The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has always been a central part of the holiday festivities for those in the New York and New Jersey area. For many, it is something that families watch together on Thanksgiving morning, either in person or on TV. However, what many students might be unaware of is the relationship between the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Stevens. Every year, under the guidance of Dean Kenneth Nilsen, students have the opportunity to be a part of this spectacular parade. Students can choose to what degree they would like to participate and undergo training accordingly. The Stute had the chance to interview Kevin Castner Jr., who was heavily involved in this year’s cohort of Stevens students working the “Ronald McDonald” float.
When asked about the origins of Stevens involvement, Castner Jr. explained how Dean Nilsen has been partaking in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the past 30 years, and is known by many students for his love of the parade. For this reason, it is now a custom for students who express interest in working the parade to be recruited by Dean Nilsen for the big day.
Stevens students can take on various roles, as explained by Castner Jr., “I was the only current student who was a balloon handler to my knowledge,” stated Castner Jr. He went on to say how Alex Rubino, a recent graduate from Stevens, was another balloon handler. In addition to current Stevens students helping out, two older alumni played a big role on the inflation team. Everyone, despite their unique roles, all supported the “Ronald McDonald” balloon.
Being involved in a massive event such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is actually fairly easy if you attend Stevens. There is no formal selection process. Instead, if you are interested in participating in any capacity, reach out to Dean Nilsen early on. Castner Jr. explained how the Dean is looking for a massive army of ducks to partake in this tradition for next year.
The last question that many people would likely have is in regard to the preparation necessary for taking on a role within the parade and the time required for it. Castner Jr., who was a balloon handler, shares that there were several optional trainings throughout the year that allowed him to get a feel for what the job entailed. For other, more involved roles such as being part of the vehicle or inflation teams, a lot more trainings and times were required. Additionally, there would be an obligation to help set up a day in advance depending on your team assignment.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has always been the perfect segway into the holiday season. Getting the chance to partake in such a momentous event can be incredibly rewarding. Castner Jr. told the Stute how his favorite part of the parade was waving back to little kids who were eagerly waiting and excited to see the Ronald McDonald float. For this reason, and because of the great energy everyone brought, Castner Jr. definitely recommends that anyone on campus even slightly interested should give the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade a try.
