How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

For the 98th time, Macy’s brings New Yorkers its annual parade. This year, there will be 22 floats, 17 character balloons and performances by the Temptations and T-Pain.

A flying turkey, loads of confetti and dazzling dancers. It’s time to kick off the holidays in New York City.

The 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is happening Thursday, bringing huge crowds to Manhattan’s streets to marvel at the magnificent floats and balloons and catch a celebrity appearance or two.

Beginning promptly at 8:30 a.m., the procession is expected to be the largest in the parade’s history, with more than 5,000 volunteers lending a hand to pull off the grandeur.

Where is the parade?

As is tradition, the festivities will kick off at West 77th Street on the Upper West Side, before heading south along the border of Central Park and down Sixth Avenue to the Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square. Spectators will be allowed only at designated watch points along the 2.5-mile route.

Those hoping to find a good place to watch often start arriving as early as 6 a.m., and the spots along Central Park West are generally considered the best. No public viewing will be allowed along the park between West 59th and West 60th Streets.

Macy’s also asks attendees to avoid watching the parade along Sixth Avenue between West 34th and West 38th Streets, and along West 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, because of prohibitions from national television broadcasters.

A wintry storm may hit the New York area on Thursday, bringing rain to the parade. But forecasters say the rain could hold off until the afternoon.

Security will be in place for the parade, with the Police Department stationing sanitation trucks and other so-called blocker vehicles along the route as a precaution.

How can you watch it on TV?

Those unable to make it to the parade route can watch on NBC or on the Peacock streaming service beginning at 8:30 a.m.

If you miss a favorite float, you’ll have a second chance to watch the whole thing during an encore telecast at 2 p.m.

Who will be appearing?

Parade organizers have put together a star-studded lineup, with performances by the Temptations, Jennifer Hudson, the rapper T-Pain, the Venezuelan American actress Kylie Cantrall, a range of Broadway stars and many others.

Other familiar faces to keep an eye out for include Jonathan Bennett, who played hunky Aaron Samuels in the original “Mean Girls” movie; the actress Liza Colón-Zayas from “The Bear”; the “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo; the comedian Cole Escola; and members of the W.N.B.A. championship basketball team the Liberty with their mascot, Ellie the Elephant.

More than 10 marching bands will accompany Santa Claus as he heads toward Herald Square, as will 22 floats, 17 character balloons and more than 700 clowns.

What’s new?

While there will be plenty of fan favorites to see, Macy’s is debuting several new character balloons, including Minnie Mouse, Gabby from “Gabby’s Dollhouse” and Goku from “Dragon Ball.” A new Spider-Man balloon will mark the character’s return to the parade for the first time in a decade.

There will also be six new floats, among them Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest and the Wondrous World of Wildlife presented by the Bronx Zoo.

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