New York prepares for 82nd Macy's parade

People planning Christmas shopping trips to New York around the end of November will see the festive period get underway with one of the city's best-loved events.

The 82nd Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade will this year be held on November 27th, a date that will see some of the most famous streets in New York inundated with tourists and locals alike.

Visitors hoping to see the parade as it begins should gather at 77th Street and Central Park West, where the procession will set off before heading to Columbus Circle and turning onto Broadway.

The spectacular collection of floats, balloons, bands, performance groups and other sights will then turn west on 34th Street, passing Herald Square to finish at 7th Avenue.

Good viewing locations include the west side of the street at Columbus Circle, between 38th and 58th streets on Broadway and the south side of 34th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue.

The highlights of this year's parade will include giant balloons of Shrek, Scooby Doo and Kermit the Frog, Big Apple Circus wagons and floats themed around Santa Claus and the Statue of Liberty.

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