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Happy Thanksgiving Day! Kick off the day with the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which takes place in New York City, beginning on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ending at Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square. While the parade tradition itself began 100 years ago in 1924, the parade is not celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, as it did not take place in 1942, 1943 and 1944 due to World War II, according to Macy’s. During that time, materials that would have been used in the celebration, including rubber, were dedicated to war efforts.
This year’s lineup is slated to showcase 22 floats, 17 character balloons, 15 heritage or novelty balloons and more than 700 clowns, according to NBC, which broadcasts the event. The event will also feature performances by several music stars along with 11 marching bands and 10 performance groups, with renowned choreographer Shay Latukolan choreographing dance performances for Tom Turkey and Santa Claus, and three featured floats
. “The 98th Macy’s Parade lineup ensures there will be something for everyone during this iconic Thanksgiving Day celebration,” Macy’s says about the parade. Here’s what you need to know about this year’s parade including where to watch and which balloons to look out for.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at what time?
The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to start on Thursday, November 28 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Rain or sun, the parade will go ahead.
How to observe the parade on Thanksgiving Day
On Thursday, November 28, from 8:30 a.m. until noon in all time zones, NBC will broadcast the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Additionally, Peacock and Fubo users will be able to watch the event via simulstream. At 2 p.m. ET/PT, NBC will air an encore.
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The hosts of the telecast, Al Roker, Hoda Kotb, and Savannah Guthrie of NBC’s “Today” program, will be back.
NBC will broadcast the whole show with live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), which is supplied by Descriptive Video Works, to make the viewing experience more inclusive for viewers who are blind or visually impaired. According to NBC, the program will be available with extra audio narration explaining the Parade’s sights.
What is the parade’s duration?
The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon, lasting three and a half hours.
New parade balloons for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day in 2024
This year’s parade will introduce six new featured balloons, in addition to the 17 character balloons and 15 heritage or novelty balloons that are part of the annual procession. These include:
Minnie Mouse’s superhuman The Elf on the Shelf and Noorah
From Gabby’s Dollhouse, Gabby
Goku from Dragon Ball Marshall from Spider-Man’s PAW Patrol
The 60-foot Minnie Mouse will join Goofy (1992), Donald Duck (1935), Pluto (1934), and Mickey Mouse, who made his balloon debut in 1934
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Preview of the Balloonfest and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, November 02, 2024.
Will Coss, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, told USA TODAY last month that Macy’s is “super excited about bringing Minnie to life.” “It has been a Macy’s Studios dream for quite some time, and the folks here on my team who’ve worked on the design, actually bringing that character to life as a balloon in the sky, couldn’t be more excited about it.”
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The 2024 Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature new floats.
The 2024 parade will also feature the debut of six new floats, including:
Haribo’s “Candy Cosmos”
“Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest” by Paramount and Nickelodeon
The Disney Cruise Line feature “Magic Meets the Seas”
Homemade’s “Pasta Knight” by Rao
Netflix’s “Wednesday’s Feast”
“Wondrous World of Wildlife” by the Bronx Zoo (this year marks the 125th anniversary of the Bronx Zoo)
The first-ever perfumed float will also be part of this year’s procession. Balsam Hill, a company that sells high-quality fake Christmas trees, is collaborating with NEST to use NEST’s Holiday aroma to smell their float.
Who is scheduled to perform at the Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2024?
This year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is scheduled to feature the following celebrities:
Hudson, Jennifer
Minogue Kylie
Billy Porter’s Extravagance
Cynthia Erivo Cole Bishop Briggs Escola
Cantrall, Kylie
Shay Dash + Chlöe DanJimmy Fallon and The Root’sCoco Jones Walker Haye sAriana Madix Joey McIntyrNatt, Idina MenzelI, Natasha T-PaiRachel PlatteLea SalongThe AllureThe Battle and TreatyAlex WarreYat, SebastianRa Charli D’AmelRoman Mej and Tiler PeckI.A.
