See the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Photos — New Book Features Snaps From Snoopy to Santa Claus! (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

E.A. Kahane and the cover of ‘Come Join the Parade!'

Thanksgiving is a time of many traditions — turkey, football and, of course, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Whether you make the trek to New York City to watch the spectacle in real-time, or tune in from the comfort of your home, the annual event is undoubtedly one of the most memorable parts of the holiday.One photographer captures the magic of the Macy’s Parade in a new photo book.

E.A. Kahane’s book,Come Join the Parade!, available now through Graphicom, brings readers right in the heart of the festivities. Kahane, a longtime New Yorker, has been photographing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from the third floor window of her Upper West Side apartment for decades.

‘Come Join the Parade!’ by E.A. Kahane

Amazon

“We’ve lived here 27 years and I only missed [the parade] twice,” Kahane tells PEOPLE. “There’s no other parade like it. There’s nothing like this. I mean, it’s fantastic. It’s the best public art.”

Kahane had known she wanted to be a photographer ever since she received a Pentax camera when she was a teenager. After moving to Manhattan in her twenties, she worked in fashion and real estate before focusing on photography full-time. Kahane has documented many parades worldwide over the years, but the Macy’s Parade has always been a special one; especially after she moved to an apartment with the perfect view.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Come Join the Parade!includes photographs of some of the parade’s most iconic floats, like Snoopy and Kermit the Frog, as well as fun facts about the parade, which first launched in 1924.

E.A. Kahane

The book, Kahane hopes, will serve as a way to bring people together as well.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“It’s the kind of book, you can enjoy it yourself or you can share it with others,” she says. “This is what I imagine: sitting down together and looking at [the photos] together, almost like you would go to a parade as a family.”

See below for more photos fromCome Join the Parade!

01of 12Snoopy and WoodstockThe Snoopy and Woodstock balloon in 2014.© 2024 E.A. KAHANE“Snoopy’s a big one. Everyone loves Snoopy. He’s very popular,” Kahane says of the iconicPeanutscharacter and balloon. The Snoopy balloon first appeared in the parade in 1968, and has had more appearances than other balloon character, according to Kahane.

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Snoopy and Woodstock

The Snoopy and Woodstock balloon in 2014

“Snoopy’s a big one. Everyone loves Snoopy. He’s very popular,” Kahane says of the iconicPeanutscharacter and balloon. The Snoopy balloon first appeared in the parade in 1968, and has had more appearances than other balloon character, according to Kahane.

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Paddington Bear

The Paddington Bear balloon in 2014

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Spongebob Squarepants

The Spongebob Squarepants balloon in 2015

04of 12Kermit the FrogThe Kermit the Frog balloon in 2012.© 2024 E.A. KAHANE“Kermit made the cover [of the book]. I mean, he’s iconic,” Kahane says of the famous Muppet balloon, which first premiered in the parade in 1977 and was retired in 2012. “All of these balloons will retire at some point. They have a different lifespan. Some are one year, two, three.”“Kermit on the cover, you’re not going to get that again because he is retired and he’s awesome,” Kahane says.

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Kermit the Frog

The Kermit the Frog balloon in 2012

“Kermit made the cover [of the book]. I mean, he’s iconic,” Kahane says of the famous Muppet balloon, which first premiered in the parade in 1977 and was retired in 2012. “All of these balloons will retire at some point. They have a different lifespan. Some are one year, two, three.”“Kermit on the cover, you’re not going to get that again because he is retired and he’s awesome,” Kahane says.

05of 12Tom TurkeyThe Tom Turkey float in 2019.© 2024 E.A. KAHANETom Turkey is an iconic part of the parade since his debut in 1973. Equally as recognizable are theToday Showhosts who co-anchor coverage of the festivities every year.“Tom Turkey kick-starts the parade,” Kahane says of this 2023 photo of co-anchorHoda Kotbon the float. “And I could have picked any image of Tom Turkey, but in this case, because of the history with theToday Show, I put Hoda in there.”

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Tom Turkey

The Tom Turkey float in 2019

Tom Turkey is an iconic part of the parade since his debut in 1973. Equally as recognizable are theToday Showhosts who co-anchor coverage of the festivities every year.“Tom Turkey kick-starts the parade,” Kahane says of this 2023 photo of co-anchorHoda Kotbon the float. “And I could have picked any image of Tom Turkey, but in this case, because of the history with theToday Show, I put Hoda in there.”

