I was leaving town for Thanksgiving, and thought it'd be fun to stroll calmly by the Balloons and Floats the night before the parade. Nope! Nothing peaceful about it. Cool? Yes. Chaos? That too. My thinking was arriving closer to end time to avoid the masses. The float inflation viewing started at 1pm & ended at 6pm. By arriving at 530 I'd let all the families and die hards pass through beforehand. Turns out the rest of NY had the same idea. The line was 10 people wide and wrapped around a couple city blocks. I kept walking, and walking, .......and walking, and finally found the end of the line. A worker in a parade vest started yelling "If you're not at 72nd St by 6, you aren't guaranteed to get in!". If it worked out great. If not, no big deal. Vendors along the way were selling pretzels, hot dogs and light up toys. Not a boring wait. There were wooden barriers lining the sidewalk, but about half way through, a huge crowd moved the saw horse and cut all the patient people who did the nice thing and started at the end. I was not happy! Said so out loud, too. Luckily their bad karma didn't affect my getting in at 555pm. There were more corrals to wind through as we paralleled the park. Then I saw Minnie Mouse! She was pretty. Other balloons followed like Bluey, Sponge Bob, & Spider-Man. Most of the characters were face down hugging the ground and covered in netting, but how awesome is this free BTS experience! I stayed farthest away from the balloons in the hopes I could breeze through faster. Kinda worked. Took some ok pics. Finished the first row. I was feeling done when a worker said there's more on 81st St. I'm not a quitter. I headed north! Saw Pikachu, Snoopy, Smokey, The Pillsbury doughboy and a couple unknowns. The thick crowds and shuffling along the path made me start to feel a bit claustrophobic. I asked the closest police officer how to get out, and he said you can't. You have to keep following the trail passed the floats of the next block, and then you can peel away without finishing the last block of floats. It was overwhelming, but really neat. Would I do it again? No. Am I glad I did it once, absolutely. A simple way to fix this frustrating congestion situation, would be to have a free online ticket with a timed entrance. Staff wouldn't need a person manning the tickets, but it would give attendees a designated block of time to show up. Something to consider for future events. read more

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Macy's Thanksgiving Balloon Inflation is an Upper West Side tradition to me. The first time I attended I lived in a rooming house on West 74th Street owned by an order of Catholic Nuns. The director Sister Pius suggested I go to the balloon inflation the first year I moved to Manhattan 2002. The event definitely gets crowded. I had no idea what to expect. Sorry to say I wasn't taking photos of everything and posting on a social website. This year Beagle Scout Snoopy was in the balloon inflation. He is the one photo I got. On Thanksgiving I saw him in the parade on TV. If you are in the area you should at least experience this tradition once! Take lots of photos!! read more

Macy's Thanksgiving Balloon Inflation - Beagle Scout Snoopy getting ready for the parade on November 23, 2023 - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

Disappointed in 2025 and 2024. For the past 20 years I turn on the parade while preparing a 20 pound turkey. I've looked forward to it each year, but it's not fun anymore. We don't want to hear the announcers, we want to watch the parade. When we see the Disney float, we don't have to be told what it is! Also, the music has become tiresome and samey with fewer and fewer familiar performers. As a musician myself, I know how important it is to vary musical styles. I'll give it one more try next year and if it hasn't changed, I'll just listen to Spotify instead. read more

Yay! The Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation was so much fun and we can't wait to go back again! It takes place the day before Thanksgiving and goes from noon to 6 p.m. We arrived around 3:30pm and had more than enough time to see it ALL! You enter at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. The line is LONG and it's very crowded but trust me it's worth it! Just use the time to take lots of photos and dance to the holiday music while waiting. Once screened, you will enter the inflation viewing area at West 72nd Street and Central Park West. The balloon viewing path winds around the American Museum of Natural History. You exit the viewing area at West 82nd Street and Central Park West. Large backpacks, coolers, alcoholic beverages, chairs and umbrellas are all prohibited from the area. There are plenty of port potties around should you need one. There's a very heavy police presence which helped us to feel safe the entire time. I've been to the Thanksgiving parade before and to me the balloon inflation is the better experience! read more

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This is a fun activity to do before the holiday, as long as the weather is decent. It is very crowded, of course, but the organizers do a great job herding everyone to where they need to go. You enter the line somewhere near 72nd and Columbus. Your first stop is the bag check where all bags are searched. You then slowly make your way along the path to see the balloons and even some of the floats. Exit is at 81st street and then through the park. Total time from first getting on line until we exited was approx 2hrs. read more

