NYC Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Inflation: How To Watch

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The streets of New York City will be packed by millions of onlookers Thursday for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. But for some, the real show takes place the day before.

The NYPD expects at least 200,000 people will flock to the Upper West Side on Wednesday to watch the parade's gigantic balloons be inflated. Putting air in a tire or basketball can be a struggle. Now imagine trying to pump up a 63-feet-long, 28-feet-wide and 46-feet-tall Big Bird. It's quite the spectacle.

This year's balloon inflation event will have new hours and increased security, police officials announced.

"We reevaluated how we were looking at [the event] and we came up with some changes to the security to make it an even safer venue," NYPD Chief of Patrol Terrence Monahan said during a press conference.

The public will now be able to watch the balloon inflation between 1-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Monahan said. To make room for the event, the NYPD will shut down traffic on Central Park West from West 72nd to 86th streets at noon.

People trying to view the inflation should enter the gated-off area at Columbus Avenue on 74th Street, Monahan said. After going through a security checkpoint, viewers should walk down to Central Park West and then head north to West 77th Street for the viewing. Large backpacks, umbrellas, coolers and chairs will not be allowed past the security checkpoint, Monahan said.

In years past the balloon viewing ended at 10 p.m. instead of 8 p.m., officials said. The decision to change the time was made so police could more easily prepare for Thursday's parade security. There is still a seven-hour viewing window for the balloon inflation.

Mayor Bill de Blasio advised people coming to the balloon inflation to take mass transit due to all the street closures that will be put in place on the Upper West Side. The closest subway stations to the balloon inflation entrance are on West 72nd Street and Broadway and West 72nd Street and Central Park West. The 2,3 and 1 trains stop on Broadway and the B and C trains stop at Central Park West.

Despite the increased security — de Blasio said it would be the "strongest ever" police presence for the event — there are no credible or specific threats against either Wednesday's balloon inflation or Thursday's parade.

Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images