NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — High-flying balloons spruce up the sky for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday morning, but getting around Manhattan will be difficult. The holiday is one of the city’s Gridlock Alert Days, and includes high travel expectations and an extensive list of road closures.
Mass transit is strongly encouraged on both Wednesday during the balloon inflation, and on Thursday for the parade itself. The famous parade is expected to draw around 2 million spectators and feature 10,000 participants.
The NYPD—which has upped security to an all-time high—reminds attendees that no large backpacks, lawn chairs, large coolers, alcohol or umbrellas are allowed in the viewing area.
Balloon inflation will block off West 77th Street and West 81st Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Pedestrians can join the fun and watch “inflation teams and Parade officials prep the giant balloons, novelty balloons, and balloonicles” from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., according to Central Park officials.
Spectators can enter the 45-minute balloon viewing path at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. It winds around the American Museum of Natural History, and the exit is available at West 81st Street and Central Park West.
The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28, from West 77th Street and Central Park West. The following roads will be closed to accommodate the festivities, according to the New York City Department of Transportation.
FORMATION
• Columbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 83rd Street
• Central Park West between 81st Street and 86th Street
• 83rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 82nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 75th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 62nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
• 61st Street between Central Park West and Broadway
• 59th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
ROUTE
• Central Park West between 81st Street and East Side of Columbus Circle/59th Street
• Columbus Circle (Entire Circle)
• 59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th Street
• 34th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
DISPERAL
• 33rd Street between 5th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• 34th Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• 34th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 35th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• 36th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 37th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 38th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 40th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 41st Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 7th Avenue between 31st Street and 41st Street
• Broadway between 45th Street and 34thStreet
MISCELLANEOUS
• 58th Street between 9th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
• 40th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 39th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 38th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 37th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 36th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 32nd Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between 32nd Street and 34th Street
• 8th Avenue between 41st Street and 33rd Street
• Broadway between 32nd Street and 34th Street
• Broadway between Columbus Circle and 58th Street
• 8th Avenue between Columbus Circle and 58th Street
• Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 5th Avenue
OTHER
• 86th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 85th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 84th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 73rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 70th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 69th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 67th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 66th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 65th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 64th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 63rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 62nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway
• 61st Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway
• 60th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 58th Street
• 57th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 56th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 55th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 54th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 53rd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 52nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 51st Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 50th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 49th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 48th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• Rockefeller Plaza between 51st Street and 48th Street
• 47th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 46th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 45th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 44th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 42nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 41st Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 40th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 39th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 38th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 37th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 36th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 33rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between 33rd Street and 32nd Street
• Columbus Avenue between 86th Street and 83rd Street
• Columbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 59th Street
• 9th Avenue between 59th Street and 58th Street
• Broadway between Columbus Circle and 65th Street
View the entire parade route on the Macy’s website.