Thanksgiving Day Parade Takes a New Turn

For many people, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is as much a part of the holiday as the turkey and the pumpkin pie. Some parade lovers will notice that this year’s event has a new twist—or rather, a new turn.

For the first time, the New York City parade will not march down Broadway through the famous Times Square area. Instead, the bands and balloons will turn down Seventh Avenue.  

Why the change? Cars and trucks are no longer allowed to drive down Broadway through Times Square. Last spring, the area became a pedestrian zone, or area for walkers only. So it is now off-limits to parade floats and the cars and trucks that pull them.

This may not seem like a big change, but it is huge for the businesses in Times Square. People who run hotels, shops, and restaurants along the old route are concerned about the change. They fear they may lose money now that the parade no longer marches past their doors.

 “It’s not good for Times Square,” Mustapha ben Khallouk, an electronics salesman who works in the area, told the New York Times. “Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for us.”

From the Museum to Macy’s

The route was changed one other time in the parade’s 83-year history: In 1946, the starting point was moved from 145th Street to 77th Street, in front of the American Museum of Natural History.

As always, this year’s parade will end in front of the flagship, or main, Macy’s department store at Herald Square.
 
Balloons Still Flying High

Despite the new direction taken this year, much about the 2009 parade will be familiar. Throngs of spectators will line the streets as marching bands and floats pass by. Giant helium balloons will fly above the crowds. Some new balloons—Mickey Mouse dressed as a sailor, updated Spiderman and Ronald McDonald balloons, and the Pillsbury Dough Boy—will join crowd-pleasing characters such as Buzz Lightyear, Snoopy, and Shrek.
.

Parades Past

The first Macy’s parade was held on Thanksgiving Day in 1924. Back then, it was called the Macy’s Christmas Parade.

Macy’s put the balloons and bands on hold from 1942 to 1944, during World War II. No one felt like celebrating, and parade supplies like helium and rubber were needed for the war effort. In 1945, the parade returned and was shown on television for the first time.

Parade Facts

• The 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 26. It will be broadcast from 9:00 to 12:00 noon (in all time zones) on NBC.
• About 3 million viewers are expected to watch the parade in New York City. Another 44 million are expected to watch on TV.
• This year’s parade will feature 1,500 dancers, cheerleaders, singers, and performers. There will be 15 giant character balloons, 800 clowns, 24 floats, and 10 marching bands.
• Today, Macy’s is the world’s second-largest consumer of helium. (The United States government is the largest helium consumer.)
• The parade has ended each year with Santa Claus, except in 1933. That year he led the parade.

BE CHART SMART Read today's story, then complete this activity about the tallest balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Download it here!

MORE NEWS FOR KIDS

Get the latest on national and international events, movies, television, music, sports, and more from Scholastic News Online.

• Teacher Store
• 

  The Teacher Store

  Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers®—How Things Grow by Ellen Weiss Life cycles are a fascinating and integral part of every science curriculum. These titles are a great introduction to the wonder of how things grow. Beautiful full-color photographs and illustrations demonstrate the step-by-step process of a variety of plant growths, supported with an introduction to basic botany terms.   $120.00 Hardcover Book Collection | Grades 1-2

  
  Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers®—How Things Grow
  Grades 1-2 $120.00
  
• Teacher Store
• 

  The Teacher Store

  Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers - American Symbols: What Does the President Do? - Activity Sheet by Amanda Miller Scholastic’s downloadable worksheets for students offer a varied selection of tasks that require reading for meaning through many fun and strategic activities. The rich content of our title-specific blackline masters incorporates writing exercises, graphic organizers, deductive reasoning, critical thinking, vocabulary development, and much, much more. Through innovative exercises, students will enjoy a range of activities that require them to engage in post-reading reflec $2.95 Literature Guide | Grades 1-3

  
  Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers - American Symbols: What Does the President Do? - Activity Sheet
  Grades 1-3 $2.95