NEW YORK – Final preparations are underway for the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
JUMP TO: PARADE ROUTE | STREET CLOSURES | BEST SPOTS TO WATCH | BALLOONS | FLOATS | PERFORMANCES AND SPECIAL GUESTS
Here’s everything you need to know about the parade, including the route, this year’s floats, performances and more:
When does the Thanksgiving Day parade start?
What we know:
This year’s parade will feature 34 balloons, 28 floats, 11 marching bands, 600 clowns and three Broadway performances. And, of course, Santa will close out the celebration.
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 28: The traditional Thanksgiving bird float leads the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with performers holding illuminated letters spelling ‘Macy’s Parade,’ as large balloons, including Minnie Mouse, follow behind on a rainy day
The parade, which will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 27, will start on the Upper West Side before marching 2.5 miles through New York City, where it will end at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th St.
The parade’s 2.5-mile route starts at West 77th Street and Central Park West on Manhattan’s Upper West Side:
The parade will first head south down Central Park West for 18 blocks to Columbus Circle.From Columbus Circle, the parade turns onto Central Park South and heads east to 6th Avenue.From Central Park South and 6th Avenue, the parade turns onto 6th Avenue and heads south to 34th St.The parade then marches south from 6th Avenue for 25 blocks to 34th St. 
The Ronald McDonald balloon floats during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on November 28, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
From 34th St., the parade turns west onto 7th Avenue.The parade’s ending point is Macy’s Herald Square at 34th St. and 7th Avenue.
The following streets will be closed for the parade:
Formation:
Columbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 83rd StreetCentral Park West between 81st Street and 86th Street83rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue82nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue75th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue62nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway61st Street between Central Park West and Broadway59th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
Route:
Central Park West between 81st Street and East Side of Columbus Circle/59th StreetColumbus Circle (Entire Circle)59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th Street34th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue 
New York, N.Y.: Spiderman heads down 6th Ave. during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
Dispersal:
33rd Street between 5th Avenue and 10th Avenue34th Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue34th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue35th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue36th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue37th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue38th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue40th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue41st Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue7th Avenue between 31st Street and 41st StreetBroadway between 45th Street and 34th Street
Miscellaneous (Formation and Dispersal):
58th Street between 9th Avenue and 5th Avenue43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue40th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue39th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue38th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue37th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue36th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue32nd Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue6th Avenue between 32nd Street and 34th Street8th Avenue between 41st Street and 33rd StreetBroadway between 32nd Street and 34th StreetBroadway between Columbus Circle and 58th Street8th Avenue between Columbus Circle and 58th StreetGrand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 5th Avenue 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 28: Parade participants are seen with the SpongeBob SquarePants balloon during the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2024 in New York City. This is the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which was firs
Additional Locations
86th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West85th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West84th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West73rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West70th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West69th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West67th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West66th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West65th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West64th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West63rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West62nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway61st Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway60th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park WestGrand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 58th Street57th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue56th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue55th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue54th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue53rd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue52nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue51st Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue50th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue49th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue48th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th AvenueRockefeller Plaza between 51st Street and 48th Street47th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue46th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue45th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue44th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue42nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue41st Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue40th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue39th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue38th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue37th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue36th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue33rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue6th Avenue between 33rd Street and 32nd StreetColumbus Avenue between 86th Street and 83rd StreetColumbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 59th Street9th Avenue between 59th Street and 58th StreetBroadway between Columbus Circle and 65th Street
It’s important to note that certain roads will also be closed the day before Thanksgiving due to parade preparations. Closures are reopened at the discretion of the NYPD.
According to Macy’s, W. 59th to W. 38th streets along 6th Avenue will have great views for parade-goers. Early birds can also head to the west side of Central Park between West 75th Street and West 61st Street, near the parade’s starting point, starting at 6 a.m. for public viewing.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 25: Signage during Day 1 of the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Rehearsals at Macy’s Herald Square on November 25, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images)
In contrast, the public will not be allowed to view the parade at its start on W. 77th St. and Central Park West. Further south, crowds will not be permitted to gather near the parade’s turning point at Columbus Circle.
The national television broadcast will set up shop between W. 38th St. and W. 34th St. and will be blocked off from the public. Public viewing is also not available at the parade’s end at Macy’s Herald Square, including W. 34th St. between Broadway and 7th Avenue.
Macy’s limited grandstand tickets are not for sale to the general public.
This year, 23 character balloons will be making their way to Macy’s.Â
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 01: Buzz Lightyear by Pixar Animation Studio is seen taking a test flight during the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloonfest at MetLife Stadium on November 01, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s)
Plus, there will be six new balloons this year, including a Buzz Lightyear, Super Mario, PAC-MAN, Wigglefoot and Derpy Tiger, as well as Shrek’s onion carriage.
Other notable balloons Beagle Scout SnoopyBlueyDiary of a Wimpy KidDisney’s Minnie MouseDoraGabby and Panda PawsGokuGoldbearMarshall from “PAW Patrol”Monkey D. LuffyNoorah from “The Elf on a Shelf”Pikachu and EeveeSmokey BearSpider-ManSpongeBob SquarePants and GaryStuart the MinionThe Pillsbury Doughboy
The new floats for this year’s parade include a Brick-tastic Winter Mountain from The LEGO Group, Friends-giving in POPCITY (featuring labubus), a Master Chocolatier Ballroom from Lindt, The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator from Serta, The Land of Ice and Wonder from Holland America Line, The Littlest Float from Goldfish and the Upside Down Invasion from Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”Â
MOONACHIE, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 18: Friends Giving in Pop City is seen as Macy’s prepares to celebrate 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade at Macy’s Parade Studio on November 18, 2025 in Moonachie, New Jersey. Â (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s)
Other notable floats 1-2-3 Sesame StreetBig Turkey SpectacularBirds of a Feather Stream TogetherCamp SnoopyCandy CosmosColossol Wave of WonderDeck the HallsDora’s Fantastical RainforestFantasy Chocolate FactoryGeoffrey’s Dazzling Dance PartyHarvest in the ValleyHeartwarming Holiday CountdownJolly Polly Pirate ShipMagic Meets the SeasPalace of SweetsPasta KnightPINelopeSanta’s SleighTom TurkeyWondrous World of WildlifeWorld of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Organizers revealed that there will be 26 performers for this year’s parade:
Busta RhymesCalum ScottChristopher JacksonCiaraColbie CaillatDarlene LoveDebbie GibsonDrew BaldridgeEjae, Audrey Nuna and Rei AmiForeignerGavin DeGrawJewelKool & the GangLauren Spencer SmithLil JohnLuÃsa SonzaMatteo BocelliMeg DonnellyMickey GuytonMr. FantasyRoman MejiaRussell DickersonShaggyTaylor MomsenTeyana TaylorTiler Peck
The Source: This article includes information from Macy’s website and reporting from FOX 5 NY’s Teresa Priolo.