Macy's Thanksgiving Balloon Inflation - Festivals Near Me - New York, New York

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***2017 update*** The NYPD made some major security changes this year. Not sure if they will continue to do so again next year but it was a nightmare. Growing popularity and warmer temps this year didn't help either. Everyone coming from the subway was funneled into a corral winding from the front of the Museum of Natural History around the side, past the back of the museum and all the way down to the security check point entrance at 73rd. Every street that had to be crossed was an absolute disaster with traffic still flowing through each light. Parents and caregivers pushing double wide strollers, tourists stopping in the middle of sidewalks, vendors lugging wagons of light up crap to sell....my head is still spinning. What was a really cool, somewhat quiet event is now just as much of a nightmare as the actual parade. As much as my kids love going into the city they hate me after this fiasco this year. Definitely won't be back. You can still get in and out of the museum through the subway without issues. *2016* If you want to get in the Thanksgiving mood but not spend your day packed shoulder to shoulder at the parade this is a great alternate. Even though crowds are getting crazier by the year this is still a fun experience. If you're going when most people get out of work (around 5pm) expect the crowds to be worse. Maybe we got lucky this year but we were able to park a block away and walk right up to the gates where police were checking bags. read more

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Arrived at approximately 4 p.m. Got street/metered parking fairly easily (if you're willing to walk a little). GPS said the walk to the Natural Museum was 18mins from my car. The walkthrough to see all of the balloons takes approximately 45mins so try to get parking that is at least three hours to account for waiting in the lines etc. There were police barricades to help assist and direct the crowds. Once you reach the vicinity, follow the crowd and ask the police to ensure you're walking in the correct direction. Somehow we needed up walking amongst the exiting crowd and luckily caught on before we wasted too much time. The walk up until the security check point is crowded, but you're constantly walking so it's not so bad. Security check point is when the crowd gets to a standstill. There are tables set up for bag checks. Once you get past the bag check, the crowd continues to be at a standstill until you reach the actual location of the balloons. The view of the balloons is amazing. Just to see it all in person after years of only watching it on TV. Once you reach the balloon viewing location, you can move freely at your own pace. Lots of crowds so sometimes it was hard to get a great shot. Lots of children and people of all ages. Lots of parents with strollers too. My husband carried my daughter on his shoulders so she could get a better view of the balloons above the crowds. Not all balloons were facing the crowds but still a sight to see! When we were leaving, at approximately 5:30pm, we noticed that people were still arriving and the crowds were a lot less. If I was to attend again, I'd go closer to closing time as I noticed there were significantly less people. No food or restrooms and there is only one entrance and two exits. The balloons are split into two sections and you can exit half way through or continue on to the second half and exit at the end. Although it was crowded, I felt that it was organized. read more

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This is by far one of my absolute favorite NYC traditions! They usually let people in around 4pm-9 or 10pm. You should definitely look up the map before going because you have to enter on specific streets. Go with an open mind and understand that the crowds will be INSANE! So many people attend and it gets crazy! However it's worth it and fun to see the balloons before the parade! Insider tip- make a reservation at a restaurant on the block with the balloons. Usually one side of street (either N or S) is public and the other side is the VIP side. If your restaurant is on the VIP side then you can avoid the crowds and experience this tradition with others in the know! read more

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Amazing experience! Especially for kids! You get to see the macys parade balloons up close on a walk thru Central Park West. They are HUGE, and usually people will never get to see them this close... Unless you're as ambitious as we are and stake out a spot at 6am to get front row spots for the parade the next day. We have made it an annual tradition to come see the balloons, and I highly recommend to anyone with kids who can make it here. The energy and excitement is also worth seeing/ being a part of this ... Research ahead exactly where to enter. During peak times the lines can be long but once you're in the park area crowds and lines move quickly. If you want to avoid heavy lines come earlier - however that is when the balloons may not be fully inflated. This year we were there close to ending time around 10 and because it was nice outside the crowds were heavy but they moved at a good pace. Highly recommend as a family event for kids ! read more

This has turned into such a fiasco! I hate to reminisce on the "good ole days" but this event was more family friendly when I was growing up. Just a few people (less than 100) from the community watching the inflation. Now it's THOUSANDS of people forced to enter on one block for a few moments of checking out the inflation. I'm mean what's up the VIP entrance?!?!? I was so disappointed that I couldn't enjoy it like I did as a child with my children. read more

The name of the event speaks for itself. This is an annual event that occurs the day of Thanksgiving Eve. You can see the Macy's American spirit team work like Santa's elves to inflate all of the parades balloons. The event usually occurs from 1pm-8pm regardless of the weather. This event is a Family friendly fun event. Strollers are a-ok and bags just need to be checked. You can only enter at one location on 73rd and Columbus. There are restrooms on 77th and sometimes other porter potties along the way as needed. The event wraps around the museum of natural history which I still open on this day with entrance on Central Park West. The Balloons are massive and colorful. Enjoy the event! read more