06of 12Parade crowd at Central Park WestParade crowd at Central Park West in 2023.© 2024 E.A. KAHANEKahane has captured photos of many of the people that gather to watch the parade. One year, she recalls, she got the perfect shot of a group that had seen her with her camera.“While I’m photographing, they’re going, “Elizabeth!” They’re chanting my name and they’re calling out to me, it’s hysterical,” Kahane says. “Actually, I should have gotten their number to tell them they’re in the book.”

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Parade crowd at Central Park West

Parade crowd at Central Park West in 2023

Kahane has captured photos of many of the people that gather to watch the parade. One year, she recalls, she got the perfect shot of a group that had seen her with her camera.“While I’m photographing, they’re going, “Elizabeth!” They’re chanting my name and they’re calling out to me, it’s hysterical,” Kahane says. “Actually, I should have gotten their number to tell them they’re in the book.”

07of 12Ada Twist, ScientistThe Ada Twist, Scientist balloon in 2021.© 2024 E.A. KAHANE“I think she’s awesome,” Kahane says of Ada Twist, Scientist, the protagonist of the children’s book series of the same name. Twist’s balloon first debuted in the parade in 2021.

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Ada Twist, Scientist

The Ada Twist, Scientist balloon in 2021

“I think she’s awesome,” Kahane says of Ada Twist, Scientist, the protagonist of the children’s book series of the same name. Twist’s balloon first debuted in the parade in 2021.

08of 12Central ParkThe parade at Central Park in 2019.© 2024 E.A. KAHANECentral Park is just one memorable stop along the parade route, and is an even more special spot for Kahane, who met her husband in the famed park.“As we then became serious and knew we would live together and he was looking to acquire a home, I said, ‘“Well, I have to be in the park,’” Kahane says.

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Central Park

The parade at Central Park in 2019

Central Park is just one memorable stop along the parade route, and is an even more special spot for Kahane, who met her husband in the famed park.“As we then became serious and knew we would live together and he was looking to acquire a home, I said, ‘“Well, I have to be in the park,’” Kahane says.

09of 12The Macy’s Holiday ElvesThe Macy’s Holiday Elves in 2012.2024 E.A. KAHANEThe Macy’s Holiday Elves have been a recognizable part of the parade since they first appeared in 2000. Kahane notes that Tony Sarg, a puppeteer who created balloons for the 5th annual parade in 1928, is the man behind the balloon designs that we know and love today.“It was his idea to take the marionette and turn it upside down,” Kahane says. “This is where the creation came from. And in the beginning, there was sticks and air, and later it was helium and strings.”

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The Macy’s Holiday Elves

The Macy’s Holiday Elves in 2012.2024 E.A. KAHANE

The Macy’s Holiday Elves in 2012

2024 E.A. KAHANE

The Macy’s Holiday Elves have been a recognizable part of the parade since they first appeared in 2000. Kahane notes that Tony Sarg, a puppeteer who created balloons for the 5th annual parade in 1928, is the man behind the balloon designs that we know and love today.“It was his idea to take the marionette and turn it upside down,” Kahane says. “This is where the creation came from. And in the beginning, there was sticks and air, and later it was helium and strings.”

10of 12Marching bandMarching band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2013.© 2024 E.A. KAHANE“What I’m really hoping is that anyone who’s in the book, whether you’re a cheerleader or you’re in the marching band, I really hope you find yourself in the book,” Kahane says. A total of 12 marching bands from across the country are chosen to participate in the parade every year.

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Marching band

Marching band at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2013

“What I’m really hoping is that anyone who’s in the book, whether you’re a cheerleader or you’re in the marching band, I really hope you find yourself in the book,” Kahane says. A total of 12 marching bands from across the country are chosen to participate in the parade every year.

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Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus in 2012

12of 12Photographing the ParadeKahane photographing the parade.Amazon“I don’t like to hang out the window in front of the children, but we acquired two rooms just north,” Kahane says, of photographing the parade from her apartment. “And then I would go out there and get this stuff because let me tell you, you have to hang out the window.”“I’ve become part of the parade myself, actually,” she adds.

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Photographing the Parade

Kahane photographing the parade.Amazon

Kahane photographing the parade

“I don’t like to hang out the window in front of the children, but we acquired two rooms just north,” Kahane says, of photographing the parade from her apartment. “And then I would go out there and get this stuff because let me tell you, you have to hang out the window.”“I’ve become part of the parade myself, actually,” she adds.

source: people.com