Watching Macy's T'Giving Day Parade Live from NYC--raining & gloomy.... Might this be the last one?

[hlthe2b]

Not that Macy's wants to discontinue, but they are closing stores and hurting economically-- and can only be more hurt by Trump's tariffs and other policies... So will we see another in the indefinite future?

So, I'm feeling as gloomy watching as the weather. sigh...

[XanaDUer2]

1. I would hope some billionnaires

Would keep it running. How depressing. I have memories of watching it as a kid

[The Grand Illuminist]

2. I don't think Macy's will be hurt by tariffs.

They expanded too fast and more people are resorting to online shopping.

[hlthe2b]

3. Online shopping is clearly a big threat--although they have a pretty good trade in it too. But they import a LOT of

clothing and goods--al which will likely be subject to tariffs.

[newdeal2]

5. All retailers will be in the same boat though

Clothing really isn’t made in the USA anymore, with a few exceptions.

[Callie1979]

4. I think the parade would continue even if Macy's went under. Its too big to go away

The whole country watches it!
I was lucky enough to see one in person; I knew someone that was in the parade so I got seats. We were lucky; cold but no bad weather
Let it roll 100 more years!

[musette_sf]

9. My Dad took my younger sibs one year, I think 1964 or 1965

I stayed home with my Mom and watched it on TV. They came home complaining that it had been damp and freezing cold, and they couldn’t see anything unless my Dad had one of them on his shoulders. I didn’t go because I stayed home to huff the tantalizing early morning aroma of onions and celery sautéing in butter to make the Pepperidge Farm stuffing, which was, and still is, my favorite part of Thanksgiving. We still had a B&W TV then, and watching it on that was still vastly preferable to me than going to the city super early to freeze my ass off for nothing.

I’ll probably watch some of it and the other parades that are held today, but I’m ignorant in an elderly way and don’t know many of the entertainment people and products any more. I like to see the Rockettes, the marching bands, and I see they have the Kilgore Rangerettes this year. To see just how out of touch I am, I checked the lineup and I have no clue as to who just about any of these people are. (I did not see the Rockettes in the lineup and had slight panic, but fear not, I checked and they will be there.)

https://www.macys.com/s/parade/lineup/

Not sure how Macy’s is going to fare in the not-too-distant future, but I also think the parade would continue. Though it’s been known in NYC as The Macy’s Day Parade for as long as I can remember.

[jmowreader]

6. Macy's doesn't exactly do those parades out of the kindness of their hearts

Between parade-unit entry fees - if you want to put a float or a balloon in their parade they charge you around $250k for the privilege; there's also a marching-unit fee that I don't remember (I used to know because a group here in Coeur d'Alene, ID, marched in it and spent a year raising funds to go, but it's been a while) - and the $20 million per year NBC pays Macy's for airing the parade, once you subtract the fees the city government charges them to close streets, provide police support and have EMS on standby that event is probably the most profitable thing they do. Even if Macy's closed everything except the Herald Square store and converted to a nearly pure e-commerce business, they'd still run the parade.

[hlthe2b]

8. Yes... but those fees likewise offset city costs for policing, garbage removal, screening, etc.

So, I really don't think this is a profit-maker, except from the standpoint of good publicity.

[jmowreader]

10. It costs $20 million for that?

[hlthe2b]

11. LOL. Never spent time in NYC or heard their massive budgets discussed?

I don't know how much Macy's profits, but it cost one hell of a lot to put on and a lot is pass-through to the city--not only for that one event.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

7. My daughter was in the Macy's Parade 33 years ago on this date to be exact.

When I received the news that my beloved Grandpap had fallen asleep 40 minutes before the Parade was to start. He knew his Great-Granddaughter was a participant and never got to see her.

This Thanksgiving is a bittersweet one for me in knowing how PROUD he was of her. We did not tell her of his passing until the next night when she arrived back from New York City.

It was a dreary and rainy day even then in 1991.