Thanksgiving in NYC Guide: Parade Info, Places to Eat & Things to Do

Thanksgiving is right near the top of our favorite holidays in NYC list.

Delicious food & drinks? Plenty.

Football? Yup.

Giants balloons floating in Midtown..? Yes.

This article serves up everything you need to know for Thanksgiving in NYC. Click a link below to jump to that section.

🎈 All the parade info, including start times, route, and the balloon inflation on Wednesday

🍗 Must-try restaurants dishing out delicious, classic Thanksgiving dinners

🏛️ Arguably our favorite You’ll Have to Check It Out spot to date

🥧 Where to order whole pies for Thanksgiving dessert

Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

NYC Thanksgiving Podcast Episode

Want to hear more podcasts like this? Head here.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Info 2024

The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City draws massive crowds, well over 1,000,000 people yearly. So, getting the correct info and knowing where to go can make all the difference between a positive and poor experience.

Here’s what you need to know. 👇

Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Inflation Info

A truly unique experience, and a much less crowded one, is to head to the Upper West Side the day before the parade to watch the balloon inflation.

You can get a closer view of most balloons, with much fewer crowds!

The balloon inflation occurs near the Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, from 1 pm to 6 pm EST. You must enter through security at 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue.

And according to ABC, there will be six new featured character balloons this year, including Minnie Mouse, Marshall from “Paw Patrol,” Extraordinary Noorah with The Elf on the Shelf, Gabby from “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” Goku from “Dragon Ball,” and Spider-Man.

See Macy’s full inflation experience information here.

Parade Route & Time

The parade starts on the Upper West Side on Central Park West, near 77th Street and Central Park West, at 8:30 am. There are 2.5 miles of public viewing space, and the jury is out on where the best spot to watch (more on that in the next section).

The parade then goes down Central Park West, turns onto Central Park South at Columbus Circle (don’t try to watch near here), and then turns south at 6th Avenue.

This is the longest stretch of the parade, heading down to 34th Street, ending at Macy’s Herald Square.

The parade runs from 8:30 am to noon.

Where to Watch

Let’s make an important point first: if you want to be close to the front to view the parade almost anywhere along the route, you should plan on getting out on the streets around 6 or 7 am. Yes, that means you will be standing, likely in the cold, waiting for a couple of hours for the parade to start.

It’s important to note that even if you aren’t right along the barricades close to the street, you can still see the balloons from far back. While you likely won’t see all the floats and participants, you can see the balloons high above the streets.

While anywhere is going to be crowded, here are some of the best spots to watch the parade:

Central Park West

Most people, especially tourists, want to be along 6th Avenue and closer to Macy’s, so the Upper West Side is usually less crowded. If you can make your way into Central Park and watch from that side of the street, that’s best!

If you go near the starting point, 77th Street, you can also hear them announce each individual floats as they start down the parade route.

Just know that you must enter Central Park from the East side of the park and walk across OR from well above the parade route. Previously, when I was trying to get my dogs into Central Park on Thanksgiving morning, I had to go all the way up to roughly 86th Street before I could get in.

Even watching from within the park, there will be crowds. But many would argue this is the best and least crowded spot to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade!

57th Street & 6th Avenue

The reason we like 57th Street is because it is a two-way street much more expansive than most other cross streets along the route.

While it’s still quite crowded, the width of the street allows people to fan out more than at other spots.

Other Spots

We can’t recommend other spots, at least with firsthand knowledge. The further downtown you get on 6th Avenue, the more busy it gets.

We tried going along 7th Avenue and Central Park South one year, and we couldn’t find a good viewing spot.

If you were to ask many New Yorkers the best place to watch the parade, their answer would probably be…

At home, on the couch. 😜

Tips & Things to Know

If you want, you can stream the parade on TV (NBC) and Peacock. Learn more here.

Here’s a recap and some other essential things to know before heading to the parade:

• It will be crowded no matter where you are
• Many people head to the front of the barricades as early as 6 am
• Even if you aren’t close to the front, you can still see the balloons
• If you have the means, bringing a ladder, step stool, or other similar apparatus and setting it up next to a building (so you aren’t blocking others) can make a world of difference

This Episode’s You’ll Have to Check It Out Segment – New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

• Take the free tour of the Rose Main Reading Room – Monday–Saturday | 11:20 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3 PM, with tickets released about 30 minutes before, FCFS
• Explore all the floors and public galleries
• Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures – Original Winnie the Pooh, Gutenberg Bible from 1455, lots of NYC historical artifacts, Cuneiform tablets from Mesopotamia
• Check out the gift shop for great NYC souvenirs people will actually want

Other Things to Do in NYC on Thanksgiving Weekend

While the Macy’s Parade is at the top of most Thanksgiving to-do lists, there are plenty of other non-parade activities to check out.

Here are some options to explore:

• Black Friday shopping at 5th Ave, Soho, Columbus Circle, Brookfield Place, Hudson Yards, or any other major shopping spot in the city
• Post-Thanksgiving hikes in the city are offered through NYC Parks; most are on Friday, November 29
• Stroll through some of the holiday markets at Bryant Park, Columbus Circle, Union Square, and others
• Explore Central Park to take in the fall colors that are still lingering – We even have a list of the best date ideas in NYC’s famous park
• Check out the holiday window decor along 5th Avenue and the Rockefeller Tree (it won’t be lit up until December 4th, but is on display starting on November 9th)
• Wanna save some cash? Check out 21 free things to do in NYC

Places to Eat on Thanksgiving in NYC

If you’re going to eat out for Thanksgiving dinner in NYC, get a reservation! Most restaurants will fill up quickly.

Also, note that many restaurants only do pre-fixe menus for Thanksgiving with all-in pricing. And please, tip well!

• Bubby’s
• Duke Ellington
• Eataly
• Tavern on the Green
• Hearth
• The Palm
• The Smith
• Delmonico’s
• Any classic diner
• Jacob’s Pickles
• Friend of a Farmer
• The Plaza Hotel
• Keen’s Steakhouse
• Fraunces Tavern

Places to Get Pie or Dessert in NYC on Thanksgiving Weekend

Little Pie Company – 43rd St and 9th Ave

Established in 1985. They usually have little personal-sized pies (5″) and normal-sized (10″) pies. They also have gluten-free pies, which are a nice option.

The week of Thanksgiving, they only sell whole pies for $45 on a first come, first served basis. A bit expensive, but worth it if you are looking for a whole pie. 

They have all the classics for Thanksgiving (and others):

• Apple
• Pecan
• Salted Caramel Apple
• Pumpkin
• Sweet Potato
• Mud Pie
• Berry Pie
• Key Lime

Little Pie Company’s Thanksgiving week hours are different than normal, so check ahead before going.

• Open Wednesday 8 am-9 pm
• Thursday/Thanksgiving 8 am-noon only
• Closed Friday and Saturday

Delicious pies worth checking out!

Petee’s Pie Company

A pie spot on the Lower East Side with amazing reviews. They only sell whole pies, including:

• Strawberry rhubarb
• Apple
• NY Sour cherry and others

Juniors

While a cheesecake-focused spot, they likely will have pie and other fall desserts by the slice.

Magnolia

While Magnolia is best known for its scrumptious bread pudding, it also has pie by the slice for Thanksgiving week.

In general, most bakeries will have pie over the week of Thanksgiving. It would be a good idea to call ahead and make sure they are selling it by the slice before you go. 

NYC Thanksgiving Guide Recap

Hopefully you enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday in NYC! 🦃

Traveling to NYC? Check out our free navigation & transportation guide. 👇