U got to be kidding me....worst decision ever. We went tonight at around 6:30pm. Big mistake. The line pretty much snakes around the entire state of NY and gave me horrifying flashbacks of the Mickey Mouse theater line @ Disneyworld during the busiest weekend imaginable. In all honesty this is another sad example of how the terrorists have ruined our world. The manner in which people were funneled into the event is reminiscent of cattle being taken to the slaughterhouse. And for those of you who think this is a child friendly event.....wait till they have to walk the 3 mile gauntlet just to see their favorite balloon facing the wrong way for that Xmas card money shot. I saw countless people giving up and leaving while still in line after waiting over 1 1/2 hrs because their kids were collapsing. Do some homework....try to get some intel from people at the site to see how long the wait is, and go only if it doesn't take up 1/2 ur day. Otherwise ROYAL waste of time and the only reason why some give it such high ratings is because they'd feel like a moron for being sucked into going. Well I have no shame in admitting I'm a moron and fell for it...never again and my kids have no interest in going back either. They can't wait to watch from the comfort of our home.... This event is so over rated it falls into its own category.....good luck. And for those that say this is an alternative for those that don't want to stand shoulder to shoulder at the parade....I stinking walked 'shoulder to shoulder' for miles to get into the damn event. No avoiding it folks... read more

What do you get when you cross Kermit the Frog, Pilsbury Doughboy, and Papa Smurf?! One hell of a dream! OR Macy's Thanksgiving Balloon Inflation! If you want to really enjoy Thanksgiving in New York City, the smart money is on staying in bed on the morning of the big day and taking in the parade on TV. If like me, however, you are a chronic FOMO sufferer (Fear Of Missing Out), you will still want to get your parade fix. From 3pm to 10pm on the day before Thanksgiving, get yourself to the Museum of Natural History to watch the giant (and they really truly are giant!) animated characters come to life. The inflation process itself is worth seeing - the shear size of the characters, rising out of the dust, is something to behold. Granted, it is a little disappointing that they aren't inflated upright, but hey, Papa Smurf is an old dude, he needs his rest before parade mania the next morning. The other big draw card is how up close and personal you get to the balloons. I got there at 4.30pm, and managed to get right up to the barriers to get some great shots of the balloons. I have heard that things get a bit crazy after about 6pm though, so the advice is to get there early if you've got toddlers in tow. The Macy's balloons are inflated on Central Park West between 77th and 81st Streets. The 1,2,3 or the C will get you there. To avoid the crowds, I would suggest getting the C. read more

Great event for a family! Most people don't get to see the parade up close or in person, so coming to the inflation event Wednesday night is a great way to preview the balloons before the big show. There is a playground in the neighborhood that they turn into a bouncehouse for kids, so you can really make an evening of it. The only reason I deducted a star is because the sidewalks get very crowded. I'd love to see a "stroller lane" for lingering families and an "express lane" for those of us who just want to take a quick lap around and briefly see the characters. read more

Have been going to this event for the last 4 years. Tons of people, but it is worth going. It is cool to see the balloons getting blown up.

The wise Yogi Berra once said "Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded". That amusingly nonsensical statement holds true for the actual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade; a holiday tradition that many New Yorkers choose to partake in from inside the comfort of their warm homes. But what is a person that wants to see the balloons up close to do if they don't want to get up at the crack of dawn and schlep out to midtown Manhattan along the parade route? That's where the balloon inflation the night before comes in! Situated on both sides of the magnificent Museum of Natural History, the inflation takes place the night before, as cartoon characters and parade favorites like Charlie Brown and Pikachu get filled with helium to bask in the nighttime glow. This pre-show secret seems to be getting more and more popular every year, and with more and more New Yorkers and tourists alike going be sure to get there early to walk though and see the balloons read more

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We went around 7 pm. Waaay too crowded and most of the balloons were face down so you couldn't tell what they were. Wouldn't go again -- recommend seeing the actual parade on Thanksgiving day instead. read more

We arrived at 4 PM and after an hour and forty-five minutes and a line that snaked more than 30 blocks our 4 year old hit the wall. This was worse than any amusement park ride line given that we still didn't make it to the balloons. We decided with no balloons in sight and more than 10 blocks to go we would give up. If I knew the commitment in advance I would have skipped it. Disappointing. If you do go expect a 3 hour wait and no restrooms. And bundle up! read more