Editing Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

{{short description|Annual Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City}}
{{Redirect|Macy's Day Parade|the song by Green Day|Warning (Green Day album)|text=}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = <!-- Remember to replace this poster every year to update it to the current one, However, DO NOT overwrite the current file, please upload it through a seperate file in order to match its name-->
| caption              = 
| italic_title         = no
| creator              = 
| director             = {{plainlist|
* Dick Schneider (1972–1993)
* [[Gary Halvorson]] (1994; 1996–2014)
* Arthur Forrest (1995)
* [[Ron de Moraes]] (2015–16; 2018–2022)
* Ryan Polito (2017)
* Joe DeMaio (2023–present)
}}
| presenter            = {{plainlist|
* [[Savannah Guthrie]]<!-- Do not add Craig Melvin until he is officially announced/confirmed as a host -->
* [[Al Roker]]
* ([[#Former hosts|Former hosts]])
}}
| starring             = 
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = 
| opentheme            = "[[Theme from New York, New York|Theme from ''New York, New York'']]" (1995–present)
| endtheme             = "[[Santa Claus]] Arrives to the Parade"
| composer             = {{plainlist|
* Sammy Fidler (1958–1965)
* [[Milton DeLugg]] (1966–2013)
* [[Ray Chew]] (2014–present)
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 
| num_episodes         = 98
| list_episodes        = 
| executive_producer   = {{plainlist|
* Brad Lachman (1994–2023)
* Bill Bracken (2021–23)
* Baz Halpin
* Mark Bracco
* Linda Gierahn
}}
| company              = {{plainlist|
* [[Macy's]]
* [[NBC]]
* Brad Lachman Productions<ref name=Lachman />
}}
| location             = [[Central Park]] to [[Macy's Herald Square]]<br/>[[New York City]]
| camera               = [[Videotape]]; [[Multi-camera setup|multi-camera]]
| runtime              = 1968–2022: 3 hours (with commercials)<br />2023–present: 3 hours and 30 minutes (with commercials)
| network              = [[NBC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1931|11|26}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1952|11|27}} (radio)<br/>{{Start date|1939|11|23}} – present (television)
| related              = {{plainlist|
* [[Macy's 4th of July Fireworks]]
* Macy's BalloonFest
* [[My Macy's Holiday Parade]]
* Lighting of the [[Macy's Great Tree]]
* ''[[Christmas in Rockefeller Center]]''<ref name=Lachman>{{cite web |title=Portfolio of Brad Lachman-produced programs |url=http://www.bradlachmanprods.com/ |access-date=November 22, 2012}}</ref>
}}
}}

The '''Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade''' is an annual parade in [[New York City]] presented by the American-based [[department store]] chain [[Macy's]]. The Parade first took place in 1924,<ref name=":1">{{cite book |last=Grippo |first=Robert |title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |date=2004 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |location=San Francisco, CA |ol=OL3313633M}}</ref>{{Rp|page=9}} tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States with [[America's Thanksgiving Parade]] in [[Detroit]] (with both parades being four years younger than [[6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade|Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade]]). The three-hour parade is held in [[Manhattan]], ending outside [[Macy's Herald Square]], and takes place from 8:30&nbsp;a.m. to 12:00&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Standard Time]] on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving Day]], and has been televised nationally on [[NBC]] since 1953.

==History==
===1920s: Early history===
In 1924, store employees marched to [[Macy's Herald Square]], the flagship store on [[34th Street (Manhattan)|34th Street]], dressed in vibrant costumes. There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the [[Central Park Zoo]]. At the end of that first parade, [[Santa Claus]] was welcomed into [[Herald Square]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14902256/|title=Macy Christmas Parade Big Thanksgiving Day Feature|work=The Central New Jersey Home News|date=November 26, 1924|access-date=November 28, 2019|page=9|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7614926/|title=Santa Claus Will Formally Enter New York in Macy's Parade|work=The Courier-News|location=Bridgewater, NJ|date=November 26, 1924|access-date=November 28, 2019|page=2|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> At this first parade, Santa was enthroned on the Macy's balcony at the [[34th Street (Manhattan)|34th Street]] store entrance, where he was then crowned "King of the Kiddies". With an audience of over 250,000 people, the parade was such a success that Macy's declared it would become an annual event, despite media reports only barely covering the first parade.<ref name="Klein 2014">{{cite web | last=Klein | first=Christopher | title=The First Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade | website=HISTORY | date=November 26, 2014 | url=https://www.history.com/news/the-first-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade | access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=November 2023}}

The Macy's parade was enough of a success to push [[Ragamuffin Day]], the typical children's Thanksgiving Day activity from 1870 into the 1920s, into obscurity. Ragamuffin Day featured children going around and performing a primitive version of [[trick-or-treating]], a practice that by the 1920s had come to annoy most adults. The public backlash against such begging in the 1930s (when most Americans were struggling in the midst of the Great Depression) led to promotion of alternatives, including Macy's parade. While [[ragamuffin parade]]s that competed with Macy's would continue into the 1930s, the competition from Macy's would overwhelm the practice, and the last ragamuffin parade in New York City would take place in 1956.<ref name="NYPL">{{cite news|last=Nigro|first=Carmen|title=Thanksgiving Ragamuffin Parade|publisher=New York Public Library|url=https://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/11/23/thanksgiving-ragamuffin-parade|date=November 23, 2010|access-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref>

