Everything You Need to Know About the 2019 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
It's almost time to celebrate one of our favorite holidays—Thanksgiving! There's so much to get excited for, from everything on your Thanksgiving menu (like your prized turkey recipe and delicious mashed potatoes) to the family Thanksgiving traditions new and old. But one of our favorite things about the fourth Thursday of November has to be the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The huge, star-studded spectacle takes place annually in New York City, and it's one of the most highly-anticipated events of the year for kids and grown-ups alike.
This year, the 93rd rendition of the parade is shaping up to be no different, thanks to another epic roster of performances, guest appearances, and floats, plus tons of new balloons. Whether you plan to watch the action in person or from the comfort of your living room couch while eating Thanksgiving brunch, you're probably starting to get excited for what's to come in November—but you've likely also got a few logistical questions too.
That's where we come in!
Here, we've rounded up all the answers to your most frequently-asked questions about the big event, including how to watch the 2019 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and what time it begins, what channel you'll be able to find it on, how to live stream it from your computer, its history, and more. Find our answers below—then be sure to check out our other, equally helpful Turkey Day ideas for well-considered Thanksgiving recipes, delectable pie recipes, Thanksgiving kids' crafts, and more.
What's the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Presented annually by the department store of the same name in New York City, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was first televised nationally in 1952—but its real debut was all the way back in 1924. For that first parade, several bands, a flock of zoo animals, and three floats (pulled by horses) marched from 145th Street and Convent Avenue all the way down to the Macy's store at 34th Street and Broadway. Last in the long line of marchers was Santa Claus, which makes sense: That first event was dubbed the "Macy's Christmas Parade." But the tradition of including Santa in the parade lives on to this day! Fun fact: Employees at Macy's stores have the option of marching in the parade each year.
When is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2019?
The date's right there in the name! All the fun goes down on Thanksgiving Day. This year, Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 28—the fourth Thursday of the month.
Where does the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade take place?
Every year, the parade takes place right in the heart of the Big Apple. If you happen to be in the area and want to view all the action in person, you'll want to wake up early, then camp out beginning at 6am along the west side of the street on Central Park West anywhere from 59th to 75th Streets. The Parade will run along that route from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
Not an early riser? You can also arrive a bit later and stake your claim to the area further down the route on 6th Avenue, where the Parade will arrive around 9:30 a.m.
Macy's does not suggest viewing from 6th Avenue between 34th and 38th Streets or in front of Macy's Herald Square, as this area "provides very limited viewing due to the national television broadcast." The company's Where to Watch page provides a more detailed look at the overall parade route.
What time does the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade start?
Every year, the parade begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m. Perfect timing for a Thanksgiving brunch viewing party!
Who'll be performing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year?
Between Broadway actors, sequin-clad dancers, and top-tier musical guests, there's a lot to look forward to when it comes to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day lineup.
This year's lineup of balloons has just been announced, and among the many creatures we'll see, we're most excited for:
Astronaut Snoopy: Decked out in astronaut gear, he newest Snoopy balloon celebrates the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.
The Pillsbury Dough Boy: Viewers at home will recognize the Dough Boy from previous appearances at the Parade. What better way to inspire your Thanksgiving baking than with this 49-foot-tall balloon?
Love Flies Up to the Sky: Renowned artist Yayoi Kusama is the latest to lend her talents to the Parade's "Blue Sky Gallery" series.
The Elf on the Shelf: He's not just a favorite family tradition—he's also a giant balloon! The Elf is back, and he'll be closely followed by Santa himself in this year's parade.
Smokey Bear: In honor of his 75th birthday, Smokey Bear is returning to the parade for the first time since 1993! He'll be sharing his well-known message: Only you can prevent wildfires.
Blue & White Macy's Stars, Red Stars, and Gold Macy's Stars: You've seen these 25-foot-tall stars before, no doubt!
Blue Starflakes: It's a star and a snowflake!
Candy Cane: This balloon is 40-feet-high—or as tall as a three-story building.
Olaf from Disney's Frozen: He's back! The beloved character returns for his third Parade appearance.
Pikachu: It's this yellow giant's 19th Parade appearance!
We're also excited for this year's batch of new and well-loved floats, which include:
Tom Turkey: Confetti, flapping wings, and head bobbing are expected by Tom Turkey, the longest-running title float in the Parade.
Home Sweet Home by Cracker Barrel, Old Country Store: This float features a fireplace hearth, a classic front porch, rocking chairs, and more.
1-2-3 Sesame Street by Sesame Workshop, the Nonprofit Educational Organization Behind Sesame Street: The children's show is celebrating a whopping 50 years of airtime. All your kids' favorite characters will be aboard this float!
Big Red Shoe Car by McDonald's: Ronald McDonald will ride down the Parade route in this flashy automobile. The car's equivalent to a men's size 266 shoe.
Central Park by Macy's: This winter wonderland of a float is such a fun way to get excited for wintertime. Snow-covered pine trees and vintage street lights decorate it.
Christmas Cheer is Near by Elf Pets and The Elf on the Shelf: Any fan of The Elf on the Shelf will love this year's float, which includes the addition of the Elf's new Arctic Fox friends.
Snoopy's Doghouse: It's a fan favorite for a reason!
Everyone's Favorite Bake Shop by Entenmann's: This two-level float took more than 15 gallons of paint to bring to life.
Santa's Sleigh by Macy's: This is the largest float in the Parade. It's 60 feet long, 22 feet wide, and 3.5 stories tall.
Macy's hasn't yet announced which musical stars will be performing at this year's event, but we'll be sure to update this page and let you know when they do!
Do they actually sing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The short (and somewhat surprising) answer is: No. Musical guests are asked to lip sync instead due to the technical limitations of the floats. Last year, John Legend and Rita Ora clarified this for their fans in a series of tweets.
“Fun fact. We all have to lip sync on this parade because the floats don’t have the capacity to handle the sound requirements for a live performance," commented Legend. "Hope y’all enjoyed it anyway. Know that if you come to my shows, the vocals are 100% live!”
Fun fact @johnlegend thank you for clarifying what I was about to also tweet. It’s annoying for us but anyway! All my shows are 100 percent live always have been! When you come to a ORA show get ready! Back to holidays! Have a good one guys! :) X https://t.co/pO5hnnQgvg
— Rita Ora 🧡 (@RitaOra) November 22, 2018
What channel is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on?
NBC hosts the annual broadcast of the parade (plus an encore broadcast later in the day). We'll have further details on what you can expect from the network closer to Thanksgiving!
Can I live stream the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?
You certainly can. If you don't have access to a television, you can view the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade online at nbc.com/live.
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