In the cool fall air of New York City as the trees shed their leaves and the sun retreats earlier in the day, the excitement of Thanksgiving can be felt among New Yorkers. For 98 years, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become a tradition for many whether you live in New York City or anywhere in the United States.
On the chilly morning of November 28, families, colleagues and friends came together to watch the annual celebration. At 8:30 AM, NBC began its broadcast of the balloons, performers and floats parading from the Upper West Side down to Macy’s on 34th street. Five thousand volunteers marched in the rain including actors, clowns and influencers. Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker hosted the live television broadcast. Song, style and symphony were all components of this year’s parade.
The first float, the animatronic “Tom the Turkey,” led the way down the city’s avenues. Bedazzled in red, yellow, and orange, this float proves nothing speaks more to Thanksgiving than an actual turkey.
After many care-filled months of crafting, constructing and testing the balloons and floats, people everywhere seemed pleased with this year’s parade, even on a completely rain-filled day. Many balloons made their returns to the parade while others were introduced for the first time. New balloons included the one and only Disney favorite: Minnie Mouse as well as, “Extraordinary Noorah” with “The Elf on the Shelf,” Gabby from “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” Goku from ”Dragon Ball,” Marshall from “Paw Patrol” and a new “Spider-Man.” Some of the returning balloons included The Pillsbury DoughBoy, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, Bluey and Kung Fu Panda’s Po. Although all of the balloons were large, the largest one was The Gabby balloon, inspired by the children’s TV series Gabby’s Dollhouse, the balloon was 66.5 feet wide.
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, it is important to look back at the history of this event that has become a tradition for millions of Americans.
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was in 1924, and there have been several changes over the course of a century. For example, the first parade had twenty-five live and wild animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. These animals were soon replaced a few years later with balloons of animals. The first balloon was Felix The Cat from Feline Follies. This year, 2024, marks exactly one hundred years since the first-ever Thanksgiving Day Parade yet, it’s not the one-hundredth parade. This is because the rubber and helium needed for the balloons were instead used by the U.S. government to help the military in World War II which led to a three-year suspension of the parade in the years 1942 to 1944.
Several Fieldston Students spoke about their own parade day traditions, and we seemed to get many of the same answers. “My family and I always wake up at 9 am ( I know…it’s thirty minutes later than the parade actually starts) and we gather around the TV, eat bagels and watch the parade,” said Scarlet Shiappo (Form III). Another Form III student, Charlie Friedman said, “My brother usually sleeps in, but my mom and I [always] wake up and watch the parade.”
We found that most Fieldston students who have lived in the parade’s area their whole lives have been fortunate enough to witness the parade live on many occasions. It’s a great tradition and one we, as New Yorkers, should feel especially grateful to have the opportunity to attend every year.
