# Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation Eve > Event for families in the New York–Newark–Jersey City area (NY / NJ). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Wed, Nov 25 · 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM - Where: American Museum of Natural History Grounds, W 72nd St & Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10023 - Ages: All ages; stroller accessible (compact umbrella strollers recommended) - Price: Free public admission; no tickets required - Organizer: Macy's & NYC Police Department - Official page: https://www.macys.com/social/parade/ - Last checked: Thu, Nov 5 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/macy-s-thanksgiving-day-parade-balloon-inflation-eve--listing-83c71c21878eed3ca68f7f77 ## About Step into the magical backstage world of the Thanksgiving Day Parade on the afternoon before the big march! Surrounding the American Museum of Natural History, giant beloved character balloons—from Snoopy and Bluey to SpongeBob and Goku—are brought to life beneath massive cargo nets while technicians carefully inflate them with thousands of cubic feet of helium. Little ones will be mesmerized watching their favorite giants grow from flat fabric shapes on the pavement into towering pop-culture titans swaying gently in the November dusk. The pedestrian viewing route winds along 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. Families must enter through the official security checkpoint at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. The queue moves steadily, but crowds build dramatically after 3:30 PM, so arriving between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM is prime time for strollers and younger children. Family Tips: Strollers are permitted but compact folding umbrella strollers are strongly recommended due to high pedestrian density along the barricaded loop. Dress in warm, wind-proof layers, pack insulated thermoses of hot cocoa, and take advantage of public restrooms and food options along Columbus Avenue before entering the queue line. 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