In 2012 I went to New York City for the 86th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I stayed at Hotel Pennsylvania on 7th Ave, which is right opposite Penn Station. It was great location wise, but the floor I was staying did feel a little bit like I was in The Shining.
On the Wednesday afternoon I went and saw the balloons being inflated outside the Museum of Natural History. I went in the afternoon as I had read the balloons start to take shape between 1pm and 3pm.

Sailor Mickey being inflated
On Thanksgiving Day I woke in the early hours of the morning to a marching band practicing. This didn’t worry me as I planned to get up early anyway and it added to the experience.
I staked out my spot early (a little after 6am) beneath Radio City Music Hall. Below are some of my photos.
To my American friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Hello Kitty

Mr. Pilgrim

Woodland Family Gathering float, Ocean Spray

Tom Turkey float with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian, Food Network

Kermit the Frog

Charlie Brown

Kung-Fu Panda

NYPD Mounted Unit

Jimmy Fallon and the Roots

True Spirit of Thanksgiving float, Oneida Indian Nation

Uncle Sam with Miss USA 2012 Olivia Culpo

Mount Rushmore’s American Pride with Don McLean

Jolly Polly Pirate Ship with Pirate Queen Whoopi Goldberg

Gift of Freedom float

Spiderman

Pikachu

SpongeBob SquarePants

Papa Smurf

The Smurfs

Saratoga High School Marching Band, California

New York City Police Department

Macy’s Great American Marching Band

Diary of a Whimpy Kid

Sailor Mickey, Disney Cruises

Sonic the Hedgehog

Pillsbury Doughboy

Elf on a shelf

Buzz Lightyear

Stirrin’ Up Sweet Sensations float, Domino Sugar

The King Charles Unicycle Troupe

Santa’s sleigh