Car Rental New York and the Thanksgiving Day Parade

The fourth Thursday in November marks an important day of celebration all across this beautiful nation. From football games to turkey stuffing, Thanksgiving has long been one of America's most important national holidays. And what would a holiday be without an annual celebration! The yearly Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City proudly highlights the season's good cheer and attitude, paving the way for the upcoming Christmas season. Sponsored by Macy's department store, the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade features a host of clowns, floats, marching bands and balloons. Celebrity guest appearances are also common during this festive celebration, and who could forget about the arrival of jolly old St. Nick?! Whether you're watching the parade from home or along the route, nothing says Thanksgiving like Macy's annual celebration, so be sure to tune in during your upcoming car rental New York autumn vacation!

Parade Preparations: A Behind the Scenes Look

Hosting the Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade requires plenty of man-power and preparation. Nearly 4,000 volunteers (most of which are Macy's employees) are needed in order to prepare for the big event, helping inflate balloons, organize floats and entertain the audience. These dedicated men and women have had to endure everything from torrential downpours to blizzard-like snowfalls during the parade's 80 year history, but no matter what - the show must go on! Approximately 1,200 volunteers alone act as balloon handlers during the parade procession, guiding these air-born floats from77th Street to Macy's Herald Square. Balloons have always been a major part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, providing car rental New York customers with tons of colorful visuals. Car rental New York City clients can learn more about these exciting attractions by visiting the parade's official balloon inflation the night before the big event. Watching your favorite characters take shape is fun for travelers of all ages, so don't forget to stop by! The streets surrounding 77th Street and Central Park West offer car rental New York City clients with the best Wednesday night viewing opportunity.

Finding the Perfect Place to Stand

If you're lucky enough to be in New York during the annual Thanksgiving Day celebration, All Car Rent-A-Car highly recommends watching the parade live from any one of the specified viewing areas. Finding the perfect place to stand during the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade is harder than it looks though, so be sure to pay attention to the following pointers.

  • Don't bring a lawn chair! Thousands of pedestrians crowd the street each year to catch a glimpse of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Lawn chairs take up valuable space causing more confusion than comfort.
  • Avoid Seventh Avenue and 34th Street! These areas are often the most congested thanks to the nearby Penn Station and PATH rail hubs. The mix of parade onlookers and transit customers often results in a chaotic area.
  • Come early! If you're planning on finding a prime spot to stand during your upcoming car rental New York City parade vacation remember to come early! The parade doesn't get underway until 9am, but dedicated viewers will be lining the streets as early as 6am.
  • Dress Warm! It's never easy trying to predict the weather in NYC so do yourself a favor and dress warm before leaving to watch the parade. Previous parade-goers also recommend bring sunglasses, umbrellas, mittens and lots of coffee!

Over the years All Car Rent-A-Car has discovered that one of the best places to view the parade from is just off of Duffy Square (the intersection where Broadway crosses Seventh Avenue and 46th Street). Crowds rarely form here.

Now's the time to learn more about this exciting yearly celebration, so don't delay! Visit the official Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade website at www.macysparade.com. The Parade traditionally begins at 9am and follows a route from 77th Street down Central Park West to Columbus Square, finishing up along Broadway at Macy's Herald Square near 34th Street.

Check out the Brooklyn car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 3475 Forthamilton Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11218