The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will step off in Manhattan one week from today, ushering in the holiday season with one of the nation’s most-watched spectacles. With more than 31 million viewers across digital platforms in 2024, the parade remains a cultural touchstone and a centerpiece of Thanksgiving morning for families nationwide.
This year’s parade, at 8:30 a.m. ET, will feature a massive lineup: 32 balloons, three balloonicles, 27 floats, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands and 26 performances. Macy’s organizers continue to refresh the nearly century-old tradition by introducing new elements rooted in pop culture and fan-favorite brands.
Seven new floats will debut in 2025. Among the most anticipated is Friends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart, a Labubu-themed float featuring the wildly popular Labubu and fellow characters Skullpanda, Peach, Riot, Dimoo, Molly, Duckoo, and Mokoko. The float’s cityscape design and Christmas décor extend into a special Pop Mart holiday pop-up across from Macy’s in Herald Square.
Another major addition is Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix, celebrating the show’s upcoming fifth and final season. It includes a Hawkins National Laboratory scene and a towering 8½-foot Demogorgon puppet. The first eight episodes of the season premiere on Nov. 26, the day before the parade.
LEGO will unveil Brick-tastic Winter Mountain, a large-scale snowy recreation of its Yeti Mountain set, complete with skiing figures, seals, penguins, and yetis. Holland America Line will mark its 80 years of Alaska exploration with The Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder, a float showcasing Denali-inspired landscapes and wildlife. Lindt debuts its grand Master Chocolatier Ballroom, designed around the iconic LINDOR truffle, while Goldfish introduces The Littlest Float, standing under 8 inches tall. Serta joins the lineup with The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator, featuring its familiar flock amid stars, clouds, and moons.
Five new balloons will also soar: Buzz Lightyear, PAC-MAN, Shrek’s Onion Carriage, Mario, and Derpy Tiger from Netflix’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” Sussie, also from the film, will appear as a balloonicle.
The parade will air nationwide on NBC at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones, with a simulstream on Peacock and availability on Fubo. NBC will air an encore broadcast at 2 p.m. ET/PT.
Source: USA Today