How to watch the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
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The 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is anticipated to be unlike any previous event.
This year's legendary event will showcase 10 performing groups, 11 marching bands, 17 large character balloons, 22 floats, 15 classic inflatables, and a whopping 700 clowns. In addition, beloved stars such as Cynthia Erivo, Idina Menzel, Ariana Madix, Coco Jones, and Walker Hayes will also make special appearances.
You can catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, Peacock, and Furbo. It will kick off at 8:30 a.m. ET on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and wrap up around noon outside the main Macy’s store at 34th Street Herald Square. There will also be a replay available at 2 p.m.
Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie, and Al Roker will be the co-hosts for this year.
With only two years to go until its centennial celebration, this iconic event has become a beloved tradition not only for New Yorkers but for families nationwide. Since 1924, the grandest parade in the world has taken place on the fourth Thursday of November each year.
The department store chain unintentionally took the place of the earlier holiday, Ragamuffin Day, where kids would dress as if they were beggars and go around asking for candies.
The idea to add balloons to the parade came from Anthony Frederick Sarg, who was a marionette artist responsible for creating the window displays at a store. His suggestion led to the introduction of the enormous floats that are now a key part of the parade. In 1931, Felix the Cat became the first well-known character to be featured in the event, and just three years later, Mickey Mouse also made his first appearance.
In recent times, audiences have loved watching characters like Spongebob Squarepants and Snoopy glide effortlessly among the tall buildings of the city.
This year, young fans can look forward to meeting Minnie Mouse, Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse, Spider-Man, Marshall from PAW Patrol, Goku from Dragon Ball, and Extraordinary Noorah along with The Elf on the Shelf.
NBC reports that the 2024 parade will feature six new floats. These include Wondrous World of Wildlife from the Bronx Zoo, Masterfeast sponsored by Netflix, Pasta Knight from Rao’s Homemade, Magic Meets the Seas presented by Disney Cruise Line, Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest from Nickelodeon and Paramount, and Candy Cosmos by Haribo.
There will be Broadway shows featuring Hell’s Kitchen, The Outsiders, and Death Becomes Her, along with a festive event from the Radio City Rockettes.
Hot off their inaugural WNBA championship victory, the New York Liberty will be featured in this year's event, joined by their mascot, Ellie the Elephant, and an array of performers including Jennifer Hudson, Billy Porter, Loud Luxury, and Kylie Minogue.
In the meantime, Alison Brie, known for her role in Community, will officially kick off the event by cutting the ribbon.
Anyone wanting to claim a spot along the parade route should consider bringing a rain jacket. The weather report for Thanksgiving predicts rain and winds under 10 miles per hour. The Macy’s parade will proceed as scheduled, provided the winds don’t exceed 23 miles per hour.