[[Tony Sarg]] loved to work with marionettes from an early age. After moving to London to start his own marionette business, Sarg moved to New York City to perform with his puppets on the street. Macy's heard about Sarg's talents and asked him to design a window display of a parade for the store.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-puppeteer-who-brought-balloons-to-the-thanksgiving-day-parade-180947863/|title=The Puppeteer Who Brought Balloons to the Thanksgiving Day Parade|last=Stamp|first=Jimmy|date=November 27, 2013|website=Smithsonian|access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref>

===1930s–1980s: Growth===
Through the 1930s, the parade continued to grow, with crowds of over one million people lining the parade route in 1933. The first [[Mickey Mouse]] balloon entered the parade in 1934. The annual festivities were broadcast on local radio stations in New York City from 1932<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1932/11/24/issue.html|title=Today on the Radio|date=November 25, 1932|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 28, 2019|page=40|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> to 1941<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1999/11/20/issue.html|title=Radio Today|date=November 20, 1999|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 28, 2019|page=54|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and resumed in 1945,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1945/11/22/archives/radio-today.html|title=Radio Today|date=November 22, 1945|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 28, 2019|page=36|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> running through 1951.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/11/22/archives/on-the-radio.html|title=On the Radio|date=November 22, 1951|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 28, 2019|page=58|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The parade was suspended from 1942 to 1944 as a result of [[World War II]] because rubber and helium were needed for the war effort.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/11/14/archives/mayor-plays-role-of-dragon-slayer-stabs-huge-macy-balloon-into.html|title=MAYOR PLAYS ROLE OF DRAGON SLAYER; Stabs Huge Macy Balloon Into Rubber Scrap as Store Gives Up Annual Parade|date=November 14, 1942|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 28, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1945/11/14/archives/get-set-children-and-your-parents-too-genii-are-coming-in.html|title=Get Set, Children, and Your Parents, Too; Genii Are Coming in Thanksgiving Parade|date=November 14, 1945|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 28, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The parade resumed in 1945 and became known nationwide shortly afterwards, having been prominently featured in the 1947 film ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'', which included footage of the 1946 festivities. The event had its first broadcast on network television in 1948 (see {{Section link||Television coverage}}). From 1984 to 2019, the balloons were made by [[Raven Industries]] of [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]], through its Raven Aerostar division.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schwan |first1=Jodi |title=6 Raven Aerostar balloons make debut in Macy's parade |url=https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/business-journal/2014/11/26/six-raven-aerostar-balloons-make-debut-macys-parade/19533149/ |publisher=Argus Leader |access-date=27 December 2020 |date=26 November 2014}}</ref>

Marching bands had been part of the parade since the beginning; it was not until 1958 when the first celebrity performances were added, as the [[Benny Goodman]] sextet joined the parade. Technical and logistical difficulties marred many of the early attempts to perform live music on moving stages, and in 1964, the parade began transitioning to [[lip sync]].<ref name=howithappened>{{Cite web |last=Callahan |first=Michael |title=How the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Went From Its Modest Start to an American Tradition Rivaling Stuffing and Pumpkin Pie |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-modest-start-american-tradition-rivaling-stuffing-pumpkin-pie-180985216/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref>

Since 1985, the parade has traditionally been led by the [[New York City Police Department Highway Patrol]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zeiler |first1=Millie |title=History of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://classicnewyorkhistory.com/history-of-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |website=classicnewyorkhistory.com |date=November 2022 |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref> In 2019, the cast of [[Sesame Street]] led the parade in honor of the show's 50th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hennes |first1=Joe |title=Sesame Street to Headline Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://toughpigs.com/sesame-parade-2019/ |website=toughpigs.com |date=November 2019 |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref>

=== 1990s–2000s: Safety changes ===
During the 1993 parade, strong gusts of wind pushed the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]] balloon into a lamppost at [[Columbus Circle]]. The lamppost damaged the balloon and the top of the post broke off while inside the balloon, dragging it down, injuring a child and an off-duty police officer in the process.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chan |first=Sewell |date=November 27, 2005 |title=Site of Balloon Accident Is Known for Its Crosswinds |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/nyregion/27parade.html |access-date=November 16, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H00YBqQ58hE |title=Out-of-control Cat in the Hat balloon slams into lamppost, hurts 4 at 1997 Thanksgiving Parade |date=November 26, 2019 |medium=Video |publisher=[[WABC-TV]] |access-date=November 29, 2019}}</ref>

