Posted on August 22, 2020 at 10:14 am by West Sider
Photo by Stephen Harmon.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the balloon inflation the night before are two of the signature annual events on the Upper West Side.
The parade won’t be the same this year, but it also won’t be canceled entirely. It’s likely there will be virtual and on-the-ground events — probably a little like the July 4 celebrations.
Macy’s says on its website that “Following our successful, safe and innovative production of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks®, it is our intention to similarly reimagine Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this November. Stay tuned for more details later this fall.”
The mayor offered a little more detail this week, according to the website 6sqft, with some virtual aspects as well as “small in-person pieces, spread out.”
“It’s not going to look at all, of course, like what we are used to. But the important thing is that traditions will be kept in some way,” the mayor continued.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has only been cancelled three times in its 96-year history. This was due to helium shortages during World War II in 1942, 1943, and 1944.