On the eve of the centennial anniversary, the crew—made up of painters, carpenters, animators, sculptures, welders, designers, engineers, and electricians—is honoring its roots, by reimagining parts from the parade’s earliest years, like the trouts and wigglefoot balloons and Happy Hippo Triple Stack balloonicles. Keen eyed viewers can even discover that the new Buzz Lightyear balloon has “Andy” written on the backside of the spaceman’s boot, an homage to the younger boy in Toy Story on its thirtieth anniversary. “The team at Macy’s Studios works year-round to make this historic parade bigger and better for our audiences every year, finding new ways to surprise and delight audiences,” Coss says.
Here’s every thing you want to find out about the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2025.
How did the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begin?
When Macy’s first debuted its one-million-square foot New York City flagship retailer at thirty fourth Street between Broadway and Seventh Avenues in 1924, the retailer threw a Christmas parade on Thanksgiving morning to increase holiday sales—with a for much longer route starting at 145 Street and Covent Avenue. Balloons joined the lineup in 1927, beginning with Felix the Cat, and the festivities have been first broadcast nationally in 1947.
What is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s route now?
These days, the festive parade follows a 2.5-mile path from the Upper East Side to Midtown Manhattan. Starting at the nook of 77th Street and Central Park West, the route heads south to Columbus Circle after which turns east, heading alongside 59th Street to Sixth Avenue. From there, it goes straight down Sixth Avenue to thirty fourth Street, ending in entrance of Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square.
What’s the greatest method to see the parade in individual?
Coss recommends arriving early to get an ideal view, with parade-goers beginning to arrive as early as 6 a.m. alongside the starting of the route on Central Park West (method from the west!) from 61st to seventy fifth Streets. Other prime spots embody the south facet of 59th Street between Columbus Circle and Sixth Avenue and the total stretch of Sixth Avenue between thirty eighth and 59th. Spectators needs to be conscious there isn’t a viewing on Central Park West between 59th and sixtieth Streets, or anyplace south of thirty eighth Street.
Coss additionally reminds these bringing youngsters to costume warmly for the chilly climate, and to be ready to entertain the younger ones for just a few hours whereas ready to make eye contact with the first float. He suggests avoiding strollers, giant luggage, backpacks, and umbrellas.
What’s on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 lineup?
TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will reunite to host the dwell broadcast of the 99th Macy’s Parade. Following custom, the parade will kick off with the Tom Turkey float with members of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. This 12 months’s lineup will characteristic 34 balloons (together with new Buzz Lightyear, Mario, Shrek, and Pac-Man characters), plus 28 floats (search for the debuts of POPCITY’s Labubu Friendsgiving and Goldfish crackers’ littlest float—lower than 8 inches tall!), 33 clown crews, 11 marching bands, 9 efficiency teams, and 4 balloonicles (that’s a balloon-vehicle hybrid).