They’ve got their marching orders.
The 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is finally here, bringing holiday cheer, musical performances and giant floats of new and returning characters.
This year’s parade will have 16 giant character balloons, 26 floats, 32 novelty and heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 700 clowns and eight performance groups (but no partridge in a pear tree).
Over 3.5 million people in NYC and more than 50 million viewers at home typically watch the parade, and 5,000 volunteers usually help keep it running smoothly.
“Today” show co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker are slated to return as hosts.
When is the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The parade takes place on the national holiday, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 23, this year. But, there’s a change from the past. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. – half an hour earlier than previous years. The show officially ends at 12 p.m.
How can I watch the parade and is it available to stream?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on both NBC and live stream on Peacock, and as a Spanish language broadcast on Telemundo, hosted by Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza. If you’re not an early bird, an encore will air at 2 p.m. It will also be available to stream live on many subscription services, including Hulu Live, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV.
What’s the parade route and can I watch it in person?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route runs 2.5 miles, from 77th Street and Central Park West, south to 34th Street-Herald Square.
Tickets are not needed to watch the procession in person, but it’s best to avoid watching on Sixth Avenue between 34th and 38th streets, and on West 34th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues (because the national television broadcast limits viewing there).
Those who hope to be near the cameras often show up extra early, hours before the show begins, for the perfect vantage point. It’s recommended to show up “no later than 6 a.m.” for coveted spots.
Will there be any special guests and performers?
The parade will be hosted by “Today’s” Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker.
Cher will headline. The pop diva, 77, is releasing a 25th-anniversary edition of her Grammy-winning album “Believe” and recently released her first new album in five years, “Christmas.”
Other performers will include Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, ENHYPEN, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Jessie James Decker, Ashley Park with the cast and Muppets of “Sesame Street,” Pentatonix, Paul Russell, Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith.
Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells of the new Broadway show “Gutenberg! The Musical!” will perform.
The cast of Broadway shows “& Juliet” “Back to the Future: The Musical,” “How to Dance in Ohio,” “Shucked,” and “Spamalot” will perform, along with the Radio City Rockettes.
U.S. Olympic gymnastics silver medalist Jordan Chiles, U.S. track and field Paralympian Ezra Frech and U.S. Paralympic swimming gold medalist Jessica Long and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke will also all be part of the parade.
Returning balloons will include “Bluey,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Paw Patrol,” “Ryan’s World,” “Pikachu,” “Ronald McDonald,” “Stuart the Minion” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
There will also be 11 marching bands from various high schools and universities, including the Marching Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s Eagle Regiment and the O’Fallon Township High School Marching Panthers.
What’s new this year?
New parade balloons include “Beagle Scout Snoopy,” “Blue Cat & Chugs,” “Kung Fu Panda’s Po,” “Leo,” “Monkey D. Luffy,” “Pillsbury Doughboy” and “Uncle Dan.”
There will be six new floats including a “Camp Snoopy” float, and oneinspired by Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory in the new “Wonka” movie starring, Timothee Chalamet.
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