The 94th edition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade may look a bit different this year as the event will be a virtual one.
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On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the annual event that kicks off the holiday shopping season will be a virtual one. De Blasio told reporters, “It will not be the same parade we’re used to.”
“(Macy’s) is reinventing the event for this moment in history. And you will be able to feel the spirit and the joy of that day on television, online — not a live parade, but something that will really give us that warmth and that great feeling we have on Thanksgiving Day.”
“Following our successful, safe and innovative production of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, it is our intention to similarly reimagine Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this November,” Macy’s said in a statement.
For its annual Fourth of July fireworks display, Macy’s opted to do short, 5-minute displays around the city in an effort to dissuade people from congregating. How that will work for a parade that is just a long march is definitely not clear as of yet. Add in the lead time it takes to inflate the signature balloons, and it’s going to be an odd spectacle.
When you also consider the marching bands that spend a year or more raising money to attend the parade, you have to imagine that will be canceled. Although, there could be an aspect of this event where the marching bands perform locally with remote TV crews filming them.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be televised and online on Nov. 26.
