The best things to do on Thanksgiving in NYC

The annual pageant of giant balloons, floats, cheerleaders, clowns, marching bands, and theatrical performances is one of the best NYC events in November.

Expect to see 34 balloons, 29 floats, and four balloonicles.  Several new balloons are joining the parade this year, including Buzz Lightyear, Mario, Pac-Man, Derpy Tiger and Shrek's Onion Carriage.

Plus, see performers including Ciara, Foreigner, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Busta Rhymes, Shaggy, Mickey Guyton and Teyana Taylor, plus Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Christopher Jackson, Lauren Spencer Smith, Calum Scott, Jewel, Debbie Gibson, Meg Donnelly and Taylor Momsen. 

Here's more about the parade and where to see it.

NYC is packed with holiday markets offering holiday spirit and unique gifts. While fancy Christmas window displays may entice you, NYC's holiday markets offer a chance to shop local. With everything from clothing to holiday ornaments to artwork, there's something for everybody on your holiday shopping list.

Shopping for the perfect gift doesn't have to be stressful; make it fun at these holiday markets.

NYC offers plenty of indoor and outdoor rinks where you can glide and practice your toe jumps. To help narrow down your options, we've listed the top places to go, including the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center or the beloved rink at Central Park.

You can even make a full-day out of it when you shop at one of the city’s best holiday markets, followed by sipping hot chocolate and skating on The Rink at the Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park. If you'd rather stay warm while on the ice, there are many all-weather indoor rinks, including spots that offer roller skating.

If New York is famous for anything around Christmas time, it’s our ornate holiday window displays. As always, stores like Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co. join in to show off their holiday spirit and latest merchandise.

These eyepopping displays are works of art with mosaics, sculptural elements and gorgeous, glittering colors.

Not much of a home chef? No worries, NYC restaurants do Thanksgiving right.

There are a plethora of NYC’s best restaurants to choose from for meals over the course of the holiday weekend (and all year long). If you’re specifically looking for somewhere memorable to eat on the big day, this list is a good place to start.

Meander through Manhattan's iconic greenspace to admire the autumnal energy. In fall, look for a bevy of mums at the Conservatory Garden and colorful leaves atop the Mall. 

Tourists and locals love to frequent one of the city’s best parks for its various lawns, fountains, walking paths, trees and picnic spots. On Thanksgiving Day, bundle up and stroll through this beautiful spot. 

Instead of spending all your cash in a city where rent takes so much money anyway, we’ve come up with a list of foolproof things to do in NYC that are guaranteed to spark more joy than a cozy sweater. Yes, even if it’s 50 percent off!

We recommend opting outside on Black Friday. The Urban Park Rangers are hosting hikes across the five boroughs. Green-Wood Cemetery also offers a Post-Turkey Day Walking Tour.

Leave the gray of the city behind and step into a colorful world of Korean folktales at Genesis House in the Meatpacking District. The venue just launched its latest immersive installation, this one called CHROMA: Tales Between Hues.

The exhibition was inspired by the Obangsaek color spectrum, Korea's traditional palette representing the five cardinal directions, elements and cosmic balance—and it's an absolutely transfixing sight to see. The team at Genesis collaborated with actress and singer Ashley Park who brought her own Korean heritage and her passion for storytelling to the exhibition.

See CHROMA: Tales Between Hues for free at Genesis House (40A 10th Ave. in the Meatpacking District) through December 14. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 11am-7pm with no reservations required.

On the day after Thanksgiving, Dyker Heights undergoes a transformation, as residents along several blocks in this Brooklyn neighborhood festoon their homes with elaborate holiday decorations.

And we're not talking about a Christmas tree or a simple nativity scene: Among the kitschy pieces you might see are life-size reindeer, huge inflatable Santas and snowmen, Christmas carols blaring from loudspeakers and tens of thousands of lights.

Although it’s no longer the tallest building in New York City, this world-famous landmark remains a Manhattan icon for good reason—and it's open on Thanksgiving Day!

The main deck on the 86th floor offers stunning 360-degree views of the Hudson and East Rivers, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and more. If you can’t get high enough, head to the 102nd floor's indoor observation deck for a full view of Central Park. On a clear day, views stretch up to 80 miles.

Also see photos of celebrity visits and learn about the 3,400 people who built the skyscraper at amazing speed. Adult tickets start at $44.