Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Behind-the-scenes at the season's signature parade.
The sun was just starting to rise when my dad and I hopped out of our taxi on Fifth Avenue and 34th Street on Thanksgiving Day. We went from dark to day when we walked onto the NBC broadcast set where Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer were getting ready to announce the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.
I was the only reporter who got to interview the Today Show hosts right before the parade! I felt so excited. I still can’t believe that I met them. They were so nice and easy to talk with. Check out the video above!
The scene on 34th Street was really hectic, with police cars trolling up and down the street, stagehands running around with last minute fixes, and rehearsals under way before the sun even came up. I walked in front of the cast from the Broadway revival of Hair! as they prepared for their performance.
After dozens of floats and giant helium balloons, the parade came to an end with the final float—the sleigh carrying Santa Claus. It was a picture-perfect winter wonderland moment with white confetti flying everywhere. I felt like all of the brightly colored paper landed in my hair. By the time we left, there must have been five different colors and shapes of confetti littering the ground.
The Santa Claus float stayed in front of the grandstand as people began to leave, so we followed them onto the street. It was almost like we were walking in the parade! People were still in the stands, throwing confetti and screaming with excitement.
After getting up at 5 a.m., interviewing stars like Matt and Meredith, and covering the two-hour-long parade, I was exhausted. But there was still a story to write, as well as this blog! Hope you enjoy them both.
—Alexis Wiseman
nice video
Posted by: christopher | 12/04/2009 at 11:53 AM
I like this website Im going to write it on a piece of paper and at home ill go on it almost every single day and i will bookmark it maybe
Posted by: not telling my name | 12/04/2009 at 11:57 AM
So cool. I wish I was there.
Posted by: annie | 12/04/2009 at 01:10 PM
Awesome I wish was there.
Posted by: annie | 12/04/2009 at 01:20 PM
Cool... I was in NYC for Thanksgiving too but didn't go.
Posted by: Miranda | 12/04/2009 at 10:47 PM
Thats so awesome! I'm super jealous!
Posted by: Topanga | 12/08/2009 at 06:06 PM
Thanks guys! It was a lot of fun. Did you watch it on TV?
Posted by: (KR) Alexis | 12/09/2009 at 05:33 PM
Hey Alexis GREAT Job! I miss doing those fun event for Scholastic. Enjoy it while it lasts. :)
Posted by: Michael G. | 01/07/2010 at 08:14 PM
Wow! What a great opportunity. I wish I were there.
Posted by: Lexi | 01/11/2010 at 09:14 PM
cool.
Posted by: Nahall | 01/16/2010 at 05:30 PM
AWESOME! -coooooooooooookeeeeeeeeeeeelaaaaaaaaaakeyyyyyyyyyyy
Posted by: shabalabadingdong | 02/12/2010 at 07:07 AM
Your video was AWESOME...we loved it, it was very nice! You did a very good job as a reporter, thanks for showing us the parade so we could see it in our classroom. We would like to see you do it again this year!
Posted by: Mrs. Welch's Class | 11/16/2010 at 02:51 PM
Thanks for your comment! It was as much fun as it looked. I'm so happy that you and your class enjoyed the video! Stay tuned for more fun stories in 2011!
Posted by: Kid Reporter Alexis Wiseman | 12/18/2010 at 09:18 AM
Who was the Country singer on the paddle boat float in this years Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade? She has a beautiful voice! She is gorgeous! Very Nice...What a fun parade! Great work!
Posted by: Tim | 12/01/2011 at 11:48 PM
I LIKE THE PARACDD
Posted by: MOINEE | 12/21/2011 at 11:33 AM