During [[1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade|the 1997 parade]], very high winds pushed the [[Cat in the Hat]] balloon into a lamppost.<ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |date=November 28, 1997 |title=Macy's Parade of Balloons Gets One Thing It Doesn't Need: Wind |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E2DD133AF93BA15752C1A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print |access-date=November 16, 2007}}</ref> The falling debris struck a parade-goer, fracturing her skull and leaving her in a coma for 24 days.<ref name="saulny">{{cite news |last1=Saulny |first1=Susan |date=2001-03-07 |title=Woman Hurt in '97 Macy's Parade Settles Suit |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/07/nyregion/woman-hurt-in-97-macy-s-parade-settles-suit.html |url-access=limited |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> The winds also caused trouble for the other balloons. The [[Barney the Dinosaur]] balloon veered out of control and was eventually stomped and stabbed by the NYPD. The [[Pink Panther (character)|Pink Panther]] balloon collapsed onto the ground and was stabbed by an NYPD inspector.<ref name="Los Angeles Times">{{cite news |last=Gaouette |first=Nicole |date=November 25, 2005 |title=NYC Parade Again Marred by Accident |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-nov-25-na-parade25-story.html |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Matt |date=25 November 2015 |title=Barney Died a Violent Death at the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |work=Esquire |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/news/a40007/macys-day-parade-thanksgiving-1997/ |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref><ref name="martin">{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Douglas |date=28 November 1997 |title=Macy's Parade of Balloons Gets One Thing It Doesn't Need: Wind |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/28/nyregion/macy-s-parade-of-balloons-gets-one-thing-it-doesn-t-need-wind.html |access-date=19 November 2023}}</ref> Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]] formed a task force in response,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neumeister |first1=Larry |date=29 November 1997 |title=Balloon accident spawns task force in New York |page=A-10 |work=[[The San Francisco Examiner]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-balloon-accid/135445297/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> and numerous safety regulations were implemented the next year, including size restrictions that eliminated larger balloons such as the Cat in the Hat and the Pink Panther, the removal of lamppost arms on the parade route, and both physical training and lessons in balloon physics for handlers.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=November 26, 1998 |title=Macy's presents safer parade |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/US/9811/26/macys.parade.01/ |access-date=November 16, 2007}}</ref>

During the 2005 parade, the [[M&M's]] balloon collided with a streetlight in Times Square; parts of the light fell on two sisters, who suffered minor injuries.<ref>{{cite news |title=New safety rules for NYC Thanksgiving parade after balloon crash |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=5435017&nav=2CSf |url-status=dead |access-date=October 18, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310191509/http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=5435017&nav=2CSf |archive-date=March 10, 2007}}</ref> New safety measures were incorporated in 2006 to prevent accidents and balloon-related injuries. One measure taken was the installation of wind measurement devices to alert parade organizers to any unsafe conditions that could cause the balloons to behave erratically. In addition, parade officials implemented a measure to keep the balloons closer to the ground during windy conditions. New York City law prohibits Macy's from flying the full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed {{convert|20|knots|mph}} or wind gusts exceed {{convert|30|knots|mph}}; New York's tall buildings and [[Commissioners' Plan of 1811|mostly uniform grid plan]] can amplify wind velocity on city streets. This law, imposed in 1997, has never been activated, despite several close calls; the only time the parade balloons were ever grounded was in 1971. Each balloon has a risk profile to determine handling in windy conditions; taller, upright balloons are rotated to appear horizontal and face downward in such situations (as was the case in 2019, when a grounding was narrowly averted). The remaining floats and performances will continue as scheduled should the balloons be grounded.<ref name="wcbs2019">{{cite news|url=https://wcbs880.radio.com/articles/news/new-yorkers-warned-of-severe-wind-on-thanksgiving-day|title=New Yorkers warned of severe wind on Thanksgiving Day|date=November 27, 2019|work=[[WCBS (AM)|WCBS 880]]|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref>

=== 2010s–2020s ===
The 2018 parade was the coldest to date, with the temperature at {{convert|19|°F|°C|abbr=on}} during the event.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/22/nyregion/cold-weather-thanksgiving-parade.html|title=Paradegoers Brave Coldest Thanksgiving in New York Since 1901|work=The New York Times |date=November 22, 2018 |access-date=November 22, 2018|language=en|last1=Nir |first1=Sarah Maslin }}</ref> The warmest was in 1933 at {{convert|69|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. The 2006 parade was the wettest with {{convert|1.72|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thestarryeye.typepad.com/weather/2012/11/today-in-new-york-weather-history-thanksgiving-day.html|title=Today in New York Weather History: Thanksgiving Day Weather Highlights|website=New York City Weather Archive|access-date=November 22, 2018}}</ref> Actresses [[Caitlin Kinnunen]] and [[Isabelle McCalla]]'s kiss during ''[[The Prom (musical)|The Prom]]'''s performance at the 2018 parade received significant media attention for being the first [[lesbian kiss episode|broadcast of a same-sex kiss]] in the parade's history.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Henderson|first=Cydney|title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade earns praise for broadcasting same-sex kiss|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2018/11/22/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-broadcasts-same-sex-kiss-prom/2086945002/|access-date=August 7, 2019|website=USA Today|language=en}}</ref>

{{anchor|2020}}Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New York City]], the 2020 parade was downsized and closed to the public—being filmed as a broadcast-only event in the Herald Square area. There were 88% fewer participants, and [[social distancing]] was enforced. The event did not include college and high school marching bands (with the affected bands having been reinvited for 2021), nor any participant under 18 years of age. Balloons were tethered to a "specially rigged anchor vehicle framework of five specialty vehicles" rather than carried by handlers. Mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio stated that it will "[not be] a live parade, but something that will really give us that warmth and that great feeling we have on Thanksgiving day."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Greg|date=2020-09-14|title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade To Be Presented As NBC Television Special: No Parade Route, No Kids, Giant Balloons Tied To Special Vehicles – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-virtual-television-online-bill-de-blasio-1234576226/|access-date=2020-09-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2558179/2020-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-whats-going-on-with-the-annual-event-during-the-covid-19-pandemic |last=Sledge |first=Philip |date=November 11, 2020 |title=2020 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: What's Going On With The Annual Event During The COVID-19 Pandemic? |work=Cinema Blend |access-date=November 12, 2020}}</ref> In 2021, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade returned to its traditional in-person procession with 6,500 participants marching.

