Thanksgiving Parade

Once upon a time, there was a little girl whose favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. Not for the usual reasons people often give – like the turkey and stuffing, the football, the pumpkin pie, or the gathering of family – although those were definitely a plus. Nope – this little girl loved settling down in front of the television for three hours to watch in amazement as totally in sync marching bands played upbeat tunes, colorful floats glided along the streets, famous singers serenaded the crowd, and balloons that were larger than any she had ever seen before floated as high as the buildings themselves. And every fourth Thursday in November, she promised herself that one day she would see them all in person.

By now, you probably realized that little girl is yours truly. And that parade? The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, of course. Flash forward, say forty years later (give or take – wink wink), and this Thanksgiving-Day-Parade-loving-girl made good on that promise she had made to herself year after year – but in a more spectacular way than she could have ever imagined back then. And as you also may have surmised, this is the story of that day – Thursday, November 25th, 2021 – or the day I checked another experience off my bucket list and attended the Ultimate Thanksgiving Experience in New York City.

How Am I Going To View The Parade?

Last year – when I made up my mind that this was my year to make that little girl’s dream a reality, I opted to not just go and stand in the crowd – but rather to experience it in a more intimate way – and that was at the Exclusive Thanksgiving Parade Viewing Party. I chose this experience for a few reasons – the top one being that they offered an indoor parade viewing experience which was appealing to me because one – you never know what the weather is going to be like at the end of November in the Big Apple and having a climate-controlled environment in which to take in the parade sounded like an excellent idea, and two – the convenience of having indoor restrooms readily available during the lengthy parade. Among the other deciding factors? This Thanksgiving experience came highly recommended by my Travel Advisor, and it gave me the option to add a hotel stay to my package and, of course, the details of the event itself. To say that this way of taking it all in was a marvelous decision on my part would be an understatement!

The Day I’d Been Dreaming About For Decades

The atmosphere at the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in 2021 was nothing short of electric. And there is no doubt why. After the parade was scaled way back in 2020, thanks to you-know-what – the 95th annual extravaganza was back and open once again to spectators. I could feel the excitement in the air as I left my hotel room at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square on Thanksgiving morning to trek over to Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse on Sixth Avenue, where the event was taking place. It was a quick ten-minute walk, and it wasn’t lost on me as I strolled past people arriving to claim their spot on the sidewalks that they would be standing there for the next four hours – or longer – all bundled up in heavy coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. I had zero doubt that I chose wisely that brisk November morning.

When I arrived at the venue – which opened at 8:00 am – one hour before the official start of the parade, I was greeted by colorful decorations, welcoming staff, and an absolutely beautiful three-story restaurant with floor-toceiling windows. There was seating on the first two levels – and each party was assigned their own table. There was a delicious buffet that featured both hot breakfast and brunch items as well as breads, pastries, fresh fruits, and beverages. One of the things I really appreciated was that the buffet items were set up on both levels – which made them convenient no matter where you were seated – plus, it kept food lines to a minimum.

Now – keep in mind the main draw of this event for me was the amazing parade views from INSIDE. However, curbside viewing was also available via a private pen just for guests of this event, so it was never more than four rows deep, giving me super cool up-close views of the mega-talented marching bands, the incredibly imaginative floats, and those magnificent oh-my-gosh-I-cannot-believe-how-big-they-are-in-person balloons! Now I have to point out that the staff advised me that typically there is not a private pen – but of course, you can still go curbside and stand with the rest of the spectators should you choose to do so. As of this writing, it is still to be determined whether they will provide a private outdoor

I also have to mention that we had terrific views of the balloons inside Del Frisco’s from either floor and the floats and marching bands from the second-story balcony. In addition, there were also big-screen TVs available should you want to see the parade from another point of view. Bonus – before the parade reached us, we were treated to holiday classics sung by the star of Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud – the Story of the Temptations, Jelani Remy (who also starred as Simba in Disney’s The Lion King), and Alysha Umphress who has five Broadway credits and is considered one of the best vocalists in NYC. The two actors also interacted with the guests and took photos with us – very cool. One other nice touch? Even though I personally did not have any children with me, they provided special entertainment just for the kiddos – such as an artist drawing caricatures of them, a face painter creating festive scenes on their little cheeks, and

To Sum It All Up

Between the atmosphere inside the restaurant that morning, the incredible parade views it offered, the scrumptious food options available, the entertainment throughout the morning, and of course – the very convenient bathroom facilities – this is one way to view the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City that you will never forget and certainly won’t regret.

From the seamless booking process to the hotel accommodations – loved the Marriott Marquis for its fantastic location in the middle of Times Square as well as its beautifully renovated rooms, to the main event at Del Frisco’s – which sits right smack dab in the middle of the parade route on Sixth Avenue near Radio City Music Hall – it was perfection from start to finish. Bucket list item – check!