Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2025: Full Details on New York's Iconic Celebration!

The 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).

The parade is expected to last approximately 3.5 hours, ending around noon.

For those unable to watch the live broadcast, NBC will air a replay at 2:00 p.m. ET/PT.

The exclusive live broadcast can be watched on NBC and the Peacock streaming platform.

Favorite hosts such as Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will return to host the event.

The Parade will feature a total of 34 giant balloons and four unique "balloonicles."

Some of the new balloons that will grace this year's parade include Buzz Lightyear from "Toy Story," Derpy Tiger from "KPop Demon Hunters," Mario from Nintendo, PAC-MAN from Bandai Namco, and Shrek's Onion Carriage.

Additionally, returning favorites include Beagle Scout Snoopy, Spider-Man, Minnie Mouse, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Marshall from PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary, Goku, and others.

The parade will also feature 28 beautifully designed floats.

The official route for the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stretches 2.5 miles, or approximately 4 kilometers, through the heart of Manhattan.

The parade will begin at West 77th Street and Central Park West, an iconic location on the Upper West Side.

From there, parade participants will head south on Central Park West toward Columbus Circle, located at 59th Street.

This initial stretch offers views of the historic buildings and trees of Central Park.

Upon reaching Columbus Circle, the parade will turn left onto Central Park South, then right onto Sixth Avenue, also known as the Avenue of the Americas.

This Sixth Avenue segment is the longest section of the route.

Finally, the parade will make a final turn west at 34th Street and conclude in front of Macy's Herald Square flagship store on 7th Avenue, marking the culmination of the highly anticipated celebration.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature 28 celebrity performers, 11 marching bands, 33 clown groups, and nine performance groups.

The celebrity performers include big names like Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Ciara, Cynthia Erivo, Darlene Love, Debbie Gibson, Foreigner, Gavin DeGraw, Jewel, Kool & the Gang, Lil Jon, Luísa Sonza, Matteo Bocelli, Shaggy, Taylor Momsen, and Teyana Taylor.

Broadway shows will also be an integral part of the parade, with performances by the casts of Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time, and Ragtime.

This adds a uniquely New York touch of culture and artistry.

Additionally, the Radio City Rockettes will join in the celebration of their 100th anniversary, adding to the grandeur of the event with their iconic choreography.

Marching bands from universities and high schools across the United States will showcase their talents, including Alcorn State University's "Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite," the L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band, Macy's Great American Marching Band, and the Temple University Diamond Band.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade hosted by Macy's in New York City, United States.

It has become a beloved tradition for millions, both in person in Manhattan and watching on television.

It is widely considered the official start of the holiday season.

The parade first took place in 1924, originally known as the "Macy's Christmas Parade." Its purpose was to encourage the Christmas shopping spirit among the public.

The inaugural parade featured costumed Macy's employees, accompanied by floats and professional bands, and animals from the Central Park Zoo.

The giant balloons that are now a hallmark of the parade were first introduced in 1927, adding to the spectacular visual appeal.

Since 1953, the parade has been broadcast nationally on NBC, allowing even more people to enjoy the festivities from the comfort of their own homes.

The best viewing location is Central Park West between West 75th and 63rd Streets, where spectators can begin lining up as early as 6:00 a.m.

After the parade turns south on Sixth Avenue, the best viewing area is from West 59th to 38th Streets.

Some areas to avoid include Columbus Circle, as there are no public viewing areas.

Additionally, Sixth Avenue between West 34th and 38th Streets, and West 34th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, are also blocked off for television broadcast purposes.

The area in front of Macy's Herald Square is a paid grandstand area. Public transportation such as bicycles or the subway is recommended due to extensive street closures.

For viewers at home, the parade can be watched exclusively on NBC and Peacock.

The live broadcast begins at 8:30 a.m. ET in all time zones.

NBC is also available on popular streaming services like Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and Sling TV.