The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade parade begins on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends at Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square in New York City, but is watched across the nation as a household favorite tradition ahead of the big feast.
This year’s lineup, the 99th edition, will feature 32 balloons, 3 balloonicles, 27 floats, 4 specialty units, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands, performance groups and music’s biggest stars, all welcoming Santa Claus and the holiday season, according to Macy’s.
“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the official kickoff to the holiday season and has been part of the nation’s stories and traditions for generations,” executive producer Will Coss said in a statement. “The most wonderful stories start at the parade. On Thanksgiving morning, larger-than-life character balloons, awe-inspiring floats and showstopping performances will create unforgettable moments and lasting holiday memories for millions of spectators in New York City and across the country.”
Here’s what you need to know about this year’s parade, including where to watch and which balloons to look out for.
What time does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade start?
The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 27.
How to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be telecast on NBC starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on Thursday, Nov. 27. The event will also simulstream on Peacock, and Fubo subscribers will also be able to watch it. An encore on NBC will follow at 2 p.m. ET/PT.
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Fubo
Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of NBC’s “Today” show will return as telecast hosts, NBC said.
To create a more inclusive experience for blind and visually impaired viewers, the full NBC broadcast will be presented with live audio description on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), provided by Descriptive Video Works, Macy’s said.
Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Peacock
How long is the parade?
The Thanksgiving Day Parade will run for 3 ½ hours between 8:30 a.m. and noon, a parade spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY.
New 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloons
While the annual parade will feature 32 balloons, this year’s edition will debut five new featured balloons, including:
New floats at the 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade
Six new floats will also debut during the 2025 parade, including:
New Stranger Things float
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will have a new float to celebrate the fifth and final season of “Stranger Things.” The float by Netflix is called “Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things.”
The first 8 episodes of the new season of “Stranger Things” will debut the day before Thanksgiving on Nov. 26.
Who will perform at the 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The following stars are listed to perform at this year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
When was the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade happened in 1924.
Was the Macy’s parade ever canceled?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade has been held every year except 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.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has a Stranger Things float this year. How to watch
Reporting by Katie Wiseman and Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY NETWORK / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
