No trying to find a parking spot in the city, no massive crowds, no attempting to find a spot to view from…. While it looks like I was at the Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, I was in fact in downtown Stamford, CT this weekend watching those balloons that we’ve all come to love float down the street in the UBS Balloon Spectacular.
Stamford’s annual holiday balloon parade started nineteen years ago and has become one of the largest events of its kind in the country, with giant helium balloons floating through Stamford Downtown.
This year’s Master of Ceremonies was Alan Kalter from the Late Show with David Letterman, who made sure that the crowds yelled “spin” at the balloon handlers who made the massive helium filled characters spin overhead. With Laura Linney, John Benjamin Hickey and Gabourey Sidibe as Grand Marshals the parade started off on a high note and continued to delight for about 2 hours.
Frankly, while I love the excitement of NYC, I much preferred experiencing Kermit, Popeye, and Garfield without the massive crowds and traffic headaches.
Victoria says
OMG this looks like an amazing parade! Jealous!
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
That is the COOLEST thing! You lucky girl!
Leilani says
Love the Wells Fargo coach. I always watch Thanksgiving Day Parades on TV.
Jenn says
What a parade! My toddler would go nuts for the Sesame Street characters.
A Time Out for Mommy- Elaina says
AWESOME! I thought you were in NYC. I live here and have never been to a Thanksgiving Day parade.. I think you get a better view from TV 🙂
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
That is super cool! I love Mr Potatoe Head!!
Jennifer The Quirky Momma says
I love parades but I do not like spending an hour looking for parking! Macy’s puts on a Holiday Parade on Black Friday here, and we always take the kids to that parade. It’s usually not crazy busy since it’s so early in the morning.
Zipporah Sandler says
Jennifer – next year drive out to Stamford. Easy parking and manageable crowds. It was so much fun.
Toni says
I eventually want to go to the one in person in NYC but for now I just watch them all on TV 🙂