THE MACY'S Thanksgiving Day parade is back this year and kicked off around 9am ET on Thursday.
The parade has new balloons like Ronald McDonald and Baby Yoda this year.
Meanwhile, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are all in alignment for the holiday this year.
To spot them you'll need clear skies and to face the southern sky after nightfall on November 25.
They will look like stars shining brighter than any of the others around them.
Venus will be the most visible and to the bottom right of the trio and Jupiter will be to the top left of the trio with Saturn in the middle.
The spectacle will be visible after a day of Thanksgiving 2021 fun with the Macy's parade and three NFL games.
Read our Thanksgiving Day live blog for the latest news and updates…
- Jocelyn Cook
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY STAR ANTHONY RAPP INTERVIEWED
The hosts of the NBC coverage of the parade interviewed Star Trek and Rent star Anthony Rapp.
He promoted Star Trek: Discovery while the hosts and crowd waited for the parade to truly kick off.
- Jocelyn Cook
MACY'S PARADE BALLOON SET-UP REVEALED
Coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured clips of how the balloons are prepared for the big day.
The feature included New Yorkers talking about how excited they are for the parade this year and how "thrilled" they are that the parade has returned in 2021.
- Jocelyn Cook
WAITRESS PERFORMANCE FEATURED ON PARADE COVERAGE
Broadway performances were a big part of the opening of the parade coverage on TV, with a few actors from Waitress doing a number after the cast of Chicago performed.
- Jocelyn Cook
CAST OF CHICAGO PERFORMS
To kick off the parade on TV, the cast of Broadway's Chicago did a special performance.
- Jocelyn Cook
WHAT TIME DOES THE MACY'S PARADE START?
The 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on Thursday, November 25 on NBC starting at 9am and runs through 12pm Eastern Standard Time.
The start and end time for the parade is the same for all time zones.
- Cierra Jones
HOW CAN I WATCH ON TV?
NBC is the channel where viewers can catch Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be broadcast live on NBC.
If you don’t have access to a television, you may watch the parade live on NBC’s website or the NBC app, but you’ll need a TV provider to do so.
Don’t forget about the time zone difference. The live broadcast will not adjust it’s time for different regions.
For example, if you’re viewing from the West Coast, the live broadcast will begin at 9am EST, which means it would begin at 6am PST.
- Cierra Jones
WHAT IS THE PARADE’S ROUTE?
Some viewers might want to watch the parade from a Manhattan sidewalk, but be mindful of the restrictions in place.
According to the Macy’s official website, only a limited amount of people are permitted at certain locations.
The parade’s kickoff location will be at West 77th Street and Central Park West, starting at 9am Eastern Standard Time.
The parade will then go through several locations that includes Columbus Circle, Central Park South and 6th Avenue, and West 59th Street to West 38th Street.
At the conclusion of the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the festivities will stop at Macy’s in Herald Square.
- Cierra Jones
WHO IS PERFORMING AT THE PARADE?
This year’s headliner will be Carrie Underwood, as the event returns to its in-person format after turning virtual due to COVID-19 in 2020.
The singer of “Before He Cheats” will open the Christmas season with a song from her holiday album My Gift (Special Edition), which was published on September 25.
Kristin Chenoweth and Darren Criss will be among the other performers at the parade.
Kim Petras, Chris Lane, Andy Grammer, Nelly, Kelly Rowland, and the cast of Peacock’s Girls5eva will also be performing.
This year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will revert to its pre-pandemic form, with a new route across Manhattan, high-flying helium balloons pulled by handlers, and crowds welcomed back to cheer them on.
For the first time, Baby Yoda is invited to the party according to NBC.
- Cierra Jones
WHEN IS THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE?
After surrendering to pandemic restrictions last year, the 95th annual march will return to form this year.
There will be 15 enormous character balloons, 28 floats, 36 novelty and heritage inflatables, over 800 clowns, 10 marching bands, and nine performance groups, as well as Santa Claus.
The 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on Thursday, November 25 on NBC at 9am through 12pm Eastern Standard Time.
The start and end time for the parade is the same for all time zones, everyone will be able to enjoy the parade without a delay.
- Cierra Jones
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
Macy’s, the largest department store company in the US, hosts the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, which is the world’s largest parade.
The parade began in 1924, tying America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit for the title of second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States.
- Cierra Jones
WHAT DOES THANKSGIVING MEAN IN THE 21ST CENTURY?
As a tradition that had a more religious significance, several Americans have veered away from this to focus on cooking and sharing meals during Thanksgiving in the 21st century.
Interestingly, turkey has become synonymous with Thanksgiving even though it is unclear whether Turkey was even part of the dishes offered during the first feast with the Native Americans in 1621.
