Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 Official Schedule and Broadcast
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thanksgiving Day and run until approximately noon, with the three-hour national broadcast airing from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The parade route begins at 77th Street and Central Park West, proceeds south along Central Park South, turns east on 34th Street, and ends at Macy's Herald Square, with live coverage beginning before the balloons inflate at 6:30 a.m. ET. For the latest confirmed timing and staging updates, refer to the official Macy's Parade page Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Viewers watching the NBC broadcast can expect the telecast to follow the parade's progress along the 2.5-mile route, with hosts stationed at key viewing areas including Central Park South, 34th Street, and Herald Square. NBC's coverage includes pre-parade entertainment, balloon inflation highlights, and post-parade analysis, while Peacock streams the full event live with multiple camera angles. The parade's broadcast window aligns with the traditional national Thanksgiving programming schedule that networks have used for decades.
Route Map, Street Closures, and Viewing Logistics
The 2025 parade route remains consistent with recent years, starting at 77th Street and Central Park West, moving south on Central Park South to 59th Street, then east along 42nd Street to 34th Street, and finally north on 6th Avenue to 34th Street and Herald Square. Major street closures along the route typically begin at 3:00 a.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day, with reopening scheduled for late afternoon, and the New York City Department of Transportation publishes the official closure map on its website NYC DOT Street Closures.
Best viewing spots along the route include the barricaded areas on Central Park South between 62nd and 57th Streets, the 34th Street corridor between 6th Avenue and Herald Square, and the designated viewing pen at Herald Square managed by Macy's. Attendees are advised to arrive by 6:00 a.m. ET for general admission seating, with security screening in place and prohibited items enforced according to the NYPD's official parade guidelines NYPD Parade Security.
Balloon Lineup, Floats, Performers, and Corporate Participants
The 2025 parade features the classic giant helium balloons, novelty balloons, floats, marching bands, and celebrity performers, with the full lineup typically announced in early November by Macy's and NBC. The balloon inflation process begins the evening before Thanksgiving at 77th Street and Central Park West, with public viewing of the inflation starting at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thanksgiving Eve, weather permitting. Macy's corporate sponsorship structure and brand integrations for the parade are detailed in the company's annual event materials Macy's Corporate.
Key participants in the 2025 parade include the iconic character balloons such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Snoopy, and the debut or return of other licensed characters, alongside floats representing NBCUniversal, Macy's, and other brand partners. The marching band lineup features high school and college bands from across the United States, with the exact order and selection based on applications and Macy's event planning criteria. For financial and sponsorship details, the parade's economic impact is also reported in retail industry analyses