The NBC broadcast of the 2022 parade marked the first time that the broadcast was hosted entirely by women, as Al Roker was unable to host that year due to blood clots in his legs and lungs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Selleck |first1=Emily |title=Al Roker misses first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 27 years |url=https://pagesix.com/2022/11/24/al-roker-misses-first-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-in-27-years/ |website=pagesix.com |date=November 24, 2022 |publisher=NYP Holdings, Inc. |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref>

In 2023, the parade started half an hour earlier, at 8:30&nbsp;am, making it the first parade to begin earlier for almost a century.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade NYC 2023: How to watch, route timings & line-up |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/events-festivals/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Time Out New York |language=en-US}}</ref> Around 10am, [[2023 Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States|pro-Palestinian protesters]] disrupted the parade in three locations. Some of the protesters wearing white jumpsuits covered in fake blood, glued themselves to the parade route at [[Sixth Avenue]] near 45th street.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://abc7ny.com/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-2023-balloons-street-closures-macy-route/14095938/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=ABC7 New York |language=en}}</ref>

==Balloons <span class="anchor" id="Balloon introductions"></span>==
{{disputed section|1927|date=August 2024}}
[[File:Macys Balloon Inflation Training.JPG|thumb|Hamlet The Balloon School Pig being inflated by the [[Stevens Institute of Technology|Steven's]] Inflation Crew during training at [[Giants Stadium]]]]
[[File:Parade balloon inflation (11685).webm|thumb|The [[Olaf (Frozen)|Olaf]] balloon being inflated the night before the parade in 2018.]]
The balloons were introduced in 1927,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.nrm.org/2022/11/tonysarg/ |title= Tony Sarg: Genius at Play |date= November 14, 2022 |publisher= [[Norman Rockwell Museum]] }}</ref> replacing live zoo animals that were featured in the first parade.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Al-Arshani |first1=Sarah |title=The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured live animals (bears and elephants) |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/22/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-history-live-animals/71391189007/ |website=usatoday.com |publisher=Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref> In 1928, Macy's switched from inflating the balloons with air to [[helium]], making them float.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=14}} Sarg's large animal-shaped [[balloon]]s were produced by the [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company]] in [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]], Ohio from the 1920s through 1980.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grippo |first1=Robert |date=November 22, 2018 |title=SEE IT: Rare footage of Underdog, Donald Duck, famous balloons of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://pix11.com/2018/11/22/see-it-rare-footage-of-underdog-donald-duck-famous-balloons-of-the-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |access-date=January 4, 2020 |website=pix11.com |publisher=Scripps Media, Inc.}}</ref>

In 1928, Sarg released the five balloons, set to leak slowly over the course of a week and then descend, with a reward of [[United States dollar|$]]100 ({{Inflation|index=USD|value=100|start_year=1928|r=-1|fmt=eq}}) for whoever found them; the reward amount fell to $50 the next year.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=12}} In 1931, aviation pioneer [[Clarence Chamberlin]] spotted a dragon balloon midair, decapitated it with a wingtip, and brought the remnants back to land, where he claimed a $25 award.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=1931-12-07 |title=Aeronautics: Flights & Flyers, Dec. 7, 1931 |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,930425,00.html |access-date=2024-08-20 |magazine=Time |language=en-US}}</ref><!-- Grippo gives a slightly different version of events, but the contemporaneous Time article is more reliable, especially given Grippo's failure to even get Chamblerin's name right. --> The practice of releasing the balloons ended in 1932, after a novice pilot attempting the same feat nearly crashed her plane.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=24}}

The balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade have had several varieties. The oldest is the novelty balloon class, consisting of smaller balloons ranging widely in size and handled by between one and thirty people (the smallest balloons are shaped like human heads and fit on the heads of the handlers). The larger and more popular class is the character balloons, primarily consisting of licensed pop-culture characters; each of these (16 in 2019<ref>{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Clyde |date=November 27, 2019 |title=Decision for balloons at Macy's Thanksgiving parade coming Thursday |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/11/27/Decision-for-balloons-at-Macys-Thanksgiving-parade-coming-Thursday/6891574873563/ |access-date=November 27, 2019 |work=[[United Press International]]}}</ref>) is handled by exactly 90 people.<!-- as per statistics on the Macy's web site --> Since 2005, the "Blue Sky Gallery" has transformed the works of contemporary artists into full-size balloons; a new balloon was featured each year until 2012, and more intermittently since then.