Indeed, turkey has become a staple on Thanksgiving to the extent that the National Turkey Federation has estimated that about 90 percent of Americans eat turkey during Thanksgiving.
- Cierra Jones
WHICH PRESIDENT MADE THANKSGIVING A NATIONAL HOLIDAY?
During the civil war, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
In declaring Thanksgiving Day as a holiday, President Lincoln stated: “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation”.
Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that Thanksgiving was to be celebrated on the last Thursday of every November.
This Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated in accordance with Lincoln’s proclamation from 1863 until President Franklin Roosevelt moved the Thanksgiving holiday from the last Thursday of November to the penultimate Thursday in November, with the aim of boosting retail sales during the Great Depression.
Nevertheless, President Roosevelt had to reverse his decision in 1941 due to the severe opposition he encountered from supporters of Lincoln’s initial proclamation.
Thus, Roosevelt had to reluctantly sign a bill to officially make Thanksgiving the last Thursday in November.
- Cierra Jones
WHEN WAS THE FIRST THANKSGIVING?
Colonists from Plymouth, England, shared a three-day feast with Native Americans in the New World in November of 1621.
However, this feast was neither named “Thanksgiving” nor did it inspire a national holiday.
Nevertheless, History.com stated that the meal did not feature desserts such as pies or cakes due to the dwindling supplies that the Pilgrims brought on the Mayflower.
Thus, the dishes were likely prepared using Native American methods.
- Cierra Jones
When is Thanksgiving in 2021?
In the US this year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 25.
The US isn’t the only nation to mark Thanksgiving celebrations – Canada, Puerto Rico, Grenada and Liberia do so too.
In Canada, the holiday fell on Monday, October 11.
- Cierra Jones
What are the Thanksgiving Covid rules?
The CDC has suggested a set of guidelines to minimize Covid spread this Thanksgiving. They are as follows:
- If you’re eligible to get the Coronavirus vaccine, it is recommended you do so.
- The vaccine was not available last holiday season, but it’s “the most important factor in safe celebrations this year.”
- Travel safely. Traveling presents the opportunity for more Covid19 exposure. While traveling away from home, observe social distancing, sanitize regularly, and mask up outside of your Thanksgiving destination.
- Shop online rather than in person on the day after Thanksgiving or the next Monday
- Watch sports events, parades, and movies from home
- Cierra Jones
WHERE CAN I GET A THANKSGIVING MEAL?
Thanksgiving dinner is a staple on the Cracker Barrel menu.
The chain serves the hearty meal every Thursday of the year, Thanksgiving day included.
For other sit-down Thanksgiving meals, there are a handful of options available to folks nationwide.
Bob Evans, Boston Market, Golden Corral, Marie Callender’s, Tony Roma’s are just a handful of dine-in and take-out options for full Thanksgiving meals.
Some chains, like Buca di Beppo, are open and offer a special Thanksgiving menu.
Those who enjoy fine dining may wish to make a reservation at their local Del Frisco’s, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, or STK Steakhouse.
- Cierra Jones
HOW CAN I CUT COSTS?
The best way to cut costs is to be prepared with a plan.
Plan your meal and take advantage of coupons, keep your menu seasonal and avoid ingredients you won’t use again.
It’s also worth checking local grocery stores for holiday deals.
Some supermarket chains offer customers who spend a certain amount a free turkey or ham.
You may also want to avoid shopping on the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
If not, you risk paying more for a name-brand ingredient if the less costly one sells out.
Lastly, make sure your guests RSVP. It’s best to know how much food you need to make, so you don’t make more than you need to.
Thanksgiving leftovers are great, but not if it’s more than you need.
- Cierra Jones
WHY IS FOOD GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE?
Across the board, everything on your Thanksgiving menu will more expensive.
The higher prices are due to a combination of factors such as inflation, supply chain issues, labor shortages, and bad weather – just to name a few.
“I never seen anything like it, and I’ve been running sweet potatoes for 38 or 39 years,” Norman Brown, director of sweet potato sales for a farm in North Carolina, told The New York Times.
He added: “I don’t know what the answer is, but in the end it’s all going to get passed on to the consumer.”
Economists say higher turkey prices can be attributed to the price of corn which feed commercial turkeys.
In some places, corn prices more than doubled nationwide between July 2020 and July 2021.
Meanwhile, dinner rolls are more expensive because baking ingredients increased.
And canned cranberries are costlier because domestic steel plants are still catching up on production delayed from the pandemic.
