The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took on a different look this year by restricting in-person attendance and turning it into a television-only event due to the ongoing public health crisis. 

The adjustments made for the annual holiday event came much to the disappointment of residents with Excel at Woodbury for Rehabilitation and Nursing, a 123-bed skilled nursing facility in Woodbury, NY, who enjoy watching the event and its in-person attendees each year. 

So instead, staff members stepped in and created their own version of the parade — with balloons and all — in an effort to bring residents joy this holiday season. 

“The residents were thrilled with the parade and they so appreciated the effort made by the staff to make sure they did not miss out on the traditional Thanksgiving Day parade,” an Excel at Woodbury spokeswoman told McKnight’s Long-Term Care News

The parade was held the day before Thanksgiving and featured a collection of giant balloons, which were “not as big as the Macy’s balloons, but they were BIG,” she noted. 

The balloon lineup featured Hello Kitty, Elmo, the Grinch, Spider-Man, the Nutcracker and, of course, Santa Claus. The parade also included a turkey, snowman, menorah and unicorn. 

In addition, staff members dressed in costumes to coordinate with their balloon’s theme and blasted music around the facility as they traveled through the halls. 

The event “was the highlight of [the residents’] day and helped get everyone into a holiday spirit during this difficult time,” according to the spokeswoman. 

We can’t wait to see what they have planned for Christmas.