==Performers and acts==
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2022}}
[[File:Santa Claus arrives..jpg|thumb|Santa Claus' arrival at the parade's finale marks the start of the Christmas season]]
In addition to the well-known balloons and floats, the parade also features live music and other performances. College and high school [[marching band]]s from across the country participate in the parade.<ref>{{cite web |title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Info & More |url=https://www.macys.com/social/parade/lineup/marching_bands/ |website=macys.com |publisher=Macys.com, Inc. |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> The television broadcasts feature performances by established and up-and-coming singers and bands. The [[Kilgore College Rangerettes|Rangerettes]], from [[Kilgore, Texas]], the world's first precision drill team, known for their precision dance routines, are also a highlight of the event.<ref name=macys>{{cite web |last=Bass |first=Gary |url=http://www.ktre.com/2018/11/22/kilgore-rangerettes-performing-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |title=Kilgore College Rangerettes performing in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |date=November 22, 2018 |website=[[KTRE]] |access-date=March 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043933/http://www.ktre.com/2018/11/22/kilgore-rangerettes-performing-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name='cheerleading'>{{cite book |author=Mary Ellen Hanson |title=Go! fight! win!: cheerleading in American culture |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press|Popular Press]] |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-87972-680-5}}</ref> [[The Rockettes]] of [[Radio City Music Hall]] are a classic performance (having performed annually since 1957<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lakritz |first1=Talia |title=Here's what the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade looked like through the years |url=https://www.insider.com/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-photos-2017-11 |website=insider.com |publisher=Insider, Inc. |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> as the last pre-parade act to perform, followed by a commercial break), as are cheerleaders and dancers chosen by the [[National Cheerleaders Association]] from various high schools across the country. The parade always concludes with the arrival of [[Santa Claus]] to ring in the [[Christmas and holiday season]] (except for the 1932 parade, when Santa led the parade).<ref>{{cite web |title=Santa and a cat 60 feet long to star for Macy's |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/413091823 |work=Daily News |access-date=June 24, 2020|date=November 20, 1932}}</ref> Since 2017 until 2023, the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree choir precedes Santa Claus as the final performer of the parade, except 2022 and 2023 when they performed second-to-last.

On the NBC telecast from in front of the flagship Macy's store on Broadway and 34th Street, the marching bands perform live music. Most "live" performances by musicals and individual artists [[lip sync|lip-sync]] to the [[studio recording|studio]], [[soundtrack album|soundtrack]] or [[cast recording]]s of their songs,<ref>Jensen, Elizabeth (November 25, 2012). [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/business/media/elmo-puppeteers-absence-leaves-void-in-close-knit-sesame-street.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0 At ‘Sesame Street,’ a Void in a Close-Knit Troupe]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved November 25, 2012. "The puppet was featured on a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade float, with another puppeteer acting to Mr. Clash's taped voice."</ref> due to the technical difficulties of attempting to sing into a wireless microphone while in a moving vehicle<ref name=howithappened/> (performers themselves typically perform on the floats with the exceptions being the Santa's Sleigh float and the Tom Turkey float); the NBC-flagged microphones used by performers on floats are almost always non-functioning props.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Nick |title=Here's why stars lip sync during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://ew.com/music/2018/11/22/lip-sync-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |website=ew.com |publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref> Although rare, recent parade broadcasts have featured at least one live performance with no use of recorded vocals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2016: Tony Bennett performs – saved by Miss Piggy? |url=https://cartermatt.com/231473/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-2016-tony-bennett-performs-sings-live-miss-piggy/ |website=cartermatt.com |date=November 24, 2016 |access-date=December 31, 2019}}</ref>

Every year, cast members from some [[Broadway theatre|Broadway shows]] (usually shows that debuted that year) perform either in the parade or immediately preceding the parade in front of Macy's and before The Rockettes' performance (since NBC broadcasts the parade's start, the performances are shown during the wait for the parade itself). The 2007 parade was notable as it took place during a [[2007 Broadway stagehand strike|strike]] by the [[International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes|I.A.T.S.E.]] (a stagehands' union)''. Legally Blonde'', the one performing musical affected by the strike, performed in show logo shirts, with makeshift props and no sets. The other three shows that year performed in theaters that were not affected by the strike.

For the 10th anniversary of the [[September 11th attacks]] in 2011, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade invited family members from [[Tuesday's Children]] (a nonprofit organization that benefits families directly impacted by terrorism) to cut the ribbon at the start of the parade with NBC's [[Al Roker]] and led the parade with Amy Kule, the Parade's executive producer.

Performers who are not part of Broadway shows or marching bands traditionally perform on floats. The cost to book the performers is covered by the floats' sponsors, who must also pay an entry fee to Macy's to participate in the parade. Since 2014, the entry fee and performer fee has hovered between $200,000 and $250,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yost |first=Rae |date=2024-11-26 |title=No Mount Rushmore float in Macy's parade |url=https://www.keloland.com/keloland-com-original/no-mount-rushmore-float-in-macys-parade/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=[[KELO-TV]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Television coverage==
[[File:Macys-parade-1979.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Tom the Turkey and [[Underdog (TV series)|Underdog]] arriving at [[Macy's Herald Square]] during the 1979 edition of the parade.]]

