Let’s have a parade!
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will step off at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 28, marking the parade’s 98th edition.
Joining in the celebration will be actress Alison Brie, who is the star of the Macy’s 2024 holiday campaign. Brie is the “Macy’s gift guide,” and with Matt Bush as her “mentee,” she curates the perfect gift for friends and family, Macy’s said in a parade news release.
The 98th Macy’s Parade lineup will be the largest yet — with more than 5,000 volunteers, 17 featured character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 11 marching bands, 10 performance groups and music’s biggest stars, all welcoming Santa Claus and the holidays.
Each year, the parade brings together millions of people to celebrate the joy and magic of the season with the nation’s premiere holiday experience, featuring a world-class lineup of iconic character balloons, floats and performances.
“The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a beloved tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season for millions of live spectators and viewers across the country,” Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer said in a statement. “A dedicated team of artisans and production experts at Macy’s Studios work year-round to bring this experience to life. This year’s 98th Macy’s Parade will create awe with unforgettable character balloons, one-of-a-kind floats and the world-class entertainment only Macy’s can deliver.”
This year’s Macy’s Parade will feature the biggest stars in entertainment, including Bishop Briggs, Kylie Cantrall, Chlöe, Dan + Shay, Dasha, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Coco Jones, Walker Hayes, Ariana Madix, Joey McIntyre, Idina Menzel, Natti Natasha, T-Pain, Rachel Platten, Lea Salonga, The Temptations, The War and Treaty, Alex Warren and Sebastián Yatra.
Dance sensation Charli D’Amelio and ballet dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia, will join the lineup with captivating performances.
Stars Jonathan Bennett, Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny, Ginna Claire Mason and members of WNBA champion New York Liberty with Ellie the Elephant will also make special appearances.
This year, six new featured character balloons will debut, including Disney’s Minnie Mouse by The Walt Disney Company; Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf by The Lumistella Company; Gabby by DreamWorks Animation; Goku by Dragon Ball/Toei Animation; Marshall by Nickelodeon and Spin Master; and Spider-Man by Marvel.
This year, six new floats will debut in the Macy’s Parade including Candy Cosmos by Haribo; Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest by Nickelodeon & Paramount; Magic Meets the Seas by Disney Cruise Line; Pasta Knight by Rao’s Homemade; Wednesday’s Feast by Netflix; and Wondrous World of Wildlife by Bronx Zoo.
New specialty units for the 2024 Macy’s Parade include Strikes Again by Go Bowling!; The Garriage by Nickelodeon, a whimsical carriage modeled after SpongeBob’s pet snail; and The Grannies Car from BBC Studios’ Bluey.
Towed by Ram Trucks, the debuting floats will join a lineup of fan favorites including Santa’s Sleigh. Universal’s Merry Moment by Universal Orlando Resort, complete with stilt walkers, drums and dancers will also delight crowds.
Macy’s Winter Wonderland in Central Park will host a special performance by Sebastián Yatra with a holiday choir comprised of Macy’s colleagues with and Bigs and Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters.
The performance celebrates a partnership between Macy’s and Big Brothers Big Sisters, to empower young people through mentorship opportunities and experiences through the brand’s social purpose platform, Mission Every One.
Musicians from around the country will join the line of march, celebrating excellence in music education.
Featured marching bands include University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (Amherst, MA), Avon Marching Black & Gold (Avon, IN), East Tennessee State University Marching Buccaneers (Johnson City, TN), Flower Mound High School Marching Band (Flower Mound, TX), The Lake Hamilton High School Marching Band (Hot Springs, AR), Sioux Falls Lincoln High School “Patriot” Marching Band (Sioux Falls, SD), The Majestic Marching Cardinals of Jonesboro High School (Morrow, GA), Macy’s
Great American Marching Band (United States), The Carolina Band of the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) and “the Pride of West Virginia” — The Mountaineer Marching Band (Morgantown, WV).
NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY) will also join the festivities.
Audiences nationwide can watch only on the official telecast on NBC and simulcast on Peacock, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, in all time zones. An encore telecast of the parade will air on NBC at 2 p.m. ET/PT.
NBC’s “TODAY” show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will return as hosts. A Spanish language simulcast on Telemundo will be hosted by the network’s Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.
For an insider’s look, information on returning elements and public viewing, visit macys.com/parade.
» Information compiled from a Macy’s news release.
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