The 99th edition of Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade will begin on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and end at Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square.Show Caption
With November more than halfway through, it's time to gear up for turkey, pie and, of course, the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is on the verge of a milestone in 2025.The parade, one of the largest in the world, began in 1924 in New York City and has been held every year except 1942, 1943 and 1944 because of World War II, according to Macy's. During that time, materials that would have been used in the celebration, including rubber, were dedicated to the war.The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends at Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square.This year's lineup, the 99th edition, will feature 32 balloons, three balloonicles, 27 floats, four specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, performance groups and musical stars, “all welcoming Santa Claus and the holiday season,” according to Macy's.“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,” executive producer Will Coss said in a statement. “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.”Here's what you need to know about this year's parade, including where to watch and which balloons to look for.What time does the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade start?The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 27.How to watch the Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe event will be telecast on NBC starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones. It will also stream on Peacock, and Fubo subscribers will also be able to watch. An encore on NBC will follow at 2 p.m. ET/PT.Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of NBC's "Today" show will return as telecast hosts, NBC said.Three different camera angles will be presented in Multiview on Peacock, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in all the day’s festivities:Traditional Programming (primary view): The Parade, as fans know and love it, will feature commentary from NBC hosts, live performances, and more.Float View: Ride aboard the classic Tom the Turkey float through the streets of Manhattan and truly feel like a part of the Parade.High-Rise View: Get a bird’s eye view of all the excitement from high above the parade route.To create a more inclusive experience for blind and visually impaired viewers, Macy's said, the full NBC broadcast will be presented with live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), provided by Descriptive Video Works.How long is the parade?The parade will run 3½ hours, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, a parade spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY.New 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade balloonsThis year's parade will introduce four new featured balloons:Buzz Lightyear by Pixar Animation StudiosPAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc.Shrek’s Onion Carriage from Universal Pictures’ DreamWorks AnimationMario by NintendoNew floats at the 2025 Thanksgiving Day ParadeSix new floats also are planned:The Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder by Holland America LineBrick-tastic Winter Mountain by The LEGO GroupMaster Chocolatier Ballroom by LindtUpside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by NetflixFriends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart, the makers of LabubuThe Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by SertaWho will perform at the 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade?The following stars are listed to perform this year:Drew BaldridgeMatteo BocelliColbie CaillatCiaraGavin DeGrawMeg DonnellyMr. FantasyForeignerDebbie GibsonMickey GuytonChristopher JacksonJewelLil JonKool & the GangDarlene LoveRoman MejiaTaylor MomsenTiler PeckBusta RhymesCalum ScottShaggyLauren Spencer SmithLuísa SonzaTeyana TaylorThis story has been updated with new information.Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