===Official broadcasts===
More than 44 million people typically watch the parade on television on an annual basis; in 2024, it was the most-watched television special of the year, outdrawing all of the major awards ceremonies, New Year events and Christmas specials.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=2024-12-27 |title=The 25 Most-Watched Specials of 2024: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,’ Academy Awards and Billy Joel |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/most-watched-specials-2024-thanksgiving-parade-new-years-rockin-eve-1236260873/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> It was first televised locally in New York City in 1939 as an experimental broadcast on NBC's W2XBS (now [[WNBC]]).<ref>"Television" section of "Today on the Radio", ''The New York Times'', November 23, 1939, p. 40.</ref> No television stations broadcast the parade in 1940 or 1941, but local broadcasts resumed when the parade returned in 1945 after the wartime suspension.<ref>"Radio Today" (with television listings), ''The New York Times'', November 20, 1941, p. 54.</ref><ref>"Radio Today" (with television listings), ''The New York Times'', November 22, 1945, p. 36.</ref> The parade began its network television appearances on [[CBS]] in 1948, the year that major, regular television network programming began.<ref>"Radio and Television", ''The New York Times'', November 15, 1948, p. 44.</ref><ref>"Radio and Television", ''The New York Times'', November 21, 1949, p. 44.</ref> [[NBC]] has been the official broadcaster of the event since 1953. As of 2024, NBC pays Macy's $20 million per year for the license to be the parade's official broadcaster; the parade earns a substantial profit for the network, with ad buys averaging $900,000 per 30-second commercial in 2023—a fee comparable to ''[[NBC Sunday Night Football]]''—bringing in a gross revenue of $52 million.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knolle |first=Sharon |date=2024-11-26 |title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Broadcast Rights Leap to Potential $60 Million Price Tag for NBC {{!}} Report |url=https://www.thewrap.com/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-nbc-broadcast-rights-contract-price/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref> In November 2024, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that during negotiations to extend their broadcast contract for the parade and the [[Macy's 4th of July Fireworks]] for ten additional years, NBC offered to pay Macy's an increased license fee of $60 million to continue carrying the parade telecast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flint |first=Joe |date=November 25, 2024 |title=NBC Ready to Pay Triple to Gobble Up Thanksgiving Parade Broadcast Rights |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/nbc-ready-to-pay-triple-to-gobble-up-thanksgiving-parade-broadcast-rights-e18fd95f |access-date=November 25, 2024 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> The renewal was officially announced on February 25, 2025, extending NBC's rights through 2035. The renewal will also include rights to a third Macy's-sponsored special to be held in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2025-02-25 |title=NBC Inks 10-Year Deal for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Rights |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/nbc-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-new-tv-streaming-deal-1236146342/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

At first, the telecasts were only an hour long. The telecast then expanded to two hours in 1961,<ref>"Television", ''The New York Times'', November 23, 1961, p. 71.</ref> reduced to 90 minutes in 1962, reverted to two hours in 1965, and expanded to all three hours of the parade in 1969.<ref>"Television", ''The New York Times'', November 27, 1969, p. 75.</ref> The event began to be broadcast in color in 1960.<ref>"Television", ''The New York Times'', November 24, 1960, p. 67.</ref> NBC airs the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live in the Eastern Time Zone as well as [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]], as the network uses broadcast feeds from that time zone (which due to time differences starts at 10:00&nbsp;a.m. [[Atlantic Time Zone|AST]]), but [[broadcast delay|tape delays]] the telecast elsewhere in the continental U.S. and territories from the [[Central Time Zone]] westward to allow the program to air in the same 8:30&nbsp;a.m. to 12:00&nbsp;p.m. timeslot across its [[owned-and-operated station|owned-and-operated]] and [[network affiliate|affiliated]] stations (except for [[Guam]], which airs it the day after Thanksgiving at 8:30&nbsp;a.m. local time, as the territory is located west of the [[International Date Line]] and therefore a day ahead from the rest of the United States). With the launch of [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] in 2020 and branded extensions such as a [[virtual reality]] broadcast sponsored by [[Verizon]] however, it is now possible to watch the parade live across the United States without any tape delay through Peacock, or another international streaming provider with rights to NBC's programming.

Following the morning program's expansion to three hours in 2000 (it eventually expanded to four hours in 2007), NBC's ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'' aired as an abbreviated two-hour broadcast on Thanksgiving morning, pre-empting the last two talk-focused hours of the show for the day to accommodate parade coverage. Starting with the parade's 2023 edition, when coverage was extended a half-hour earlier (to 9:30&nbsp;a.m. Eastern Time from its longtime 10:00 start), the Thanksgiving edition of ''Today'' was reduced to only 90 minutes (similar to the network's 2017 decision to cut the program's [[Weekend Today|Saturday broadcasts]] to that same length to accommodate [[Premier League on NBC|live telecasts]] of [[Premier League]] soccer matches held during the mid-morning to midday hours in the U.S.). Starting with the 2009 edition, NBC has aired a same-day, three-hour afternoon rebroadcast of the parade following the [[National Dog Show]] (replacing the annual broadcast of ''Miracle on 34th Street'', which NBC had lost the broadcast television rights to that year).

