The countdown to the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has begun! In celebration of its 97th anniversary, Macy’s is gearing up to enchant spectators once again with its iconic blend of colossal character helium balloons, dazzling floats, spirited marching bands, lively performance groups, renowned celebrities, amusing clowns, and, of course, the beloved Santa Claus. This year promises to be as spectacular as ever! Read on for our ultimate Guide to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023.
Guide to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
WHEN IS THE PARADE
The 97th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, starting at 8:30 am and is extended by an extra 30 minutes.
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE PERFORMANCES for 2023
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a stage for top-notch entertainment, featuring appearances and performances by celebrities, music groups, Broadway stars, and more, including:
- Musical Artists – Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, David Foster & Katharine McPhee, En Vogue, Jon Batiste, Ashley Park from “Emily in Paris,” and a special performance by the legendary Cher herself!
- Performance Groups – The 97th Parade will feature Big Apple Circus, Cornell Bhangra from Ithaca, NY, Tiptoe’s Winter Guard, accompanying Tiptoe; the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, Spirit of America Dance and Cheer.
- Radio City Rockettes – An annual favorite, they first performed in the 1959 Parade
- Broadway musicals – & Juliet, Back to the Future: The Musical, How To Dance In Ohio, Shucked and Spamalot
- Special Appearance by Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells of Gutenberg! The Musical!
- Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree – 60 members join a specially created choir filled with Macy’s colleagues and Bigs and Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America from around the nation
- Santa Claus – the ONE and ONLY in his famed Parade finale appearance.
MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE NEW BALLOONS for 2023
Soaring into the Thanksgiving skies will be the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s distinctive character balloons. Since their inception in 1927, these larger-than-life balloons have become a hallmark, featuring some of the world’s most cherished and iconic characters. This year, the parade will introduce seven new featured balloons, each adding a delightful touch to the procession. The newcomers include Beagle Scout Snoopy from Peanuts Worldwide, the whimsical Blue Cat & Chugs from Cool Cats, the martial arts maestro Po from Universal Pictures’ Dreamworks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda,” Leo from Netflix, Inc., the adventurous Monkey D. Luffy from Toei Animation Inc., the iconic Pillsbury Doughboy from Pillsbury, and the charming Uncle Dan from Illumination. Macy’s Parade website has a great page showcasing the balloons HERE.
TIPS ON HOW TO WATCH IN PERSON
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off at West 77th Street & Central Park West, culminating in the festivities at Macy’s Herald Square. The route travels south along Central Park West from 77th Street to Columbus Circle, heads east to Sixth Avenue, and then south until it reaches the Macy’s flagship on 34th Street. As one would guess – the crowds gather along the sidewalks and streets LONG before the bands start marching their feet. Expect to be up early and camping out on the sidewalk for the best view (6am in some locations!). Pack blankets, thermoses, and iPads – or come with a big group of friends and take turns while the others wait inside a local establishment. Get creative!
Where to go for the best parade view? To see all the action, street-side is best! But truthfully – it’s not that easy to get those spots and you must plan ahead. The parade route bleachers you see on TV are reserved for Macy’s employees, VIPs, and guests. Watching the parade from the public areas along the route takes a bit of dedication. To watch from these, you need to plan on arriving by 6am (or earlier) to stake your claim on the sidewalk.
Generally speaking, the best locations are towards the start of the route, along Central Park between 60th and 69th street. This area is typically less crowded, and as its the beginning of the parade, you are able to view the whole parade fairly quickly and can go about your day before the traffic congestion starts (there are lots of delays and commercial considerations if you watch from a southern position, and once the parade ends NYC is turned on its head with traffic).
WHERE NOT TO WATCH THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
- Columbus Circle: Typically, this area is reserved for NYPD and mostly closed to traffic & the public
- Around Macy’s between 34th and 38th Street: These areas are mainly for telecast filming and often only have grandstand seating (that is reserved for Macy’s guests)
BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
- Central Park West: Typically not as busy (but you need to get there early for a front-row seat)!!
- 6th Avenue between 40th and 50th Street: Great views looking uptown at the balloons
- Bryant Park: One year we watched from Bryant Park and found it to be a lovely spot. Be sure to enter on the library side of the park so you can stand in the Winter Village area. This section of the park is slightly elevated and gives a nice viewing platform!
Good to know: As temperatures are usually quite chilly – blankets and multiple layers are necessary. Don’t forget the snacks, and be sure to keep your eye out for public restrooms (they are not easy to find!). Tricky, but it can be done.
Picture Perfect: The unobstructed aerial view from the New York Hilton Midtown
WHERE TO WATCH FROM A HOTEL ROOM
The most convenient (and comfortable!) way to see the parade is to stay at a hotel along the parade route. The best view can be found from the New York Hilton Midtown. New York Hilton Midtown is located on 54th Street and 6th Avenue, which is directly on the parade route. This location provides the absolute PREMIER vantage point for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Your family can stay warm while in comfortable guest rooms that overlook the parade, with a jaw-dropping view of the world-famous balloons, floats, and bands that march directly below on 6th avenue. Rooms sell out fast, so be sure to plan and book ahead. More on these rooms HERE.
TUNE IN
Tune in to the 97th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, airing nationwide on NBC-TV and streaming on Peacock, on Thursday, November 23, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to noon across all time zones. Don’t miss this festive and iconic event! Looking for more fun? Journey to the ballooniverse! This year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returns to the metaverse with a special virtual game experience that will take the spectacle to new heights in the digital sphere. Launching Thanksgiving week, the Parade’s virtual experience powered by oncyber, will be accessible from any browser and device at macys.com/mstylelab, and will feature a new interactive game, amidst a high-flying balloon procession surrounding the iconic Macy’s Herald Square flagship store.
More high flying fun! You can also watch the balloons inflate the day before the parade! More on this amazing (FREE!) event HERE.
