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Every year for as long as I can remember, Thanksgiving has been a big deal in my house. And it always starts the same way - curling up on the couch to watch the Macys Thanksgiving Day parade while smells of wonderful food come from the kitchen.
Even as an adult, I have never missed the parade. I even had one kitchen that required a TV to be moved in temporary so I could watch the parade while cooking.
As much I love the parade, never once did I ever say (or think) “man, I'd really love to attend the parade in person.”
Going and standing on the streets of NYC with millions of other people, in iffy weather, was never on my bucket list.
Yet, in 2022 guess where I spent Thanksgiving??
That's right- I spent Thanksgiving standing on the streets of NYC with millions of other people to watch the parade.
Luckily, the weather was quite pleasant. But, boy were the smells quite different than my normal Thanksgiving morning smells!
How did I go from saying I'd never go to the parade in person to standing there that morning, watching most of the action through the screens of people in front of me trying to film it all?
Some would say its because I'm crazy or a sucker.
But it boils down to the fact that I was the president of a high school theatre booster club; and the theatre director decided he wanted to take a group of students to NYC.
And what a perfect time to go since we had the whole week off for Thanksgiving break.
And, oh, if we’re going to be there anyways, we might as well go to the parade.
So, not only did I go to the parade, I went as the co-director of a high school trip that included 35 high school theatre students and l0 chaperones — 45 people to maneuver and try to keep an eye on in the mass of people.
(I think there's some validity to the people who say I'm crazy!)
It was definitely a day I'll never forget!
Our local tour guide picked us up at our hotel before sunrise... I did mention this was a group of high schoolers right?? We were up very early considering it was a school break!
But not one person was late. There was a lot of excitement about getting to see such a quintessential American tradition in person.
We set off to walk the two blocks to the "perfect" spot according to our tour guide.
At the end of two blocks, we ran into a police barricade and closed streets. No problem, we could just turn down this street and get to a good spot.
Until we hit another barricade.
And another.
And another.
After walking 47 blocks, we finally came upon a spot (exactly two blocks from our hotel) where we could sort of squeeze all 45 of us in. After sitting/standing there for a bit, one of the chaperones started feeling ill and needed to go back to the hotel. Even though we could almost see the street our hotel was on, of course, it would not be easy to get back to it. Since I know NYC pretty well, I walked her back through a maze. I did sneak in a bathroom break while back at the hotel (see below how bathrooms are non existent while standing outside to watch the parade!)
I can't lie…there was a part of me that was like, “there's no way I'll get back to the group in time for the parade…I should just curl up in my hotel bed and watch it on TV.”
Alas, a combined sense of responsibility and knowledge (and a little excitement) that this was a once in a lifetime chance to see the parade in person kicked in. So, back I went, 47 blocks again (for the third time that morning).
Getting back to the group proved quite challenging as even the side roads where now crammed packed with people (I really didn't understand that as there was no way they'd be able to see even the biggest floats.) I am persistent though, and I squeezed and crammed my way through people; saying sorry as others cursed at me for pushing my way through the crowd; and getting back to our group right as the parade started to pass us.
Looking back on the experience, I can honestly say there were some parts of it that I loved.
I loved watching our high schoolers be kids and enjoy the experience with very different levels of excitement. This was several of their first time in NYC...not a bad way to spend your first trip there!
I loved that every time I spotted kids in our group, someone else was wearing my daughter's jacket (we are from Utah, and she never really lost her love of cold, so while all her Florida friends were freezing, she thought it was a beautiful morning.)
I loved the general sense of excitement all around me. Yes, some people were jerks, but for the most part, everyone seemed happy to be there.
I loved seeing the floats and balloons in person - they are quite impressive when you see them up close like that.
I loved that as soon as the end of the parade passed by, the police and city workers were highly efficient and all barricades were removed and our walk back to the hotel was truly only two blocks!!
But, as you might have guessed by the title of this post, there were definitely parts of the experience that I didn't love -- and that anyone considering going to the parade in person should really take into consideration.
We left our hotel about 2.5 hours before the parade even started. Combine that with the fact that the parade is 3+ hours long, it is a looong morning of standing. (Some members of our group did sit on the sidewalk for a bit before it started... But its NYC…I definitely don't advocate sitting on NYC streets.
There are no services- no food, no coffee, and most importantly, no bathrooms! So you're looking at 5-6 hours of standing with no food or drink (other than what you bring with you) and no way to relieve yourself unless you invest in adult diapers beforehand (no judgment here if that’s your choice!)
Watching the parade in person is nothing like watching it on TV.
Depending on where you are, there’s a huge delay between what is being shown on tv and what you’re seeing in front of you.
All the cool performances (Broadway shows, musical acts, etc) are all filmed in one area - away from where most people get to see the parade.
My younger daughter was watching on tv and texting her sister about all the performances that we were missing out on.
Since you're standing in a huge crowd of people, you cannot really see the bands and marchers as they pass by - and since everyone is trying to film it, you’ll find yourself starring at a lot of cell phone screens.
On the positive side, I got to see several band performancess through other people's phones😂
Holy people Batman! I know, you've seen the crowds when you’ve watched the parade on TV. But, it is really hard to comprehend just how many people are there until you’re literally in the thick of it. And, since so many roads are blocked off, you really are herded like cattle and smooshed together - much too close to way too many strangers for comfort.
This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience for most of us in our group of 45. And one that I am very glad I was able to be a part of.
Side bar- my mom has a bucket list item to go to NYC for New Years Eve and she's asked me to go with her — that's a hard no from me, unless we could some how score one of the amazing rooftop spots (but even that might be too peopley for me.)
But, if you asked me if I think you should go and experience the parade yourself- I'd say take all this with a grain of salt, and if you've good with all of this this, then by all means, go and experience it, knowing what you're getting into.
As for me, I'll go back to watching from the comfort of my couch with the wonderful smells of the feast filling the air of the house.
No matter how you choose to enjoy the parade, I hope you are surrounded by love and laughter.
Happy Thanksgiving!