From 1963 to 1972, NBC's coverage was hosted by [[Lorne Greene]] (who was then appearing on NBC's ''[[Bonanza]]'') and [[Betty White]]. [[David Hartman (TV personality)|David Hartman]] and [[Karen Grassle]] hosted the parade in 1974, with [[Ed McMahon]] serving as a location correspondent (McMahon would later become one of the main hosts from 1977 to 1981). Since 1982, NBC has appointed at least one of the hosts of ''Today'' to emcee the television broadcast, starting with [[Bryant Gumbel]], who hosted the parade until 1984. From 1987 to 1997, NBC's coverage was hosted by longtime ''Today'' weather anchor [[Willard Scott]]. During that period, their co-hosts included [[Mary Hart (TV personality)|Mary Hart]], [[Sandy Duncan]], and ''Today'' colleagues [[Deborah Norville]] and [[Katie Couric]]. In recent years, NBC's coverage has been hosted by ''Today'' anchors [[Matt Lauer]] (from 1998 to 2017), [[Meredith Vieira]] (from 2006 to 2010), [[Ann Curry]] (2011), [[Savannah Guthrie]] (since 2012) and [[Hoda Kotb]] (from 2018 to 2024) as well as ''Today'' weather anchor [[Al Roker]] (from 1995 to 2021, returned in 2023) who usually joins the producers of the parade or the CEO of Macy's and special guests in the ribbon cutting ceremony. In 2022, [[Dylan Dreyer]] filled in for Roker, who at the time was recovering due to recent health complications involving blood clots,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/al-roker-misses-2022-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-nbc/|title=Al Roker misses first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 27 years|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Joey|last=Nolfi|date=November 24, 2022|access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref> while Kotb hosted the ribbon cutting ceremony segment when the parade reached Herald Square, rather than when it usually takes place on the [[Upper West Side]].

From 1972 until 1993, the television broadcast was produced and directed by Dick Schneider; from 1994 to 2023, it was executive produced by Brad Lachman (who has otherwise been known for producing [[reality television|reality]] and [[clip show|clip compilation]] television series) and produced by Bill Bracken (a longtime collaborator of Lachman's, who continued as senior producer after the latter's departure). Silent House Group (a [[Burbank, California|Burbank]]-production firm founded by Baz Halpin, who executive produced the telecast with fellow company executives Mark Bracco and Linda Gierahn) assumed production responsibilities from Lachman for the 2024 telecast. [[Gary Halvorson]] (whose directorial work has centered primarily on sitcoms as well as selected television specials) directed the telecast from 1994 to 2014 (excluding 1995, directed by Arthur Forrest), succeeded by [[Ron de Moraes]] from 2015 to 2022 (excluding 2017, directed by Ryan Polito), and Joe DeMaio since 2023. Announcements during the telecast were first provided by [[Bill McCord]], then followed in succession by [[Bill Wendell]], [[Lynda Lopez]] (the telecast's only female announcer), and longtime ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' and NBC staff announcer [[Don Pardo]]; from circa 2000 to 2010, announcer duties were helmed by [[Joel Godard]] (who also served as the announcer for ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' for much of that period), and then were assumed by ''Today'' announcer Les Marshak with the 2011 telecast. [[Milton DeLugg]] served as the telecast's music director until his death in 2015.

Though the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on nearly all of NBC's stations, it has often been preempted in the [[Detroit]] market due to [[WDIV-TV]]'s coverage of the locally based ''[[America's Thanksgiving Parade]]'', which the station has aired from 1964 to 1984 and (following a nine-year run on ABC affiliate [[WXYZ-TV]]) since 1995. While WDIV did carry the later tape-delayed broadcast from 2009 to 2019, local carriage of the live Macy's parade broadcast has been mostly sporadic (it aired locally on [[WADL-TV|WADL]] from 2009 to 2016), even after the station began over-the-air digital telecasts, granting it the ability to televise the NBC telecast on a [[digital subchannel|subchannel]]; as such, Detroit-area viewers often have to rely on nearby NBC affiliates out of [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]] ([[WEYI-TV|WEYI]]), [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]] ([[WILX-TV|WILX]]) and [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] ([[WNWO-TV|WNWO]]) to watch the parade.

Since 2003, the parade has been broadcast in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] on NBC sister network [[Telemundo]]; [[María Celeste Arrarás]], anchor of the network's tabloid newsmagazine ''[[Al Rojo Vivo (2002 TV program)|Al Rojo Vivo]]'', hosted the Spanish simulcast of the parade from 2003 to 2006. Since 2021, the Telemundo simulcast has been hosted primarily by Carlos Adian (co-host of daytime entertainment/lifestyle talk show ''En Casa con Telemundo''); Adian was joined by former [[Miss Universe]] [[Andrea Meza]] as co-host starting with the 2022 edition. The parade won nine [[Emmy Awards]] for outstanding achievements in special event coverage since 1979. Since 2020, the parade also provided [[audio description]] via a [[Secondary audio program|second audio program]] channel.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-26|title=Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Live Stream Here (Video)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/watch-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-livestream-online-2020/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=TheWrap|language=en-US}}</ref>

From 2016 to 2019, [[Verizon]] produced a 360-degree [[virtual reality]] live telecast of the parade, with minimal commentary, made available through [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/23/13727462/watch-macys-thanksgiving-parade-360-video-verizon-youtube|title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade will be live-streamed on YouTube in 360-degree video|date=November 23, 2016 }}</ref> The 2019 edition, produced in cooperation with NBC, had more extensive production, adding hosts [[Terry Crews]], [[Lilly Singh]] and [[Ross Matthews]], also adding "virtual balloons" generated through viewers' votes.<ref>[https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/nbc-and-verizon-use-the-power-of-5g-to-reimagine-macys-thanksgiving-day-parader-2019-11-18-121841535 NBC and Verizon use the power of 5G to reimagine Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade] (press release)</ref> Verizon's simulcast of the 2020 event ran in a traditional flat, single-perspective format, and was the very first to be broadcast internationally, not just in the United States, through Verizon's and Macy's YouTube and Twitter handles. Verizon did not simulcast the 2021 event in either format.

