Macy’s Unveils Plans for the 98th Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade

The start of the holiday season is typically ushered in by the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The beloved event will hold its 98th installment where spectators along the parade route and at home will experience the season’s joy with character balloons, floats, musical performances, and the appearances of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.

In a company press release, Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer, stated, “The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a beloved tradition that marks the beginning of the holiday season for millions of live spectators and viewers across the country. A dedicated team of artisans and production experts at Macy’s Studios work year-round to bring this experience to life. This year’s 98th Macy’s Parade will create awe with unforgettable character balloons, one-of-a-kind floats and the world-class entertainment only Macy’s can deliver.”

For the 98th installment of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, more than 5,000 volunteers, 17 featured character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, 700 clowns, 11 marching bands, and 10 performance groups will be featured.

Celebrities making appearances include Bishop Briggs, Kylie Cantrall, Chlöe, Dan + Shay, Dasha, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Coco Jones, Walker Hayes, Ariana Madix, Joey McIntyre, Idina Menzel, Natti Natasha, T-Pain, Rachel Platten, Lea Salonga, The Temptations, The War and Treaty, Alex Warren, and Sebastián Yatra. 

Also scheduled to appear are Charli D’Amelio and ballet dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia, as well as Jonathan Bennett, Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny, Ginna Claire Mason, members of WNBA Champions, New York Liberty, and The Rockettes. Broadway performances include the casts of “Death Becomes Her,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” and “The Outsiders.”

Was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Ever Canceled?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was canceled three times in its history. The annual holiday celebration, which began in 1924, didn’t go off as planned in the years 1942, 1943, and 1944 due to World War II.

The reason for the cancellations? Materials that would have been used to craft the floats and balloons were used in the war efforts instead. The fabulous flying balloon characters first appeared in 1927. It typically takes six months to create one of the most magical elements of the parade route.

2024 will feature six new character balloons, including Disney’s Minnie Mouse, Extraordinary Noorah, The Elf on the Shelf, Gabby, Goku, Marshall, and Spider-Man. Along with the balloons, six new floats will also make their debut.

The 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debuts Thursday, Nov. 28, at 8:30 a.m. on NBC.