Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is going to look a little, no, a lot different this year. Due to the pandemic, the parade will not have its usual massive crowds of people.
The show, or the parade, in this case, must go on. The 94th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be broadcasted as a televised event. This will allow millions of Americans to watch their favorite floats, Broadway characters, and celebrities from the comfort of their own home. All of those participating in the day’s events are regularly being tested for coronavirus and adhering to safety guidelines. The popular balloons, that have become a staple for the parade, are now going to be flown by vehicles instead of balloon handlers. Local high school bands that regularly participate in the parade have also been replaced by professional marching bands from New York, as no one who is under 18 will be able to take part in the parade.
With a steady increasing COVID-19 infection rate, New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio warns that people should consider canceling Thanksgiving traditions. One of the longtime hosts of The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Today anchor Hoda Kotb, isn’t letting COVID-19 ruin her Thanksgiving fun. Kotb will still host this year’s parade, “We’re going to bring our energy and make up for the crowd,” Cotb said in an NBC virtual press conference.
The Knockturnal got a chance to speak with Kotb, along with Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier, and executive producer of the Macy’s Day Parade, Susan Tercero.
I opted out of asking about the parade to ask the questions that really mattered, “What’s your stance on sweet cornbread vs. regular cornbread? And what are your thoughts on Fried Turkey?”
With laughter, Kotb said “I lived in Louisiana and there’s nothing better than a fried turkey or a tur-duckin, which is a combination of turkey, duck, and chicken … I’m a sweet cornbread person, so I’m going to weigh in on sweet cornbread.”
Miss America 2020, Camille Schrier explains that she has never experienced fried turkey before, although she says she is hopeful she will try it soon. “I definitely am a sweet cornbread fan,” Schrier says, “I moved to Virginia for college and I really got immersed in the whole Southern cornbread culture.”
Executive producer Susan Tercero says that sweet cornbread is “important,” however fried turkey wasn’t a tradition growing up. “That just wasn’t our tradition, but I wouldn’t dismiss it at all, I would absolutely take that fried turkey any day of the week.”
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air Thursday, November 26 on NBC from 9 am to 12 pm in all time zones.
Performances from the casts from Hamilton, Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill and Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations will air during the parade. You can also expect to see performances by Dolly Parton, Leslie Odom Jr., Ally Brooke, Jimmie Allen, and Noah Cyrus, Patti LaBelle, Pentatonix, Bebe Rexha, and Jordin Sparks. Lauren Alaina, Sofia Carson, CNCO, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, Karol G, Tori Kelly, Ella Mai, Sebastián Yatra, Brett Young, and more are all scheduled to participate in the event as well.
