The NY Phil holiday tradition returns as the Orchestra performs Handel’s Messiah. Masaaki Suzuki conducts the Philharmonic and soprano Sherezade Panthaki, countertenor Reginald Mobley, tenor Leif Aruhn-Solén, baritone Jonathon Adams, and the Handel and Haydn Society Chorus.
The NY Phil annual tradition returns with former Philharmonic Principal Trumpet Philip Smith as host, conductor, and trumpet. These family-friendly concerts (for ages four and older) bring the power and joy of brass to holiday favorites, classics by Holst and Bizet, and a world premiere of a piece by Ricardo Mollá.
These concerts feature Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets projected in high definition while the NY Phil performs John Williams’s original score, conducted by Justin Freer. Part of The Art of the Score.
All concerts will take place at the Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall.
For more information on Holidays at NY Phil, click here.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® returns to usher in the start of the holiday season at the sound of 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Let’s Have A Parade™! On Thursday, November 24 at 9 AM, the 96th edition of Macy’s iconic spectacle will bring the nation together in celebration with a dazzling lineup featuring giant character helium balloons, fantastic floats, showstopping marching bands, high-spirited performance groups, whimsical clowns, music stars and the one-and-only Santa Claus.
Bluey, the star of the hit series Bluey will soar above the streets of New York City as a new giant character balloon in the 96th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®.
“Since its first march in 1924 and through the decades, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has served to bring joy to the millions who gather nationwide each year to experience it with friends and family,” said Will Coss, Executive Producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “This November, as we once again set the stage for the start of the holiday season, we are thrilled to showcase another spectacle full of magic and wonder that will help create everlasting memories with loved ones during this special time of year.”
The magic comes together with Macy’s signature ingredients. This year’s 96th Macy’s Parade will feature more than 5,000 volunteers, 16 giant character balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and heritage inflatables, more than 700 clowns, 12 marching bands and 10 performance groups, a host of musical stars, and the one-and-only Santa Claus.
Stars on 34th Street
The holiday season’s biggest stage for entertainment is the Macy’s Parade and this year a host of stars will join the lineup to celebrate with the nation. Joining the festivities will be Paula Abdul; Big Time Rush; Cam; Jordan Davis; Blue’s Clues & You! host Josh Dela Cruz; Gloria, Sasha and Emily Estefan; Jimmy Fallon & The Roots; Fitz and the Tantrums; Kirk Franklin; Mario Lopez and family; Ziggy Marley; Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles; the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street®; Sean Paul; the cast of Peacock’s Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg); Joss Stone; Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue; Jordin Sparks; Dionne Warwick; Betty Who; and Santa Claus. With additional talent to be announced.
Ballooning Icons
Conceived during the Parade’s infancy, the giant character balloons have become a signature of the annual celebration. Since 1927, the world’s most popular characters have been transformed into high-flying art in the sky. Originally inspired by marionettes, the Parade’s balloons first debuted as upside down puppets filled with air which were carried down the Parade route on sticks. The design later evolved to include helium, making them high-flying giants. Over time Macy’s artists innovated creating several types of inflatables including balloonheads (inflated heads sitting atop of a costumed participant), balloonicles (hybrid inflatables with vehicles inside) and most recently, trycaloons (tandem tricycles with an inflated balloon character).
New giants joining the line-up this year include Bluey by BBC; Diary of A Wimpy Kid®by Abrams Books; DINO and Baby DINO by Sinclair Oil; and Stuart the Minion from Illumination.
Making return appearances to the skies above New York City are giant balloon favorites including Ada Twist, Scientist by Netflix; Astronaut Snoopy by PEANUTS Worldwide; The Boss Baby from DreamWorks Animation; Goku by Toei Animation; a Funko Pop!-inspired Grogu™ by Funko and in partnership with Lucasfilm;Chase from PAW Patrol®by Nickelodeon; Pillsbury Doughboy™by Pillsbury™; Red Titan from “Ryan’s World” by Sunlight Entertainment and pocket.watch; Ronald McDonald®by McDonald’s®USA; Papa Smurf from The Smurfs™by Nickelodeon; Pikachu™& Eevee™ by The Pokémon Company International; and SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary by Nickelodeon.
