Next Thanksgiving, New York City hosts the 100th edition of America's most-watched holiday spectacle. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — first held in 1924, paused only during the war years of 1942-44 — drew 3.5 million street spectators last year, with another 34.3 million watching on NBC and Peacock, making it the year's biggest entertainment broadcast. For the centennial, organisers are going big: roughly 100 inflatables will fly overhead.
The nostalgia play is the headline. Felix the Cat, the parade's very first character balloon from 1927, returns, along with Blue Hippopotamus (last seen in 1931) and Underdog and Hello Kitty, staples of earlier decades. Newcomers include Bluey, a cowboy Minion, and Snoopy's alter ego Joe Cool with Woodstock. In total the procession will feature about 52 floats, 31 clown crews, seven marching bands, five balloonicles (balloon-vehicle hybrids) and specialty acts like trycaloons.
The route runs 2.5 miles from the Upper East Side to Herald Square: starting at 77th Street and Central Park West, heading south to Columbus Circle, east along 59th Street, then down Sixth Avenue to finish in front of Macy's flagship at 34th Street — fitting, since the parade began as a 1924 Christmas promo for that same store.
Want a good spot? Arrive early. Executive producer Will Coss recommends staking out Central Park West between 61st and 75th Streets from around 6 a.m., approaching from the west. The south side of 59th Street near Columbus Circle and Sixth Avenue between 38th and 59th are also solid. There's no viewing on Central Park West between 59th and 60th, or anywhere south of 38th. Dress warmly, skip the stroller and big bags, and pack patience — plus something to keep kids occupied for a few hours.
The sneaky-best option is the night before: the free balloon inflation event on Wednesday, November 25, running (last year) from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. with entry at West 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue. You walk a security checkpoint, then roam between 77th and 81st Streets watching the balloons swell to full size. Bags over 12x6x12 inches, chairs, coolers, alcohol, pets and umbrellas are all banned.
Can't make it in person? The live NBC and Peacock broadcast runs 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones on Thursday, November 26, hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker, with a Spanish-language simulcast on Telemundo and an encore at 2 p.m. ET/PT. A primetime preview special airs the evening before, and Macy's posts behind-the-scenes footage on Instagram, TikTok and Threads.
For travellers, this is one of the few events worth planning a New York trip around — but book accommodation months ahead and expect heavy crowds throughout Midtown. Details live at macys.com/parade and nbc.com/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade.
