Why I Still Wake Up at Dawn for the Macy’s Parade

Thanksgiving Week Is Here — And So Is My Favorite Tradition

It is officially Thanksgiving week! On the show we’ve been talking about holiday traditions—especially the Thanksgiving foods you think are totally overrated. But for me, the holiday has always been about something else. Yes, I love the food, the football, the family… but there’s one tradition that has had my heart since I was a little girl.

My Longtime Love Affair With the Macy’s Parade

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with parades—especially the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. While everyone else was still half-asleep, I was already wide awake, glued to the TV, waiting for those giant floats to take over the streets of New York.

There was just something magical about it. That mix of music, balloons, marching bands, and the feeling that the holidays were officially here. I’d wake up early on purpose to make sure I didn’t miss a single moment.

A dream of mine has always been to see the Macy's Day Parade live in action. When I was a News Reporter I thought it was the coolest thing for someone to be reporting on the square of Manhattan one of the biggest events of the year... I always thought that reporter had the coolest job to be able to do that.

The Sights, the Sounds, the Memories

I still remember the smell of my mom cooking in the kitchen while the parade played in the background. The excitement of knowing family was coming over. The performers, the new floats, the celebrities waving from the street… all of it felt larger than life. I remember always loving the Rockettes but thinking to myself man aren't they freezing?

Every year, I would even document which floats were new and which celebrities were performing. Total parade superfan behavior, and I’m honestly still proud of it.

A Dream That Started Young

Coming from a TV background, it probably makes sense that I always dreamed of being that reporter standing on Main Street in Manhattan, bundled up and broadcasting live from the parade route. If I can’t broadcast it one day, I’d love to just see it in person—finally witnessing the magic I’ve loved since childhood.

A Big Year Ahead for the Parade

This year marks the 99th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade—next year is the big 100. And yes, I’ll still be waking up early to watch, just like that little girl who never wanted to miss a moment.

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