The inflatable lineup also includes a new balloonicle of Striker, the U.S. Soccer Star by FOX Sports. Returning inflatables include Sinclair’s Baby DINOs, the Go Bowling™balloonicles; Hot Air Dolly by Universal Orlando Resort, Smokey Bear by the USDA Forest Service; and Macy’s very own special reindeer Tiptoe and Toni the Bandleader Bear.
Floating Fantasy
The Parade’s signature floats transport spectators to magical worlds. These creations take a theme to new heights bringing magic to the streets of New York City and into homes nationwide. Conceived and crafted by the incredible artisans of Macy’s Parade Studio – a design and production facility that includes carpenters, engineers, electricians, painters, animators, balloon technicians, sculptors, metal fabricators, scenic and costume designers – this year’s line-up of floats showcase the animated theatricality that the Macy’s Parade has become world-famous for.
This year five new floats will debut in the Turkey Day celebration. The floating wonders along with their scheduled performers include Baby Shark by Pinkfong and Nickelodeon (Ziggy Marley); Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party by Toys“R”Us (Jordin Sparks); People of First Light by Macy’s; Supersized Slumber by Netflix (Ballet Hispánico); and The Wondership by Wonder (Cam).
The returning float roster and its scheduled performers include 1-2-3 Sesame Street®by Sesame Workshop™ (The cast and Muppets of Sesame Street); Big City Cheer by Spirit of America Productions (Miss America 2022 Emma Broyles); Big Turkey Spectacular by Jennie-O (Paula Abdul); Birds of a Feather Stream Together by Peacock® (Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula Borg); Blue’s Clues & You! by Nickelodeon (Josh Dela Cruz); The Brick-changer by The LEGO® Group (Fitz and the Tantrums); Celebration Gator by the Louisiana Office of Tourism (Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue); Christmas in Town Square by Lifetime® (Kirk Franklin); Colossal Wave of Wonder by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions (Sean Paul); Deck the Halls by Balsam Hill® (Gloria, Sasha and Emily Estefan); Elf Pets®by The Lumistella Company®; Everyone’s Favorite Bake Shop by Entenmann’s®; Fantasy Chocolate Factory by Kinder™ (Big Time Rush); Harvest in the Valley by Green Giant® (Jordan Davis); Heartwarming Holiday Countdown by Hallmark Channel (Joss Stone); Her Future is STEM-Sational by Olay (Betty Who); Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree (Macy’s Choir); Magic Meets the Sea by Disney Cruise Line (Captain Minnie Mouse and Friends); Santa’s Sleigh (Santa Claus); Snoopy’s Doghouse by PEANUTS Worldwide; Tom Turkey (Mario Lopez and family); Toy House of Marvelous Milestones by New York Life (Dionne Warwick); and Winter Wonderland in Central Park (Jimmy Fallon & The Roots).
Strike Up the Band
Bringing the beat to the holiday revelry will be a selection of the most gifted marching ensembles. Joining the line-up are Benedict College (Columbia, SC), Bourbon County High School (Paris, KY), Carmel High School (Carmel, IN), Clovis North Educational Center (Fresno, CA), Delfines Marching Band (Veracruz, Mexico), Macy’s Great American Marching Band (United States), NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY), The Queer Big Apple Corps (New York, NY), South Dakota State University (Brookings, SD), Tarpon Springs High School (Tarpon Springs, FL), University of Missouri (Columbia, MO), and Vandegrift High School (Austin, TX).
Performance Spotlight
Taking entertainment to the next level will be the Parade’s beloved performance groups who bring joy to the masses. This year’s lineup will feature performances from the dazzling dancers of Ballet Hispánico, the hilarious Big Apple Circus, the rhythmic movement of Boss Kids, the artistry of the Fusion Winter Guard, two-steps and high kicks from the Kilgore Rangerettes, the puppeteering skills of Phantom Limb, the iconic stepping of The Sigma Gamma Rho Centennial Steppers, the energetic moves of the St. John’s Dance Team, and the exuberance of Spirit of America Cheer and Spirit of America Dance Stars.
