The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is back for its 99th year, kicking off the holiday season in New York City this month with its colorful floats and giant character balloons. The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 27, featuring more than 5,000 volunteers, 32 balloons, three balloonicles, 27 floats, four specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, and a star-studded lineup of musical performances. Ahead, learn everything you need to know about this year’s parade, from the best viewing spots to fun facts about its famed floats.
“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the official kickoff to the holiday season and has been part of the nation’s stories and traditions for generations,” Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer, said.
“The most wonderful stories start at the Parade. On Thanksgiving morning, larger-than-life character balloons, awe-inspiring floats and showstopping performances will create unforgettable moments and lasting holiday memories for millions of spectators in New York City and across the country.”
The route
This year’s parade will depart from 77th Street and Central Park West, stopping first on its 2.5-mile journey at Columbus Circle before turning east onto Central Park South and continuing down Sixth Avenue. When it reaches 34th Street, the parade will make its final turn onto Seventh Avenue, ending in front of Macy’s Herald Square.
Best spots for viewing
Public viewing areas, managed by the NYPD, will be located along the parade route. In previous years, the best viewing spots were along Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st Streets and on Sixth Avenue from West 59th to West 38th Streets, as 6sqft previously reported. Spectators hoping for a good view should arrive early, as prime spots fill up quickly.
Watching at home
Those unable to attend in person can watch the parade live on NBC and Peacock starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones, with an encore broadcast at 2 p.m. On Wednesday, November 26, at 8 p.m., NBC and Peacock will air the primetime special “Countdown to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” broadcast live from the parade’s starting line. The special will offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the floats, balloons, and bands as they prepare to hit the streets.
Balloons & floats
This year’s parade will feature four new character balloons: Buzz Lightyear from Pixar Animation Studios, Pac-Man from Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Shrek’s Onion Carriage from DreamWorks Animation, and Mario from Nintendo. Additionally, Derpy Tiger and Sussie from Netflix’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters” will join the lineup as a mid-sized balloon and a balloonicle, respectively.
Santa Claus and Santa’s Sleigh at the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Six new floats will also debut this year, including Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder by Holland America Line; Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by the LEGO Group; Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt; Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix; Friends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart, the creators of Labubu; and Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta.
Macy’s Studios will reintroduce and reimagine several beloved balloons from the parade’s early years for fans of all ages, including Rainbow and Greybow Trouts, the Happy Hippo Triple Stack, Wigglefoot, and Freida the Dachshund, created by Macy’s in partnership with The Farmer’s Dog. A new float element, created in collaboration with Goldfish, will also join the lineup.
Bigs and Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters will lead the parade atop the famous Tom Turkey float.
Celebrities & entertainers
Parade spectators are in for a treat this year, with appearances and performances by a stacked lineup of celebrities and entertainers. In Herald Square, performances will include the daytime debut of EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI—the singing voices of HUNTR/X in Netflix’s animated film “K-Pop Demon Hunters”—along with some of Broadway’s biggest hits, including “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time,” and “Ragtime.”
Other appearances include Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Mr. Fantasy, Foreigner, Debbie Gibson, Mickey Guyton, Christopher Jackson, Jewel, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Tiler Peck, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza, and Teyana Taylor.
Additionally, Nikki DeLoach, U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin, Kristoffer Polaha, U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace, and special correspondent Sean Evans will make appearances.
Student musicians from across the globe will also join the parade, including Banda Musica La Primavera from Santiago, Panama; the Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band from Fort Mill, South Carolina; the Damien Sparta Regiment from La Verne, California; and the L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band from Hurst, Texas.
They’ll march alongside the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, the Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Marching Band, the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite from Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, the Spartans Jr. Drum and Bugle Corps from Nashua, New Hampshire, the Marching Pride of North Alabama, and the Temple University Diamond Band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The NYPD Marching Band will also join the festivities.