Photography: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 11/23/23

Photography: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 11/23/23

Last week, I had the privilege and honor of covering this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation Ceremony outside of the American Natural History Museum. I walked under some of the balloons — — Ronald McDonald, Smokey Bear and Snoopy. I even snuck in a boop of Snoopy’s enormous nose. (Sorry Macy‘s, I had to. I just had to. Can you blame me?)

Besides seeing the enormous balloons up close and in person, the best part of the entire day was seeing the adults working the event being as thrilled as the kids, who were going to see the event. 

The next morning, I was in Midtown, between roughly West 53rd Street and 6th Avenue and Radio City Music Hall, to cover this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I hadn’t been to the parade since I was a small boy. But it was a great thrill: I saw En Vogue, Bell Biv DeVoe and Brandy — all acts that I loved as boy and teenager.

I saw Big Bird, Elmo, and Oscar the Grouch. And when I saw them, I was instantly turned back into a six year old, happily screaming the characters’ names as they passed by me.

What a fun morning and what a way to spend the holiday. Photos are below, of course.