Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 in NYC: Start time, balloons, performers and more

NEW YORK (WABC) – The 98th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place on Thursday, November 28th in New York City and features 22 floats, 39 balloons and appearances from celebrities like T-Pain and Idina Menzel.

Millions of spectators will line the 2.5-mile parade route to watch the procession of floats and bands, as well as the giant balloons.

The holiday tradition will be opened by actress Alison Brie.

The parade begins at 8:30 a.m. at West 77th Street and Central Park West and ends at Herald Square, home of the Macy's flagship store.

The best spots for watching are along Central Park West, between West 75th Street and West 61st Street, and along Sixth Avenue, between West 59th Street and West 38th Street.

Get there early to secure the best seats.

SECURITY

Spectators should not bring large bags, umbrellas, backpacks and strollers.

2024 BALLOONS

There will be six new character balloons including Minnie Mouse, Extraordinary Noorah with The Elf on the Shelf, Gabby's Dollhouse, Goku and Spider-Man.

The “Gabby's Dollhouse” float will feature a 17-meter-tall balloon with Gabby and Pandy paws in 10 different shades of pink.

SWIM

The new cars include those from brands such as Disney Cruise Line, Haribo, Netflix's Wednesday, Universal Orlando Resorts and The Grannies Car from BBC Studios' Bluey. Nickelodeon and Paramount's “Dora the Explorer” will both have a float and a balloon.

A new float will spotlight food brand Rao's and feature a knight and a dragon in battle, made from real pasta elements.

Celebrity Artist

An eclectic group of stars, including reality TV's Ariana Madix, Broadway's Idina Menzel and hip-hop's T-Pain, headline the event.

Music performers The War and Treaty, Lea Salonga, Kylie Cantrall, The Temptations, Chlöe, Charli D'Amelio, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Coco Jones, Walker Hayes, Rachel Platten, Bishop Briggs, Joey McIntyre, Natti Natasha and ballet dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia are also scheduled to perform.

Broadway will feature performances from Death Becomes Her, Hell's Kitchen and The Outsiders, as well as the legendary Radio City Rockettes and Riverdance dancers.

Members of the New York Liberty, who won their first-ever WNBA championship earlier this month, will march alongside their popular mascot Ellie the Elephant.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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