giant helium parade balloons get inflated.

A tradition since 1927, the giant character balloons are slowly blown up and brought to life in the streets around the American Museum of Natural History. The enormous balloons take up two full city blocks. Nets and sandbags are used to keep the balloons from escaping during the night.


The action starts around 4pm on
Thanksgiving Eve on 77th & 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Public viewing is from 3 pm until 8 pm. Regular attendees recommend arriving at about 5 pm when the balloons really start to take shape.
When: Wednesday, November 23, 2011, approximately 3:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Where: Central Park West and Columbus Avenue on 77th and 81st Streets