Macy’s Parade 2025: Start Time, Balloons and Performers
November is moving quickly, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade of 2025 is almost ready to kick off its 99th year. Can you imagine how spectacular next year will be?
Millions of us will be tuning in on Thanksgiving morning for the full mix of balloons, floats, performers, and holiday excitement that fills the air in New York City.
And, if you’re wondering, “What time does the Macy’s Parade start?” it’s set to begin at 8:30 am EST on Thursday, November 27th.
How to Watch the Macy’s Parade
You can catch the full event on NBC. Peacock will also stream the broadcast, and Fubo subscribers can watch, as well.
NBC will air an encore at 2 pm EST and 2 pm PST.
These options give us several ways to tune in, no matter where we are or how we prefer to watch.
To make the coverage more accessible, NBC will also offer live audio description through its SAP channel.
What to Expect in 2025
This year, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will all return as hosts. The parade will last about three and a half hours, wrapping up around noon.
Cynthia Erivo will open this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 27, marking a major appearance just one week after the release of Wicked: For Good. The Tony-winning star is set to deliver the parade’s opening number, kicking off the holiday broadcast on NBC and Peacock.
We can look forward to a huge lineup of balloons, floats, marching bands, and performance groups.
The celebration ends, as always, with Santa Claus officially welcoming the start of the holiday season.
New Balloons for 2025
This year’s lineup will debut four new 2025 parade balloons:
Buzz Lightyear by Pixar: A high-flying balloon modeled after the space ranger
PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco: A cheerful balloon inspired by the classic arcade icon
Mario by Nintendo: A bright balloon featuring the famous Nintendo hero
Shrek’s Onion Carriage by DreamWorks Animation: A whimsical balloon shaped after Shrek’s iconic carriage
New Floats for 2025
Six new floats are also joining this year’s celebration:
Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt: A candy-themed float filled with oversized sweets
The Land of Glaciers, Wildlife and Wonder by Holland America Line: A tribute to icy landscapes and mountain views
Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by The LEGO Group: A playful build inspired by classic holiday sets
Friends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart: A bright float featuring the brand’s signature characters
Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix: A float bringing the show’s eerie world to life
The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta: A cozy float centered on the brand’s famous sheep
Major Performers for 2025
This year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade performers include some of the most recognizable names in pop, R&B, hip-hop, and rock. The highest-profile celebs we can look forward to are:
Jewel
Foreigner
Colbie Caillat
Lauren Spencer Smith
Ciara
Busta Rhymes
Lil Jon
Shaggy
Kool & the Gang
Teyana Taylor
Looking Ahead to Thanksgiving Morning
For many of us, watching the parade is a simple, cozy ritual. We settle in with our favorite people, a warm stack of pancakes, and a hot cup of coffee or cocoa as the parade starts to unfold.
As the floats and balloons move through the city and the music fills our living rooms, we patiently wait for Santa Claus to officially announce the start of the Christmas season.
Whatever your Thanksgiving morning looks like, we hope your entire holiday season is merry, peaceful, and bright.
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