Besides cooking Thanksgiving dinner, taking outfit pictures, and spending time with loved ones, there is one tradition that can’t be missed. There’s no Thanksgiving without tuning in to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Watching the parade has become a beloved holiday tradition through the years enjoyed by families here in the U.S. This year in 2023, will mark the 97th year anniversary of the parade taking place. Read on to find out the location, time, and other details for the upcoming 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
When will the parade take place?
Every year, the parade takes place on the exact day on which Thanksgiving Day falls. Although the exact date of the holiday is different yearly — you can expect the parade to fall on the fourth Thursday of November. For 2023, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will fall on Thursday, November 23rd, 2023.
What time will the parade take place?
For the first year ever, the parade will have an earlier start time than usual. It normally starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m. But for 2023, it will start 30 minutes earlier at 8:30 a.m. and end at the same time, 12 p.m. So, you can definitely expect more Thanksgiving fun that Macy’s has up its sleeves.
Where can I watch it?
If planning to watch the parade in person, parade-goers should anticipate getting to New York City early. This can ensure you have a decent viewing spot for the parade. At 6 a.m., visitors can start securing their spots on the west side of Central Park West from West 75th to West 61st Streets in New York City. Macy’s promises that “great views” can be found along this area. The parade will have a 2.5-mile-long distance for public viewing. For those unable to make it in person, the parade can be viewed on NBC and Telemundo (NBC’s Spanish-language sister channel) through their TV provider. If unable to view on a TV, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade can be streamed on NBC’s Peacock platform by signing up here. It will only be available to watch live.
Who will be performing?
As always, the parade welcomes every year a new star-studded lineup. There will be a total of 17 performers featuring Alex Smith, Amanda Shaw, Ashley Park, Brandy, Manuel Turizo, and Jessie James Decker, among others. For other live entertainment, 11 marching bands will be performing from schools like Rutgers University to Texas Tech University. Viewers can also expect to see a showcase of 7 performance groups.
Which floats and balloons will appear?
For Macy’s iconic element of its parade, which is the floats and balloons — there will be the return of some beloved ones while debuting new ones for 2023. A total of 25 balloons are said to be featured. New balloons that are set to debut are Beagle Scout Snoopy, Blue Cat & Chugs, Leo, Uncle Dan, Monkey D. Luffy, and The Pillsbury Doughboy. Also, be on the lookout for returning balloons like Ronald McDonald, Spongebob, and Opening Macy’s Stars.
A total of 31 floats is set to appear including new ones like Good Burger Mobile, Mutant Mayhem, Palace of Sweets, and a Willy Wonka-inspired float. Of course, the Santa’s Sleigh float is set to make an appearance once again to ring in the holiday season.
More information about floats, balloons, the full performer lineup, and other parade details can be found on Macy’s website here.
Main image by Macy’s, Inc.
Will you be watching Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
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