How to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live For Free to Catch Floats From Willy Wonka & More
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The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is American tradition. And if you’ve woken up early each year to catch the festivities, you may be wondering how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free. Well, one way is better than the rest.
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The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1924 as a march with Macy’s employees to Macy’s Herald Square, the brand’s flagship store on 34th Street in New York City. The parade saw the employees dressed in vibrant costumes, alongside floats, professional bands and live animals from the Central Park Zoo. Since that first parade, which saw an audience of more than 250,000 people, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become an annual event. As of 2021, it’s tied for the second-oldest Thanksgiving Parade in the United States, alongside America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit Michigan. (The oldest thanksgiving parade is Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which started in 1920.)
Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
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The parade—which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving and ends outside of Macy’s Herald Square—has been televised on NBC since 1953. While the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has grown to include dozens of balloons and floats, Macy’s department store employees still have the option to march in the parade like the very first event in 1924. Since it started, watching the parade has also become a Thanksgiving morning tradition in thousands of households across the United States. So where can one stream the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Read on for how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 live online for free to not miss a single float.
When does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 air?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST on NBC.
How to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 live online
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs live on NBC, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Peacock Premium Plus, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends (with $10 off your first three months). Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends.
Peacock and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Peacock Premium Plus costs $11.99 per month and offers a current Black Friday deal where users can subscribe for $1.99 per month for 12 months . Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $68.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
Best Overall Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: DirecTV Stream
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Fubo
Best Budget Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Peacock
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Hulu+ With Live TV
Best Overall Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Direct TV Stream
Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade With DirecTV Stream
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Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free for its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $74.99 per month with the first three months at $64.99 per month; Choice, which costs $99.99 per month with the first three months at $89.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $109.99 per month with the first three months at $99.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $154.99 per month with the first three months at $144.99 per month. NBC is available with all four plans.
As for other difference between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
Visit streamtv.directv.com
Click “Shop Packages”
Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Fubo
Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade With Fubo
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Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $74.99 per month; Elite, which costs $84.99 per month; and Ultimate, which costs $99.99 per month. NBC is included in all four plans.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Fubo’s free trial.
Visit Fubo.TV
Click “Start Free Trial”
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching
Best Budget Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Peacock
Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade With Peacock
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Peacock Premium Plus is our best budget pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for its price. Peacock Premium Plus costs $11.99 per month and includes no ads, the ability to download and watch select titles offline, and your local NBC channel live and 24/7. Peacock Premium Plus also includes more than 80,000 hours of TV shows, movies, and sports, including original Peacock films and series; current NBC and Bravo shows; other live sports and events; and 50 channels.
For Peacock’s Black Friday 2023 deal, users can aksi subscribe to Peacock’s Premium ad-supported plan for $1.99 per month for 12 months with the code BIGDEAL or $19.99 for one year with the code YEARLONG, which saves users around $4 from the monthly deal. Without any deals, Peacock Premium’s regular price or $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. The deal ends on November 27, 2023.
Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Peacock Premium Plus.
Visit PeacockTV.com
Click “Get Started”
Select Peacock Premium Plus as your plan
Enter your information and payment method
Navigate to NBC and start watching
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Hulu+ Live TV
Watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade With Hulu+ With Live TV
$68.99+
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $68.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $69.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $74.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. NBC is included in all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Hulu+ Live TV.
Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
Click “Sign Up Now”
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching
Where is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 held?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 is held in New York City. The parade runs for 2.5 miles and starts at West 77th Street and Central Park West at 8:30 a.m. EST. The parade ends at Macy’s Herald Square.
Who are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 performers?
Read on for a full list of acts performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023.
Alex Smith
Amanda Shaw
Ashley Park
Bell Biv Devoe
Brandy
Cher
Chicago
David Foster & Katharine McPhee
Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
Enhypen
En Vogue
Jabari Banks
Jessie James Decker
Jon Batiste
Manuel Turizo
Miss America Grace Stanke
Paul Russell
Pentatonix
What are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 floats?
Read on for a full list of floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023.
1-2-3 Sesame Street
Big City Cheer
Big Red Shoe Car
Big Turkey Spectacular
Camp Snoopy (New for 2023)
Celebration Gator
Colossal Wave of Wonder
Deck the Halls
Fantasy Chocolate
Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party
Good Burger Mobile (New for 2023)
Harvest in the Valley
Igniting Memories (New for 2023)
Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree
Magic Meets the Sea
Mutant Mayhem (New for 2023)
People of the First Light
Pinkfong Baby Shark
Rocking Horse
Rocking Lobster
Santa’s Sleigh
The Brick Changer
The Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka (New for 2023)
The Wondership
Winter Dragon
The Macy’s Thanksiving Day Parade airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here’s how to watch it for free.
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