Parade History and Route Timeline
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 and has been held annually in New York City since then. The route starts at 77th Street and Central Park West, proceeds south along Sixth Avenue, and ends at Macy's Herald Square on 34th Street, covering approximately 2.65 miles NYC Official Events.
Parade Day is always the fourth Thursday of November, which means it falls between November 22 and November 28 each year. The event typically runs from 9:00 a.m. to noon Eastern Time, with the full broadcast airing on NBC from 9:00 a.m. to noon ET NBC Official Site.
Floats, Balloons, and Performers
The parade features large character balloons, novelty balloons, floats, marching bands, and performance units. Recent editions have included balloons and floats tied to major brands, entertainment franchises, and seasonal themes, with balloon inflation occurring the evening before along streets near the American Museum of Natural History Macy's Official Parade Page.
In recent years, the parade has included dedicated performance stages, celebrity musical acts, and appearances by Broadway casts, television hosts, and sports figures. NBC typically provides live coverage with hosts stationed at key points along the route, including Herald Square and Central Park West NBC Official Site.
Broadcast Reach and Audience Data
NBC serves as the primary U.S. television broadcaster for the parade, with the live broadcast reaching millions of households across the country. The parade is also streamed online through NBC's digital platforms and the NBC Sports app, extending its reach to mobile viewers and international audiences NBC Official Site.
Audience figures have historically placed the parade among the most-watched Thanksgiving Day programs in the United States. In recent years, the parade has ranked among the top-rated live television events on the holiday, with consistent viewership across the three-hour broadcast window Nielsen Ratings.