Whether you grew up celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday in America or this is your first time, you’re in an excellent place to do so! Manhattan has welcomed foreigners at its docks for hundreds of years. You can’t help but hear several languages as you walk through the streets and we celebrate different cultures every day through our restaurants, stores, entertainment and shopping.
Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and celebrating everything you have accomplished this year and everything that is to come. We’re here to help you enjoy this holiday to the fullest by giving you a guide of the best sights and activities to see while you’re town this season:
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
[Free Activity!] This parade is famous worldwide and getting to see it in person is so much better than on TV. Since it was founded in 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become an American staple and every year keeps getting bigger and better! You’ll see your favorite characters in massive balloons like Spongebob and Snoopy. It’s also very common to see celebrities, musicians,and other famous faces on the parade floats. Be sure to get a spot early because the crowds will grow quickly. This is a must do Thanksgiving activity, so get your camera ready! The parade runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, click here.
Take a Walk Through Central Park
[Free Activity!] While Manhattan is known for its tall buildings and yellow taxi cabs, we also have one of the most beautiful parks in the world: Central Park! This is a beautiful time of the year to take a walk through the park. Enjoy a pretzel from a cart or rent a gondola from the Loeb Boathouse! There’s so much nature to see in the park despite its urban surroundings. If you want some quiet time in one of the most lively cities in the world, then Central Park is the place to go!
Winter Village at Bryant Park: Food, Ice Skating & Shopping
The Winter Village at Bryant Park is up and there are so many fun activities to do here! Shop through the dozens of boutiques for your one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. Enjoy a meal in the fully heated tent or grab food from the kiosks outside. Feeling adventurous? Get your skates ready and go ice skating! Ice skating is free if you bring your own skates. Bryant Park is located just East of Times Square so you’re in a very central location to see other famous parts of Manhattan.
Run in the 5K Turkey Trot
Participating in a Thanksgiving Day race is a common family activity for many Americans. It’s also a great way to prepare for a full day of feasting! Prospect Park has a 5k race and they even celebrate at the finish line with a full breakfast spread of bagels, fruit, and more! Sign up for the race here.
Eat, Drink & Be Merry!
If there’s one thing Americans do well, it’s eating! We love our big portions and Thanksgiving is a great day to celebrate food, family, and everything we have to be thankful for. There are thousands of restaurants still open during the holiday. Many will have a fixed price for the Thanksgiving meals but that comes with a lot of food to enjoy. Old Rose in the West Village will be serving a turkey meal. Another great and more casual option is Fred’s on the Upper West Side. They’re running a killer price fixe of $48/person with all you can eat. That’s a deal you don’t want to miss out on.
Whatever activities you choose to do on Thanksgiving, remember you’re in New York City, one of the best and most patriotic cities in the country.
Author: Syndey Bratt
