Plan Ahead for Parade Traffic in Lincoln Square

Lincoln Square comes alive during the holiday season, including this week, when the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and balloon blow up will draw visitors from far and wide! These special events also mean street closures and transit changes. Keep reading to be in the know about traveling within the City this week.

The balloon inflation event will take place on Wednesday, November 27, outside the American Museum of Natural History (West 77th to West 81st Street). From 1:00pm to 6:00pm, you can enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the Parade's giant balloons and floats. The entry point is located at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue, just steps away from Lincoln Square, with exits available from West 82nd to West 86th Street.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 28, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will run from 8:30am to 12:00pm, and will pass through Lincoln Square on Central Park West (see the route here). Public viewing is available on the west side of the street from West 61st to West 75th Street, but plan to arrive early—spectators often gather as early as 6:00am for prime viewing spots. For a more comfortable experience, Tartinery on the third floor of The Shops at Columbus Circle will be open from 8:00am to 2:00pm, offering parade views with a $38 minimum per adult ($25 for children under 12), including unlimited drip coffee and a maximum one-hour dining period. Capital One Café (1843 Broadway at West 60th Street), the newest addition to Lincoln Square, will also be open from 7:30am to 12:00pm for those looking for a nearby, cozy spot to watch the parade.

Street closures for these events will be extensive in our neighborhood and are subject to change at the direction of the NYPD. The following streets are scheduled to be closed in and near Lincoln Square on Wednesday, November 27, and Thursday, November 28:

•  Central Park West (72nd to 86th Street): 2:00am on Wednesday until 3:00pm on Thursday
•  65th, 66th, and 79th Street Transverses: 6:00am on Wednesday until 3:00pm on Thursday
•  72nd through 77th Street and 81st through 85th Street (Central Park West to Columbus Avenue): Early Wednesday morning (varying between 2:00am and 8:00am) until 3:00pm on Thursday
•  59th Street (5th Avenue to Columbus Circle): 1:00am on Wednesday until 5:00pm on Thursday
•  Central Park West (59th to 72nd Street): 9:00pm Wednesday until 3:00pm Thursday

For the full list of street closures, read the notice from the NYC Office of the Mayor.

Subway and bus service will also be affected. On Thanksgiving Day, subways will operate on a Sunday schedule, with additional early-morning service on the 1 train and the S 42nd Street Shuttle. Some subway station entrances and exits along the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route will be closed. A, C, and D trains will not stop at 81 St-Museum of Natural History between 4:00am and 11:00am. Many buses in Manhattan may experience delays and will be affected by reroutes, detours, and/or frozen zones, especially those routes operating in Midtown near the parade route. Plan a trip to see the latest schedules. On Friday, November 29, subways will run on a regular weekday schedule, while buses will operate on a reduced schedule. For more service changes, including to buses, the Long Island Rail Road, and the Metro-North Railroad, check the MTA website.

Photo Credit: Macy's, Inc.