The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returns Thursday for its 99th year with floats, balloons and live performances along Manhattan streets and on TV nationwide. The event will include more than 5,000 volunteers, 34 balloons, 28 floats, 11 marching bands and musical guests including Cynthia Erivo and Darlene Love.
Originating as the Macy’s Christmas Parade in 1924 to boost holiday sales, the parade stopped featuring live zoo animals in 1927 and replaced them with oversized balloons. This year’s lineup includes Macy’s stars, Minnie Mouse and Spider-Man.
When and where
The parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. in all U.S. time zones on Thursday, Nov. 27. Cynthia Erivo will open with a show-stopping number, according to NBC. The route begins at West 77th Street and Central Park West and travels about 2.5 miles to Macy’s Herald Square. For best street views, watch between West 59th and West 38th streets; spectators often begin lining up around 6 a.m. Macy’s provides an interactive route map with recommended viewing and areas to avoid.
How to watch
NBC and Peacock will stream the parade live Thursday morning, with an encore airing on NBC at 2 p.m. ET/PT. Telemundo will offer a Spanish-language simulcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. A full NBC broadcast will be available on the SAP (Secondary Audio Program) channel for blind and visually impaired viewers. The National Dog Show follows on NBC at 12 p.m.
Who is hosting
Hoda Kotb returns to co-host the parade for her eighth time, alongside Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker.
Performers
After Cynthia Erivo’s opening, performers include EJAE, Audrey Nuna and REI AMI (from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters), Darlene Love, Ciara, Colbie Caillat, Lil Jon and Busta Rhymes. Broadway acts scheduled include Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time and Ragtime. The Rockettes will mark their 100th anniversary with a special performance. Santa and his reindeer-pulled sleigh will close the parade.
Balloons
Ahead of the parade’s 100th anniversary, Macy’s Studios is reintroducing historic balloons from early parades—Rainbow and Greybow Trouts, the Happy Hippo and Freida the Dachshund—alongside 32 total balloons. New additions include Buzz Lightyear, PAC-MAN, Shrek’s Onion Carriage and Mario. Returning favorites include Snoopy, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Pillsbury Doughboy and Bluey.
Countdown special
NBC and Peacock will air the primetime special “Countdown to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade” at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, broadcast live from the parade’s starting point and offering a behind-the-scenes look at floats, balloons and bands.