Traditional Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Will Be Adjusted This Year — Here's What to Expect

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, organizers of the 94th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade announced adjustments to the annual event to ensure a safe revelry for their beloved parade watchers.

According to its website, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will shift into a "television only" experience, but they will still maintain a striking street performance. Their statement reads:

"Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be modified to safely bring magic to more than 50 million viewers nationwide on Thanksgiving Day."

The American department store chain has also announced that the festivities will be shown through the NBC network on November 26, from 9 in the morning until noon.

Many famous characters loved by children and those young at heart will also be seen on TV. The street performers, clowns, and holiday-themed presentations are among the exciting features of the modified event.

Meanwhile, the New York City Marathon, one of the largest marathons in the U.S., has been canceled.

Macy's statement came after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced in August a possible "scale back" of the city's staples for the holiday season due to the ongoing pandemic.

Aside from Macy's parade, the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree celebration will possibly be toned down. The mayor wanted to prevent crowding as this might trigger another COVID-19 outbreak.

The public official said he wanted the city's traditions to continue despite the current crisis, even if it means that event organizers will do the festivities in a virtual environment.

Abiding by de Blasio's instructions, Macy's had earlier laid out their contingency plans and alternative events. The department store will "reimagine" the event similar to the recent Fourth of July fireworks show.

Instead of a one-day celebration, the Fourth of July celebration organizers reportedly held a five-minute fireworks displays for several days - a solution to avoid social gatherings.

The Thanksgiving Parade in New York City has been a tradition spanning more than 90 years. It is one of the city's major attractions held every November.

Meanwhile, the New York City Marathon, one of the largest marathons in the U.S., has been canceled. The New York Road Runner announced the event's cancellation in June.

While the marathon is an iconic event in the city, De Blasio applauded the race organizers for cancelling the event to prioritize the health of the race participants.

Instead of pushing through with the race on November 1, the organizers moved the event to November 7 next year. In 2019, a record 53,640 runners finished the city's prestigious race.

Ever since de Blasio became the city mayor, his family's biracial background has influenced his political campaigns. The mayor comes from an influential clan interested in politics.

An interesting fact about the mayor is that his wife, Chirlane McCray, is of Black descent. The city's first lady is a progressive thinker who raised socially-conscious children - Chiara, 25, and Dante, 23.