- Cierra Jones
FRUGAL FESTIVITIES (PART FIVE)
TOTAL COST BREAKDOWN
$2.33 Turkey ($17.33 before $15 rebate)
$0 Gravy (after $1.12 rebate)
-$.02 Stuffing ($.80 before the $.82 rebate)
$.50 Green beans ($1.50 before rebate)
$0 cream of mushroom
-$.32 crispy onions ($1.96 before $2.28 rebate)
-$.10 mashed potato packet (after $1.88 rebate)
$.70 Sweet potatoes (1.3 lbs)
$.77 russet potatoes (1 lb)
$1.50 Cranberry sauce (free Great Value with rebate)
$.25 yeast packet ($.77 for 3pk)
$2.24 heavy cream
$.88 Margarine
$3.49 Pumpkin pie
$0 coke 2liter ($1.98 before
$0 jiffy mix (after $.52 rebate) - Cierra Jones
FRUGAL FESTIVITIES (PART FOUR)
“Without rebates I would not have purchased the Coke, gravy packet, or jiffy mix. Additionally, I would have purchased Great Value brand cream of mushroom soup for $.50 instead of Campbell’s for $.98, I would have purchased a second can of green beans for $.50 instead of the frozen beans for $1.”
“This would have made my total cost $31.65 To save even more, you could have buttered green beans with salt and pepper instead of green bean casserole (saves you additional $2.46).”
“This means you can have a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner for under $30 without a single rebate, coupon, or discount price.”
- Cierra Jones
FRUGAL FESTIVITIES (PART THREE)
“In today’s video, I am showing you how you can make a delicious Thanksgiving meal for your family with only $8,” she said, adding however “the only way this extreme budget of $8 was possible is through the blessing of rebates available to everyone.”
“The total amount in rebates (for free items) came to: $25.66! However— you can still have a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner for under $30 without a single rebate, coupon, or discount price.”
The total cost was 8.72 “if you are able to find all of the available rebates in your local Walmart! I was unable to get the Great Value cranberry sauce, so I purchased the Ocean Spray for $1.50.”
She also explained that the turkey is free if it’s under $15, but her’s came to $2.33 given it was originally $17.33.
- Cierra Jones
FRUGAL FESTIVITIES (PART TWO)
“I know that there is a lot of food insecurity in our country,” Leah says, adding the “challenge is not just for fun,” but wanted to help spread awareness and get her viewers who can to help shelters and soup kitchens in need.
Leah opened up about her personal time visiting food shelters and urged her viewers to help those in need if they can.
“I will never forget when our family was personally struggling and one Thanksgiving,” when a group “put together boxes of dinner items including a turkey and came to our house and dropped off all of these groceries. It was such a surprise and such a blessing.”
“Maybe you can do the same thing this year and be inspired to find somebody in your community that is in need and be a blessing to them.”
Leah gave tips on how to save money when going out grocery shopping this season.
“Take advantage of what they’re offering right now and let’s get shopping,” she said of finding what’s available.
- Cierra Jones
FRUGAL FESTIVITIES
A woman was able to make a Thanksgiving meal for eight people for just $8 using coupon vouchers and extreme savvy savings.
A savvy shopper wowed her audience by showing people how easy it was to save money and cook a giant Thanksgiving dinner for eight people by taking advantage of coupon offers and smart shopping.
The woman, named Leah, said she’s “all about spending less and creating more” in her video posted to the account Savvy Saute.
“A low budget does not have to mean boring food. And the same holds true during the holidays,” Leah says in the video.
“So if you want to see how we make a Thanksgiving meal for eight people for $8 Stick around, this is Savvy Saute,” she said.
“With the holidays coming up, I knew I wanted to see what kind of low budget we could use and still create a delicious meal for our family and friends during the holiday.”
- Cierra Jones
HELPING HAND AT YOUR LOCAL CHURCHES
From coast to coast, local churches are stepping up and helping the communities they serve.
Thousands of volunteers are ready to serve and thousands more have started donating food to make food baskets for those in need.
Many times you do not need to be a member of that church. It’s best to check with your local faith-based organization to find out what they’re offering.
It’s also best to do your research now because most places offering a free meal or food, request you to sign up ahead of time.
- Cierra Jones
HELPING HAND WITH THE SALVATION ARMY
The Salvation Army has been around since the late 1800s.
Today, local chapters across the country are helping those in need every holiday.
Starting with Thanksgiving, many local chapters provide turkey meals or serve on-site dinners.
Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder, National Commander for The Salvation Army, told TheSun: “After almost two years of added difficulties stemming from the pandemic, millions of Americans face the threat of not being able to celebrate the holidays as they continue to battle the impacts of pandemic poverty.”
“With a presence in nearly every ZIP code across the country, The Salvation Army has the unique ability to meet the needs of those who seek our services, with programs and resources tailored to each community.
Once Thanksgiving wraps up, the Salvation Army turns its attention to the Christmas season.
Commissioner Hodder added: “As the nation’s largest private provider of social services, we haven’t stopped working to provide help and hope — no matter the cost.”
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