This year, the giant balloons of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be brought to you virtually!

After more than 90 years of decorating the skies of New York City, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be going virtual this year.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement Monday, September 14, and stated the parade will not be held live to conform with coronavirus health and safety guidelines.

“It will not be the same parade we’re used to,” said de Blasio. “[Macy’s is] reinventing the event for this moment in history. And you will be able to feel the spirit and the joy of that day. Not a live parade but something that will really give us that warmth and that great feeling we have on Thanksgiving Day.”

Planned for November 26, the 94th edition of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be reimagined into a format that will allow viewers to watch the event online and on their television screens. It will not be recorded live and will be similar to New York’s Fourth of July fireworks show, which staged and recorded small, five-minute displays amongst the city’s five boroughs prior to Independence Day. These fireworks displays were recorded at unannounced times in order to prevent large crowds from gathering. 

“Following our successful, safe and innovative production of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, it is our intention to similarly reimagine Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this November," Macy’s said in a statement.

While the department store has not released any other details about the parade, Mayor de Blasio stated more information will be available in the coming days on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade website. On the site, visitors can also learn more about the parade’s history and explore some of the event’s biggest moments.

“There are some things we still can’t do,” said de Blasio. “We’re looking forward to a lot of them coming back in 2021.”

So, are you excited to experience the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade virtually this year? Let us know how you feel in the comments!