Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The whole of the US celebrates Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday in November) with family gatherings, turkey feasts and American football.

In New York City, you can add the fantastic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - the only event where you'll catch the Pink Panther, Spiderman and Woody Woodpecker hanging out together.

The colourful parade is one of the city's best. It features clowns, floats, marching bands and plenty of celebrities who gather for the event. But the real stars of the show are the famous "falloons" (a balloon/float hybrid). Gigantic helium balloons, representing every cartoon hero you can think of, reach high into the sky as they tower over the crowds and make their way downtown.

The parade follows a set route that starts on 77th St and proceeds down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, then down Broadway to Macy's at 34th St, finishing on 7th Ave. Crowds thicken as the day progresses, so it's wise to find your spot early in the morning. Prime spots are at Columbus Circle and Times Square, but there are also good views from Duffy Square (at the intersection of 7th Ave at 46th St).