Have you ever turned on the TV on Thanksgiving morning and saw crowds of people watching giant balloons float down a street? Well, that was most likely the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade first took place in 1924 to push holiday sales and celebrate the opening of Macy’s Herald Square in New York City. NBC has nationally televised the event since 1953.
The parade is a fun event to mark the start of the holiday season. Cherished by many families, this year will certainly be no different. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. The parade will be hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker from the “Today” show. This year’s parade will be the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. You can watch the spectacle on NBC and Peacock at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on Thanksgiving Day.
The parade is a 2.5-mile route in New York City with designated portions available for public viewing. The parade starts on the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West and ends on the corner of 34th Street and Seventh Avenue. According to the Macy’s website, the best viewing points are the west side of Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st Streets, the south side of West 59th between Columbus Circle and Sixth Avenue, and from West 59th to West 38th Streets.
The giant inflatable balloons are probably the most anticipated part of the event. This year’s lineup included 34 different balloons, including Beagle Scout Snoopy, Mario, Bluey and Monkey D. Luffy. There were 30 floats consisting of Friends-giving in POPCITY, Santa’s Sleigh, 1-2-3 Sesame Street, Tom Turkey and more. The parade had 26 performers, including Darlene Love, EJAE, Audrey Nuna & Rei Ami from KPop Demon Hunters, Busta Rhymes.
There also were 11 marching bands, four balloon-icles which are a combination of “balloon” and “vehicle”, 33 clown crews, nine performance groups and 15 specialty units. Some of the marching bands and performance groups are The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps, Native Pride Productions and Circus Vasquez. At the end of the parade, a Santa Claus float arrives to mark the start of the Christmas season. Whether in-person or online, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an enjoyable holiday event to watch with friends and family.
