7 Fun Things to Do in New York City During Thanksgiving Week
Planning an exciting outing in New York City with friends and family this holiday season? With everything from ice skating in historic NYC landmarks to the world famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, here are seven fun things to do in New York City during Thanksgiving week.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation
P.C.: wikipedia, Mkrupnic
Even before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade you can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation! It is a lot of fun to see your favorite characters take shape. This event takes place on Thanksgiving eve around the American Museum of Natural History (Central Park West & 79th St).
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
P.C.: yelp, Rebecca G.
This year will be the 93rd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and it is easily our favorite parade in New York City every year. It is best known for its gigantic balloons (some can be almost 70 feet high) and it features characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Pikachu, Snoopy and Smokey the Bear. Plus the parade ends with Santa, signaling that Christmas is near!
Thanksgiving Feast
If you can’t make a Thanksgiving feast at home, many top notch restaurants across New York City will be open and will offer special Thanksgiving menus. Some restaurants to look at include Le Coq Rico (30 E 20th St), Rotisserie Georgette (14 E 60th St) and Carmine’s (200 West 44th St & 2450 Broadway). You definitely want to make a reservation and plan ahead.
Ice Skating
The weather is getting a bit cooler which makes it perfect for some ice skating! This can be a fun family outing. Two of the most popular ice skating rinks in New York City are in Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center.
Join Ahoy New York on a Food Tour
Join in on some foodie fun this Thanksgiving Week. We have two exciting food tours, Chinatown and Little Food Fest and Taste of Mulberry Street. These are great ways to explore Chinatown, Little Italy and Nolita; hear about their history and explore delicious places to go back to. Check out our tour page for more information. If a private tour is more your thing, we offer both of these, as well as variations, catered specifically for your group. They are great for all ages, abilities, and most dietary restrictions.
Shop during Black Friday
New York City is known for its plethora of shopping options and there is no better time to do some shopping than Black Friday! There will be deals everywhere and you just never know what you may find!
Watch a Movie
P.C.: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown Brooklyn
Finally some of the biggest blockbuster movies come out during Thanksgiving week and New York City has some theaters that really elevate the movie experience with huge screens, comfortable recliner chairs, yummy dinner options and more! Some of our favorites include the IPIC Theater (11 Fulton St) and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (445 Albee Square West, Brooklyn).