Think you need to be a celebrity, Broadway star or giant inflatable balloon to get into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Not necessarily. There are ways to get paid to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and they involve something considerably less glamorous than being Snoopy: working the parade.
The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City is one of the biggest Thanksgiving traditions in America, featuring massive balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands, performers and thousands of people working behind the scenes to make the spectacle happen.
And while spectators line the streets of Manhattan for free, some people actually get a paycheck for being part of the production.
Opportunities can include performers, musicians, dancers, event staff, production workers, balloon handlers and other parade-related positions. Certain roles may be filled through casting calls, unions, schools, organizations or production partners, while other opportunities are connected to Macy’s or the parade’s production operation.
Balloon handler sounds particularly appealing until you remember that you’re essentially volunteering to spend Thanksgiving morning holding onto a gigantic flying character while millions of people watch.
Still, for anyone searching for how to be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, getting paid to participate is considerably better than standing behind a barricade in Midtown at 6 a.m. clutching a $7 coffee.
The important distinction: there isn’t one universal application that guarantees a paid spot in the parade. Opportunities vary by role and year, and legitimate positions should come through official Macy’s, parade-production or established participating organizations.
So if your Thanksgiving tradition has always involved watching the parade from your couch, perhaps it’s time to change things up.
Instead of asking, “Where can I watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?”, start asking, “How much does it pay to be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?”
Because nothing says Happy Thanksgiving quite like getting paid to hold a giant balloon down Fifth Avenue.
