Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Inflation Event: Watch Again

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade goes strutting down the Manhattan streets on Thursday, the balloon inflation event took place Wednesday on the Upper West Side.

Crowd favorites from Ronald McDonald to Astronaut Snoopy to the Pillsbury Doughboy came to life 24-hours before the parade.

Here's a look at how the inflation process went.

LIVE: Balloons are inflated for the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York https://t.co/ZuS8dBzx7c
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 24, 2021

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Here's everything you might want to know about the balloon blowup event and lineup of inflatables.

• The balloon inflation will take place from noon to 6 p.m.
• Spectators can ask to enter the queue at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue.
• Once screened, spectators 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.
• Spectators will exit the viewing area at West 81st Street and Central Park West.
• Large backpacks, coolers, alcoholic beverages, chairs and umbrellas are all prohibited from the area.
• All attendees over the age of 12 must be fully vaccinated, and spectators are encouraged to social distance and wear masks at all times.

Street Closures On Wednesday Due To Inflation Event

At 7 a.m. West 81st Street and West 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic.

At 8 a.m. West 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenues will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Additional vehicular traffic closures at noon are as follows:

• Central Park West from West 73rd to 85th Streets
• West 74th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 75th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 76th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 77th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 78th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 80th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 81st Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 82nd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 83rd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 84th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• West 85th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues
• Central Park Transverse Road at Central Park West and West 81st Street

After 10 p.m., West 81st Street and West 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue as well as Central Park West from West 59th Street to West 86th Street will be closed to all traffic.

"Broadcast vehicles only" may park beginning at 9 a.m. on the east side of Columbus Avenue from West 77th Street to West 76th Street. All Broadcast Vehicles must be off Columbus Avenue by 11:30 p.m.

Balloon Lineup + Float Lineup

Balloons: Pikachu, Ronald McDonald, Astronaut Snoopy, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Goku, and the Pillsbury Doughboy. You can find the full list of balloons here.

Floats: 1-2-3 Sesame Street, Big Red Shoe Car, Blue's Clues & You!, Deck The Halls, and the Fantasy Chocolate Factory. You can find the full list of floats.

Read More: NYC Thanksgiving 2021: Parade Route, MTA Changes, Travel Times