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Thankgsgiving Day Updates: See the ballloons up close without the crowds

11/27/08 - By Anna Fader

Two last-minute updates I wanted to share:

South Street Seaport Ice Skating Rink, which was supposed to open tomorrow, Friday, November 28th has been postponed. The rink is not set up yet. I'll keep you posted.

Also, I got a great tip from my friend, Jonathan, last night on how to see the giant Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons up close without the crowds of the inflation station.

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After the parade is over the balloons are taken off to the side streets around 34th St at Herald Square to be deflated. By this time everyone is tired from standing around for 6 hours for the parade and it's over: People don't hang around to watch the balloons get deflated. You can watch the giant balloons eerily shrink without the mobs that come to see the balloons get inflated the night before. Let me know if you try it.

I will be posting our weekend events later in the day for tomorrow. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

About the Author

Anna Fader

Founder of Mommy Poppins

A fourth-generation Brooklynite, Anna started Mommy Poppins in 2007 to help families find the best things to do with kids in NYC, with a particular emphasis on sharing activities that are free, affordable, and enriching. The site, used by millions of families, has grown to become the ultimate resource for parents in the major US cities, plus travel guides for 100s of destinations.

Anna is a believer in the magic of summer camps, traveling with kids, and that you can raise kids on a budget and still have a rich life full of amazing memories. Anna's first Mommy Poppins book, The Young Traveler's Journal and Activity Book, published in 2025 and co-written with her daughter, Amelia Eigerman, brings that ethos to life, in addition to this website.

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