Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation event: What you need to know

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
(2017) Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation
FROM 2017: Michelle Charlesworth's children Isabelle and Jack report from the Upper West Side on the big balloon inflation event.

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- The 91st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature 17 giant balloons being inflated on Wednesday.

The inflation event began earlier this year with balloons including newcomers Disney's Frozen Olaf, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch, PAW Patrol and Jett from Super Wings.

VIDEO: A tour of the balloons!

Fans favorites will be on display too, including Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants and many others.

The only public entrance point is 74th Street at Columbus Avenue. All spectators will be subject to security screening.

The event will be open until 8:00 p.m.

VIDEO: Sneak peek at the floats

The intricate details, the enormous displays and beautiful artistry showcased year after year at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are nothing short of amazing, evoking a special nostalgia for many.

WHERE TO FIND YOUR FAVORITE BALLOONS

Featured Balloons On 77th Street

Olaf from Disney's "Frozen" (NEW)

Ice Age's Scrat and his Acorn

Ronald McDonald

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Hello Kitty

Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger

Pikachu

DreamWorks' Trolls

Charlie Brown

Jett from Super Wings (NEW)

Featured Balloons On 81st Street

PAW Patrol (NEW)

Angry Birds' Red

SpongeBob SquarePants

Pillsbury Doughboy

Sinclair's DINO

Aflac Duck Balloonicle (NEW)

Illumination presents Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (NEW)

The Elf on the Shelf

RELATED: Perfect place to watch the parade in luxury

WHAT STREETS WILL BE CLOSED

There will also be major traffic restrictions in the area, beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday as 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Additional vehicular traffic closures at Noon are as follows:

- Central Park West from West 73rd to 85th Streets

- West 73rd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 74th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 75th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 76th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 77th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 78th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 80th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 81st Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 82nd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 83rd Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 84th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- West 85th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

- Central Park Transverse Road at Central Park West and West 81 St. (Both Directions)

After 10 p.m., 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue as well as Central Park West from 59th Street to 86th Street will be closed to all traffic.

RELATED: What you need to know about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

More information available at www.macys.com/social/parade