Nov. 25, 2020
By Francesca Muravin
Staff Writer
The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is going virtual for the first time due to the coronavirus. This year, participation has been reduced by 75 percent, there is mandatory mask-wearing as well as social distancing and only those 18 and older were invited to participate.
There will be no college marching bands. Instead, locally based professional marching and musical ensembles are being included in the lineup. The cast of “Hamilton,” “Mean Girls,” “Jagged Little Pill” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations” will also be performing, even though Broadway has been shut down since March.
History teacher Mr. Spence said the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an American tradition.
“It’s been around for so long, and I think most people look forward to watching the parade when they wake up on Thanksgiving morning,” Spence said.
He said observing the parade preparations has always marked the beginning of his Thanksgiving celebration. However, this year, the balloon inflation celebration on the Upper West Side of Manhattan has been canceled.
“I have a tradition with a group of friends from high school. We actually go into the city the night before the parade when the balloons are being blown up, and we have a nice dinner and then we watch,” Spence said.
The one-of-a-kind balloon parade sponsored by Macy’s department store dates back to 1924. Since then, it has taken place every year except between 1942 and 1944 due to a shortage of helium and rubber during World War II. The parade was first called Macy’s Christmas Day Parade even though it took place on Thanksgiving Day. It took on its new name in 1927. The original route of this parade was 5.5 miles starting at 145th Street and Convent Avenue and ending at 34th Street and Herald Square. Had it not been for the pandemic, this year’s parade route would have been 2.5 miles from 77th Street and Central Park West to 34th Street to Macy’s Herald Square. This year, all filming for this virtual event will occur in and around Herald Square.
In past years, each balloon was held by about 80-100 people. To promote social distancing, this year the balloons will be attached to five vehicles.
Freshman Michelle Hinojosa said when she was younger, she enjoyed watching the parade on TV.
“It’s been around for so long, and I think most people look forward to watching the parade when they wake up on Thanksgiving morning.”
“I just like seeing the new balloons they come out with,” Hinojosa said. “People in past years were motivated to go [to the parade] since [the balloons are] very beautiful to look up at close and create a memory with family going to see the big performance people practice for.”
Hinojosa said she supports the new format for this year.
“The parade being virtual is a safer way to still have fun,” Hinojosa said. “What would probably persuade me to watch it this year is the fact that there’s a pandemic…. They still want to carry this on, and I want to see how it all comes out.”
Even though Hinojosa thinks a virtual parade is the right decision, she said some aspects of the live event will be lost.
“The parade will lose the cheering of all the people that had come to watch,” Hinojosa said.
English teacher Ms. DiMaggio said she is glad the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tradition will continue.
“I thought they might’ve canceled the whole thing, so I’m very happy that they are at least having the parade,” DiMaggio said.
DiMaggio has never attended the parade but said she appreciates the event because it transports her back in time and reminds her of the happiness she felt as a child watching it on TV.
“I don’t know if I have a favorite balloon in the parade. I love watching the marching bands and dancers because I have a background in both,” DiMaggio said. “And I most look forward to the float with Santa Claus, of course.”
DiMaggio said since the parade will not be live this year, there will be an element of excitement that will be lost. She also said she will miss seeing the reactions of the spectators.
“I think people in the past loved going in person because it is something exciting to watch, and it is also a tradition for some families,” DiMaggio said.
The Associated Press reports that over 50 million people will tune in to watch the parade this year. The pre-recorded event filmed over the course of two days will air on NBC live from 9 a.m. to noon. It will be hosted by the Today Show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker, who will be covering the bands, floats and performances. If you miss it, you can find pictures and videos on Macy’s website.
