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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: 2008

Nothing defines Thanksgiving like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

By Heather Cross, About.com

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade New York

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Heather Cross
2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 27, 2008

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Pictures

Macy's 82st Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route Begins: 77th Street & Central Park West
Thanksgiving Parade Ends: 7th Avenue & 34th Street
Official Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Website: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Public Viewing Areas
Central Park West: West side of street from 70th Street to Columbus Circle & east side of street from 70th to 65th
Columbus Circle: West side of street
Broadway: between 58th & 38th Streets
34th Street: south side of street between Broadway & 7th Avenue

Hotel Rooms for Viewing the Thanksgiving Day Parade

On November 27, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. the 82st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin. The parade travels down Central Park West from 77th Street to Columbus Circle (59th Street at Broadway), and then down Broadway to Macy's Herald Square (34th Street).

In order to get a good viewing spot, many people arrive before 6:30 a.m. the morning of the parade to stake out space along the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route. Be sure to wear plenty of warm clothes and bring a thermos full of coffee or hot cocoa, as it can be quite cold. The duration of the parade depends on where you view it from -- near the beginning of the route, it will last about 1 1/2 hours, closer to Macy's, the parade will last closer to 3 hours. You can also book a hotel room with a view of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. For the more meek, the parade will be aired on NBC from 9 a.m. until noon.

If you'd like to get a chance to see the balloons as they get blown up, on Wednesday, November 26, you can observe the inflation of the 25 balloons from 3 - 10 p.m. near the American Museum of Natural History just off Central Park West between 77th St. and 81st St.

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