Happy Thanksgiving! Start your day with the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will take place in New York City, commencing on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, concluding at Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square.

The tradition of the parade began a century ago, in 1924, but it won’t be celebrating its centennial this year since it was paused in 1942, 1943, and 1944 due to World War II. During that time, resources that could have been used for the parade were instead allocated for the war effort, according to Macy’s.

This year, the event is set to feature 22 floats, 17 character balloons, 15 heritage or novelty balloons, and over 700 clowns, as reported by NBC, which will broadcast the parade. The event will also include performances by several musical artists, along with 11 marching bands and 10 performance groups. Notably, choreographer Shay Latukolan is preparing dance routines featuring Tom Turkey and Santa Claus, as well as three highlighted floats.

“The lineup for the 98th Macy’s Parade ensures that attendees will enjoy a little bit of everything during this iconic Thanksgiving event,” Macy’s stated regarding this year’s festivities.

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s parade, including where to watch and which balloons to keep an eye out for.

What time does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade begin?

The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to start at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 28. The parade will go ahead regardless of the weather.

Where to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade

NBC will air the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live from 8:30 a.m. to noon across all time zones on Thursday, November 28. It will also stream live on Peacock, with Fubo subscribers having access to the event as well. A repeat broadcast will be available on NBC at 2 p.m. ET/PT.

The hosts for the telecast will once again be Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker from NBC’s “Today” show.

For an inclusive viewing experience, NBC will provide a full broadcast of the event with live audio descriptions on the Secondary Audio Program channel (SAP), courtesy of Descriptive Video Works. This feature will include additional narration describing the visuals of the parade, according to NBC.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade for FREE on Fubo.

How long will the parade last?

The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is expected to last for 3.5 hours, from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

New balloons at the 2024 Thanksgiving Day Parade

This year’s parade will include 17 character balloons and 15 heritage or novelty balloons, featuring six new debut balloons:

• Minnie Mouse
• Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf
• Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse
• Goku from Dragon Ball
• Marshall from PAW Patrol
• Spider-Man

The 60-foot balloon of Minnie Mouse will now join the ranks of Mickey Mouse, who made his balloon debut in 1934, as well as Pluto (1934), Donald Duck (1935), and Goofy (1992).

Will Coss, the executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, expressed excitement about introducing Minnie Mouse as a balloon. “This has been a long-time dream for Macy’s Studios, and our team is thrilled to bring this character to life in balloon form,” Coss informed YSL News last month.

New floats in the 2024 Thanksgiving Day Parade

This year’s parade will also feature six new floats, including:

• “Candy Cosmos” by Haribo
• “Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest” by Nickelodeon & Paramount
• “Magic Meets the Seas” by Disney Cruise Line
• “Pasta Knight” by Rao’s Homemade
• “Wednesday’s Feast” by Netflix
• “Wondrous World of Wildlife” by Bronx Zoo, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year

This year’s parade also introduces a unique scented float. Balsam Hill, known for high-quality artificial Christmas trees, is collaborating with NEST to infuse its float with the delightful scent of NEST’s Holiday fragrance.

Performers at the 2024 Thanksgiving Day Parade

This year’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature these celebrated performers:

• Jennifer Hudson
• Kylie Minogue
• Billy Porter
• Loud Luxury
• Cynthia Erivo
• Cole Escola
• 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
• Sebastián Yatra
• Charli D’Amelio
• Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia