It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without Macy's annual parade. &nbsp;For the first 3 years it was Christmas themed with the parade wound down the west side to end at Macy's where the holiday windows were unveiled. The balloons began in 1928, designed after some balloon floats. &nbsp;They were filled with helium and released at the end. &nbsp;$100 was offered to the winner which lasted until 1932 when a 22 year old woman taking flying lessons was piloting into one of the released balloons - luckily she was rescued by her instructor's quick actions.&nbsp;

&ldquo;The largest balloon in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade being guided down Broadway at Times Square as thousands line both sides of the street.&rdquo;

For Nearly 100 Years, Macy&rsquo;s Thanksgiving Day Parade Has Been a Children&rsquo;s Pilgrimage of Wonder

 Central Park West toward Herald Square in the 51st annual Macy&amp;rsquo;s Thanksgiving Day Parade  

For Nearly 100 Years, Macy&amp;rsquo;s Thanksgiving Day Parade Has Been a Children&amp;rsquo;s Pilgrimage of Wonder  

 2020&amp;rsquo;s event included performances from &amp;ldquo;Hamilton,&amp;rdquo; &amp;ldquo;Mean Girls&amp;rdquo; and &amp;ldquo;Jagged Little Pill  

 In 2020 the human handlers were replaced by utility vehicles because of the pandemic  

 2020 (during the covid pandemic), the task was shared by 25 handlers and five utility vehicles  

To reduce the number of people involved during the pandemic 

The parade starts at 77th Street and Central Park West at 9:00 AM on Thanksgiving morning, marching its 2.5-mile route from Central Park West to Columbus Circle, turning onto Central Park South and heading down Sixth Avenue before turning west at 34th Street and ending at 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square. 

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, New York City

 Started broadcasting on television nationally on NBC 