Pop Culture Nods to Marvelous Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Image via YouTube

While millions check to see if the turkey is done and sample items from the dessert table, many will head to New York City for a time-honored tradition that has been well documented throughout the annals of pop culture: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

NBC offers that more than 3.5 million visitors will corral around the parade route, taking in all the pomp, pageantry and frigid conditions.

Now for those who are heading out for the day, Time Out New York supplied some details of note.

From the pre-parade balloon inflation to the best way to watch the floats and festivities, they seem to have you covered. However, there are those who can’t be bothered to travel far from the oven.

Thankfully, one of the most beloved holiday tourist attractions has been brought to the living room in the form of classic scenes from television and cinema.

Here is a brief breakdown of a few:

Seinfeld (The Mom and Pop Store):

We all like to feel wanted, but it was Jerry’s compulsion to wiggle his way into Tim Whatley’s party that ultimately doomed poor Woody Woodpecker. Jerry, as it turns out, is a real troublemaker.

Fans will recall that a painful toothache takes Jerry to the party to find relief from a dentist who might be there having a good time. A quick examination results in Woody Woodpecker getting punctured.

Sadly, that means Mr. Pitt, who won a chance at holding onto the balloon thanks to Elaine’s expertise in big band music (we love the more convoluted episodes), doesn’t get to fulfill his childhood dream.

Now that might be the “Thanksgiving” episode of one of the greatest comedies ever made, but the following is a scene that is fairly appropriate for the season: Kramer as a big, fat turkey:

Friends (The One Where Underdog Gets Away):

Anyone ever see an 80-foot dog floating over New York City? Well be careful if you are ever given the opportunity and always remember to bring the keys:

However, my favorite Thanksgiving moment from the show has to be Joey conquering a full bird and the hilarious ramifications that followed:

Miracle on 34^th Street:

A classic Christmas movie gets its start at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, where Kris Kringle gets to take the reins for a bit.

Whether watching live or on television, perhaps you can try and see the passing floats as real giants, like in the fairy tales.

Tower Heist:

Unfortunately, I am not one of the 15 people who actually watched this movie, so I have to take Mike Giuliano of the Baltimore Sun on his word when he stated back in 2011, “Movie stars, tall buildings, piles of money and even the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade will keep your eyes on the screen.”

As OLV spotted in December 2010, the Macy’s Parade actually ran down the streets a week late for a re-run of sorts. Here is some footage of the movie being filmed:

Green Day:

Now before we leave, we like to give you a song about eating turkey while watching the parade in your most comfortable attire: smiles and pajamas.

OK, we lied.

The song is merely entitled Macy’s Day Parade. It’s actually about something far gloomier than a parade running through the streets to shouts and cheers.

One website quotes Billie Joe Armstrong as once stating, “It's sort of about the lies and deceptions that you have growing up and how you have to find your own way around.”

On that note, pass the turkey and some pie, and don’t lie about how much dark meat is left on the platter.

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