Will Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City go ahead in 2020?
Macy’s have partnered with the City of New York to create an innovative plan that would continue this treasured tradition during the ongoing pandemic.
Given the nature of the coronavirus pandemic and it's impact on activities that involve social gathering, there were doubts that the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Parade would be cancelled in 2020. The Macy's Thanksgiving Parade is one of the biggest in the world and has been carried out since 1924 with the event being televised in the United states on the NBC network with artists such as The Temptations, Christina Aguilera, Andrea Bocelli and Gwen Stefani performing at the even over the years.
However the chain store have collaborated with the City of New York and both parties have agreed that the 2020 parade will go ahead, albeit in a reduced and socially distanced capacity.
In order to avoid gathering large crowds of spectators along the traditional 2.5-mile route in New York City, the route has been shortened to focus solely on the last section of the parade. The store plan to hold a reduced celebration with balloons, floats, performances and greet the arrival of Santa Claus, in front of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street for the television special on NBC.
Health protocol
The overall number of participants has been reduced by approximately 75% and splitting the remaining participants over a two-day participation period. All participants will be appropriately socially distanced during performances and be required to wear face masks and additional personal protective equipment depending on their role and the chain store is requesting that people stay at home and watch the event unfold on television.