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The 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is finally here — and it’s time to spread some cheer!
Musical performances and more than a half-dozen new floats are preparing to take over New York City and kick the holiday season in high gear!
This year’s parade will have 17 featured character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty inflatables, 11 marching bands, more than 700 clowns and 10 musical performance groups.
Over 3.5 million people in New York City and more than 50 million viewers at home typically watch the parade, thanks to the thousands of volunteers who help the celebration run smoothly.
“Today” show stars Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker are slated to return as hosts.
When is the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Per tradition, the parade takes place on the national holiday, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 28, this year. For the second year in a row, proceedings will begin at 8:30 a.m. and run to noon in all time zones, followed by an encore presentation at 2 p.m. ET/PT.
How can I watch the parade and is it available to stream?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on NBC and be livestreamed on Peacock. Coverage will also be available in Spanish on Telemundo’s broadcast with hosts Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza. Those subscribed to Hulu Live, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV can also livestream the festivities on those platforms.
What’s the parade route and can I watch it in person?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade spans 2.5 miles, starting on the Upper West Side and ending at Macy’s Herald Square.
It kicks off at West 77th Street and Central Park West, proceeds along Central Park West and passes through Columbus Circle before crossing Central Park South to Sixth Avenue and continuing downtown to Herald Square.
Tickets are not needed to watch the parade in person. However, it’s best to avoid watching on Sixth Avenue between 34th and 38th streets and on West 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues as the national television broadcast limits viewing there.
It’s also recommended to show up “no later than 6 a.m.” for the best spots.
Will there be any special guests and performers?
“Glow” actress Alison Brie will cut the ribbon to jump-start this year’s parade festivities.
Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue, Billy Porter, Loud Luxury, T-Pain, Ariana Madix, Idina Menzel, Jimmy Fallon & the Roots, Dan + Shay, Bishop Briggs, Kylie Cantrall, the Temptations, Charli D’Amelio and more are scheduled to perform.
“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will make an appearance, as will Jonathan Bennett, Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny and Ginna Claire Mason.
There will also be performances involving Broadway musicals “Death Becomes Her,” “Hell’s Kitchen” and “The Outsiders.” And as always, the Radio City Rockettes will make an appearance.
What’s new this year?
The 7 new floats to watch out for include the creepy characters from “The Addams Family’’ Netflix series “Wednesday,” the Bronx Zoo’s wild denizens, Rao’s “Pasta Knight,” Nickelodeon’s “Dara’s Fantastical Rainforest,” Disney Cruise Line’s “Magic Meets the Seas,” Haribo’s “Candy Cosmos” and a “Go Bowling” figure, which will all be debuting during the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
