Thanksgiving Day Parade Returns To NYC's Streets For 2021

NEW YORK CITY – The Thanksgiving Day Parade will march through the streets of New York City once again this year in yet another sign of a slow return to normality amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be the 95th time the balloons, floats and marching bands will stream through the city in what is a national holiday tradition. The event was re-invented as a for-television only spectacle in 2020 with no crowds. Filming took place over two days with stringent safety precautions.

The 2021 event will be close to its "original form" and will include spectators, a Macy's spokesperson said.

“We are thrilled to welcome back in its full form the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a world-renowned celebration that ushers in the magic of being in New York City during the holiday season,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“We applaud Macy’s work to creatively continue this beloved tradition last year and look forward to welcoming back Parade watchers to experience it safely, live and in person this November.”

Public viewing will be allowed only in specific locations which will have safety procedures in place, Macy's said. Full details are yet to be announced, but Macy's said protocols will include:

• All volunteer participants and staff will be vaccinated.
• All will wear face coverings and protective equipment, though singers, dancers and musicians may be excepted.
• The number of participants will be cut by about 800 to 1,600.
• Social distancing will be in place.

No decision ha been made yet about the balloon inflation that is usually viewable by the public on the Upper West Side the night before Thanksgiving.

Details on viewing locations and entry guidelines will be released in November, the Macy's spokesperson said.