See the Magic Live
For spectators wishing to enjoy the live spectacle in New York City, the 96th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off from its traditional starting line at 77th Street and Central Park West. From there the procession will march down its signature 2.5-mile route taking it from Central Park West to Columbus Circle, turning onto Central Park South and then marching down 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west and end at 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square.
Public viewing will be set up along designated portions of the route and managed by the NYPD. Spectators should avoid bringing large bags, umbrellas, backpacks, and strollers. The public entering viewing streets may be subject to security search. For additional viewing information, please visit macys.com/parade.
A Nationwide Spectacle
For decades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been one of the nation’s most anticipated and watched holiday celebrations. Viewers nationwide can catch all the action via a special presentation on NBC and streaming on Peacock, from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., in all time zones. The TODAY Show’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will be back to host the Emmy®-Award winning celebration.
In order to create a more inclusive experience for blind and visually impaired viewers, NBCUniversal is proud to present the full NBC broadcast with live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), provided by Descriptive Video Works. The broadcast will be available with additional audio narration, describing the rich visuals of the Parade.
The pomp and pageantry marching down the streets of New York City is only a portion of the day’s entertainment. Broadway’s best shows will also perform for the national broadcast audience. The show will kick off with a spectacular opening number from Lea Michele and the cast of Broadway’s Funny Girl. With additional Broadway performances from showstoppers A Beautiful Noise, Some Like It Hot,andin celebration of its 25th anniversary Disney’s The Lion King. Rounding out the theatrics will be the iconic Radio City Rockettes®.
And the treats keep coming when the stars of Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock on Apple TV+, appear throughout the broadcast. Join Uncle “Travelling” Matt as he goes on an epic journey away from Fraggle Rock friends and family to learn the meaning of the “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day” holiday and the impossible to answer question: “What is a parade?”
#MacysParade
For an insider’s look at the holiday procession, fans nationwide should visit macys.com/parade for regular updates including behind-the-scenes content, interactive historical information, educational activities, and more. Fans can also follow @macys on various social media networks and join the conversation using #MacysParade.
Cozy Igloos by Prime Video are heated, clear structures decorated with seasonal decor that provide an intimate setting to enjoy festive food and drinks in a private space with some of the best views of the iconic Bryant Park skating rink and Bank of America Winter Village (Photo Credit: Angelito Jusay for Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park)
NYC’s celebrated Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, featuring the city’s only free-admission skating rink, holiday market and delicious food offerings, has returned for its 20th season, Friday, October 29, 2021 – Sunday, March 6, 2022.
As the first-ever ICELESS curling experience, the Curling Café offers guests a dedicated curling lane where two teams of up to 4 people each can experience “street” or iceless curling for 90 minutes. Each lane is accompanied by a private, heated dome where their teams can warm up and share seasonal drinks and bites between games.
Cozy Igloos by Prime Video are heated, clear structures decorated with seasonal decor that provide an intimate setting for family and friends to enjoy festive food and drinks – including mulled wine and hot chocolate – in a private space with some of the best views of the iconic skating rink.
More information and reservations for the Curling Café and Cozy Igloos by Prime Video at Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park can be found at wintervillage.org.
Curling Café and Cozy Igloo adult and family packages, for either 1-4 or 5-8 guests, will be available and must be reserved online. Hours for Cozy Igloos are Monday through Friday from noon to 9:30pm and from 11:30am to 11pm on weekends. Hours for The Curling Cafe are from 3:30pm – 9pm Wednesday through Friday, 11:30am – 9pm on Saturday, and 11:30am – 7pm on Sunday.
All igloos and equipment will be sanitized by the park’s dedicated team between each and every booking. Please note that reservations cannot accommodate parties larger than 8 people unless you book more than 1 dome. For more information on Bryant Park’s safety practices, visit wintervillage.org.
While still proceeding with an abundance of caution for the safety of its guests, Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is thrilled to be welcoming back its most popular attractions this winter season:
The Rink: the only free-admission ice skating rink in NYC is open daily. The Rink is completely outdoors, and skate time and rentals can be reserved in advance online. New skate reservation dates will be released on a rolling basis throughout the season. Masks are encouraged, and Bryant Park is continuing to implement additional cleaning protocols throughout the day to ensure high-touch surfaces and shared rental equipment are sanitized and safe for use.
