Every Thanksgiving, my dad films the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He is a television cameraman, and the parade is one of the few jobs that I get to see him work on. He usually goes to New York the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to set up the large camera crane, used to get the best shots and angles of the floats and balloons on display as they march proudly down the streets of the city. We walk to Columbus Circle and stay there for the duration of the parade. Since my dad is working the job, we (my mom, cousins and I) get special credentials to let us through the police barricades. We always get there early to be in the front row, to see all the action as it goes on. It's so exciting to see the waving celebrities, giant balloons and floats. Many marching bands from schools across the country march with enthusiasm and bring exciting, loud music to the streets of cheering crowds.

I love the ornate floats, larger than life balloons and seeing the costumes worn by over 300 people participating in the parade. Just last year, I saw Panic! At The Disco and Shawn Mendes, and Ariana Grande two years ago.

The parade ends every year with a large sled pulled by even larger animatronic reindeer. In the sled is a waving and an exuberant Santa and Mrs. Claus, reminding us that the holiday season is just around the corner.