Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - How are the balloons prepared for flight?
The 98th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on November 28, featuring 22 big balloons, 34 fabulous floats, 7 wheeled "balloonicles" and more. The parade begins on West 77th Street & Central Park West at 8:30 a.m. ET and ends at Macy's Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street at 12:00 pm ET. 28 entertainers, 11 musical marching bands, 28 clown crews and 11 performance groups will perform during the parade's almost four-hour duration.
Dive Deeper:
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is back for its 98th year on November 28, featuring an impressive lineup of 22 giant balloons, 34 colorful floats, and 7 wheeled 'balloonicles' that are sure to delight spectators of all ages.
Hosted by familiar faces from NBC's 'TODAY' show, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will guide viewers through the festivities, which kick off at 8:30 a.m. ET and wrap up at Macy's Herald Square by noon.
The parade will cover a 2.5-mile route starting at West 77th Street & Central Park West. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early, around 6:00 a.m., to secure the best viewing spots along the route, especially since rain is expected.
For those watching from home, NBC will broadcast the parade live from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET, with a simulcast available on Peacock and an encore presentation later in the day.
This year’s lineup includes 28 entertainers, 11 marching bands, and a variety of performance groups, featuring stars like Jennifer Hudson and Idina Menzel, along with special appearances by the WNBA champion New York Liberty and Santa Claus himself on the largest float.
New additions to the parade include six exciting balloons, such as Minnie Mouse and an all-new Spider-Man, plus six fresh floats like 'Candy Cosmos' and 'Wednesday's Feast', showcasing popular culture and beloved characters.
On the day before the parade, the public can witness the preparation of the giant character balloons at the Upper West Side from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., providing a unique behind-the-scenes experience as the balloons are inflated for their big day.
What's new this year?
Six new balloons have been confirmed for this year's parade, including Minnie Mouse, Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf and an all-new Spider-Man balloon, inspired by comic book artist John Romita Sr.’s art.
Six new floats will also make their parade debut this year, such as "Candy Cosmos" by Haribo, "Pasta Knight" by Rao’s Homemade, "Wondrous World of Wildlife" by The Bronx Zoo, which will celebrate the zoo’s animals and beloved exhibits, and "Wednesday's Feast" by Netflix, featuring a likeness of Jenna Ortega from the hit show.
Three new "Balloonicles," smaller balloons that wheel down the route attached to cycles, have been created as well.
How are the balloons prepared for flight?
Catch a glimpse of Macy’s signature giant character balloons being prepared for their Thanksgiving Day flights on Wednesday on the Upper West Side.
From 1:00 p.m. EST to 6:00 p.m. EST, members of the public can take a behind-the-scenes look at parade preparation by entering the queue at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue and traveling up to the Natural History Museum where the balloons will be blown up and on display.
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