Holiday Shops: the open-air holiday market are open daily through January 2, 2022, and features more than 170 new and returning merchants.
Small Business Spotlight presented by Bank of America: four New York City minority-owned small businesses with annual revenue of $1 million or less will have the chance to showcase their products in a rent-free booth, made possible by Bank of America, as part of this season’s Holiday Shops.
NYC’s celebrated Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, featuring the city’s only free-admission skating rink, holiday market and delicious food offerings, has returned for its 20th season, Friday, October 29, 2021 – Sunday, March 6, 2022. While still proceeding with an abundance of caution for the safety of its guests, Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is thrilled to be welcoming back its most popular attractions this winter season:
The Rink: the only free-admission ice skating rink in NYC is open daily. The Rink is completely outdoors, and skate time and rentals can be reserved in advance online. New skate reservation dates will be released on a rolling basis throughout the season. Masks are encouraged, and Bryant Park is continuing to implement additional cleaning protocols throughout the day to ensure high-touch surfaces and shared rental equipment are sanitized and safe for use.
Holiday Shops: the open-air holiday market are open daily through January 2, 2022, and features more than 170 new and returning merchants.
Small Business Spotlight presented by Bank of America: fourNew York City minority-owned small businesses with annual revenue of $1 million or less will have the chance to showcase their products in a rent-free booth, made possible by Bank of America, as part of this season’s Holiday Shops.
Last year’s featured small businesses were sustainable candle and soap company TREE*STAR, Brooklyn-based bakeshop Annie Mae’s Bakery, custom-designed hat shop Harlem’s Heaven Hats, and Tibet Tree of Life, a business selling incense, shawls, and other products made in the Himalayan region.
The Lodge by Prime Video: a covered, outdoor après skate escape is where visitors can cozy up with a festive cocktail, enjoy delicious food, watch the ice skaters or admire the tree.
Celebrate the season by indulging your sweet tooth on Sugartooth’s Holiday Market Dessert Tour, enjoying the best seasonal sweets and treats New York City has to offer.
The tour, an annual favorite, starts in Herald Square near Macy’s, whose holiday window displays are iconic symbols of the holiday season in the city. Learn about the history behind the store’s famous holiday window displays while sampling some of the area’s most delectable desserts.
Stopping at some of the lesser-known hidden gem bakeries in the NYC area, guests will experience the culinary traditions of a wide variety of countries, including France, Germany, and Belgium, as they taste hot chocolate, gingerbread cookies, and so much more! The tour concludes at the Union Square Holiday Market, the area’s most exciting holiday market for shopping and other holiday treats. An added bonus of taking the tour; guests get to skip the long lines at the culinary booths!
From the sweets to the imagery, this tour captures the magical essence of New York during the holiday season, making it the perfect festive activity for visitors and locals alike. “The holidays are all about spending time with the people most important to us. Our annual Sugartooth Holiday Market Dessert Tour provides a unique opportunity for friends and families to come together to enjoy the city’s sweetest festive treats and get into the holiday spirit,” said Sugartooth Tours co-owner Sarah Rolleston.
For those unable to make the tour, Sugartooth Tours’ gift certificates make a delectable stocking stuffer idea. Give a one of a kind culinary experience as a gift to your favorite foodie or sweet-tooth, by purchasing a gift certificate on the company’s website. Gift certificates are good for any tour and can be used year round.
Tickets are $50 and include all tastings. Gift certificates and tickets may be purchased on the company’s website http://www.sugartoothtours.com. This year’s holiday tour will be offered on Sundays at 2:00 pm from Thanksgiving to Christmas, and by request for groups of three or more on weekend afternoons from Thanksgiving to December 23rd. Please check the company’s website calendar for an updated schedule.
For more information on the Sugartooth Holiday Market Dessert Tour or Sugartooth Tours, visit www.sugartoothtours.com, email info@sugartoothtours.comor call 917-856-67671.
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