Will This Holiday Family Tradition Be 2020's Next Victim?

In the Levack Household many holiday season questions were answered by the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. When can we put the Christmas tree up? After the parade. When will you look at my Christmas wish list? After the parade? When can I get into all the awesome snacks and treats mom made for Thanksgiving? After the Parade. When will I get to see Santa Clause? At the end of the parade!

I'm the younest of five and in my household and growing up there were very few things we were all on the same page about but the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was non-negotable! The entire Levack clan would gather around the TV and watch as everyone from Mickey Mouse to Bart Simpson would float through the streets of New York City. Everyone knowing as cool as the floats, bands and various celebrities were we were all there for Santa! Here we are YEARS later and eventhough my parents have passed and it's harder and harder to get the family together, I still look forward to the parade every year.

This year the Thanksgiving parade like just about everything else will be "modified" thanks to COVID-19. This year the approximately 3.5 million people that normally flock to NYC to watch the parade in person will not be allowed to attend. According to USA Today the parade organizers feel the differences will be minor for those of us watching at home:

“For New Yorkers who typically see it live and in person, this change for them is that they are going to experience it the same way the rest of the country experiences it," said Susan Tercero, executive producer of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. "But I think for the rest of country, it’s not going to be too different. They’re still going to see the balloons. They’re still going to see the floats. They’re still going to see Santa and Broadway and all of these elements that they’re used to seeing every single year. They’re still going to see those things. They might have some differences in that we’re going to see some social distancing. We’re going to have masks, things like that. But it’s still going to be the parade they know and love.”

Bare with me for a moment while I voice one thing that's both my biggest concern and curiousity, They're cutting the parade workers by about 70%. Which means the workforce that is normally between 8,000 and 10,000 will be cut to about 2,000. So here's my question, what if it's windy? How many people are needy to stabalize those balloons? Could a decent gust of wind shut down the parade or worse cause a catastrophie? Let's all cross our fingers that the parade goes off without any issues and families like mine get at least a few hours to feel "normal" this holiday season.

Here's my TV viewing schedule for Thanksgiving in case you're looking for some TV escape from the family. (All times EST)

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 9 am to noon.
Houston Texans at Detroit Lions 12:30 pm CBS
Washington Football Team at Dallas Cowboys 4:30 pm FOX
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers 8:20 pm FOX