New Yorkers had a deflating experience with the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.
The event aimed at the television audience instead of live spectators due to coronavirus restrictions. Few people were allowed to watch the parade live, and they were not happy with the experience. “We wish we hadn’t watched it live,” they said. The number of live participants this year was reduced to 12%.
“I wish I had stayed home and had better watch it on television,” said 33-year-old Julia Korzah, who was among the few live spectators.point 242 |
She lives in the Herald Square area and attended the event with her boyfriend.point 65 | “I am standing behind a metal barricade at 34th Street and Eighth Avenue.point 132 | All I can see from here is the top of the Empire State Building,” she added.point 199 | 1
About 4 million people watched the parade in 2019, lining the 2.point 370 |
5-mile-long route from the Upper West Side to Herald Square.point 51 | Due to coronavirus restriction, this year’s event was enormously compressed.point 124 | It only covered one block in front of the department store at Herald Square headquarters.point 199 | Most of the performances that people saw on their TV screen were pre-shooted.point 264 |
People said the balloons they saw throughout the telecast were familiar faces, including Ronald, McDonald, Snoopy, and SpongeBob.point 112 | A few of the balloons were new and specially designed for this event, including Love Flies Up to The Sky, Boss Baby, Red Titan, and Macy’s Stars.point 237 |
Love Flies Up to the Skies was made by Yoyoi Kasuyma, a contemporary Japanese artist.point 71 | 1
Several entertainers performed, including Darlene, who crooned ‘Marshmallow World,’ Dolly Parton, who sang ‘Holly Jolly Christmas,’ and Patti LaBelle, who vocalized ‘It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.point 404 |
’ A few Broadway performances were also lined up for telecast viewers, while live participants didn’t have much to lay eyes on.point 118 | 1
This is my 6-year-old's first Macy's Day Parade and he is not impressed. "Mom, it's just a bunch of commercials. Whoever is making this a show of all commercials should be locked in a bathroom … for a year!" #MacysParade #VerizonLive
ADVERTISEMENT — Jennifer Churchill (@jenTCM) November 26, 2020
“We had a good memorable experience last year, but We are disappointed by this year’s parade,” wrote a live participant. “I came with my 4-year-old to see floats, but there were none. Disappointing!” wrote another.
Telecast viewers, on the other hand, had a good experience. “I am loving the grinch musical & want to be in it,” a television viewer tweeted.