The first live international broadcast of the parade occurred in 2020, when Philippine cable television channel [[TAP TV]] became the first foreign-based broadcaster to air the parade's live telecast. Before that, the broadcasts were delayed and aired on Black Friday on what is now [[CNN Philippines]] until 2013. In addition, delayed broadcasts are aired to United States military installations overseas through [[American Forces Network]] hours following the original U.S. broadcast.

====Current hosts====
* [[Savannah Guthrie]] (2012–present)<!-- Do not add Craig Melvin until he is officially announced/confirmed as a host -->
* [[Al Roker]] (1995–2021, 2023–present)

====Former hosts====
{{Cast listing|
* [[Merrill Mueller]] (1953)
* [[Dave Garroway]] (1953)
* [[Arlene Francis]] (1954)
* [[Hugh Downs]] (1954)
* [[Buffalo Bob Smith]] (1955, 1960)
* [[Ernie Kovacs]] (1956)
* [[David Brinkley]] (1957)
* [[Bert Parks]] (1957–1958)
* [[Frank Blair (journalist)|Frank Blair]] (1958)
* [[Bill Wendell]] (1959)
* [[Gene Rayburn]] (1959)
* [[Paul Tripp]] (1960)
* [[Ed Herlihy]] (1961)
* [[Lindsey Nelson]] (1961)
* [[Bud Palmer]] (1962)
* [[Chris Schenkel]] (1962)
* [[Betty White]] (1963–1972)
* [[Lorne Greene]] (1963–1972)
* [[Martin Milner]] (1973)
* [[Kent McCord]] (1973)
* [[Ed McMahon]] (1974–1981)
* [[David Hartman (TV personality)|David Hartman]] (1974)
* [[Karen Grassle]] (1974)
* [[Helen Reddy]] (1975)
* [[Peter Marshall (entertainer)|Peter Marshall]] (1975)
* [[Della Reese]] (1976)
* [[McLean Stevenson]] (1976)
* [[Bryant Gumbel]] (1977–1980, 1982–1984)
* [[Regis Philbin]] (1981)
* [[Sarah Purcell]] (1982–1983)
* [[Pat Sajak]] (1984–1986)
* [[Stepfanie Kramer]] (1984, 1986)
* [[Bert Convy]] (1985)
* [[Phylicia Ayers-Allen]] (1985)
* [[Willard Scott]] (1987–1997)
* [[Mary Hart]] (1987)
* [[Sandy Duncan]] (1988)
* [[Deborah Norville]] (1989–1990)
* [[Katie Couric]] (1991–2005)
* [[Matt Lauer]] (1998–2017)
* [[Meredith Vieira]] (2006–2010)
* [[Ann Curry]] (2011)
* [[Hoda Kotb]] (2018–2024)
* [[Dylan Dreyer]] (2022)
}}

===Unofficial broadcasts===
Although the parade committee can endorse an official broadcaster, the parade takes place on public streets, and therefore Macy's can only limit exclusivity of coverage of the event to directly within the area in front of the Herald Square store, and cannot restrict coverage through exclusive rights like sporting and other events that take place inside restricted-access venues.

CBS (which has [[One Astor Plaza|a studio]] in Times Square) carried unofficial coverage as ''The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS''.<ref name="cbs08">[http://www.cbspressexpress.com/div.php/cbs_network/release?id=20135 "The Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS" will be anchored live by "The Early Show's" Dave Price and Maggie Rodriguez from New York's Times Square, Thursday, November 27 on the CBS Television Network] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202005532/http://www.cbspressexpress.com/div.php/cbs_network/release?id=20135 |date=February 2, 2010 }}. CBS press release (November 13, 2008). Retrieved June 21, 2010.</ref> The rerouting of the parade starting from 2012 ([[#Parade route|see below]]) moved the parade out of the view of CBS's cameras and thus made it significantly more difficult for the network to cover the parade. However, the route now passes along the west side of the network's [[CBS Building|Black Rock]] headquarters building along [[Sixth Avenue (Manhattan)|Sixth Avenue]] (with the hosts stationed on a temporary tower platform at the Sixth/[[53rd Street (Manhattan)|W. 53rd St.]] corner of the building), and CBS nevertheless continued to cover the parade as before.

CBS's unofficial coverage aired live in most time zones, allowing viewers to see the parade as much as two hours before the official NBC coverage aired in their area before Peacock nulled this advantage; until 2023, CBS broadcast the parade on delay on the West Coast, immediately after the [[Detroit Lions]] [[NFL on Thanksgiving Day|Thanksgiving game]] in the years when CBS would carry the Lions' traditional Thanksgiving game or at 9:00&nbsp;a.m. local time in the years when they carried the [[Dallas Cowboys]] Thanksgiving game.<ref name="cbs08" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Breaking News - "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" Adds New Stars to 2024 Lineup {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2024/11/14/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-adds-new-stars-to-2024-lineup-514510/20241114nbc01/ |access-date=November 16, 2024 |website=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref>

CBS's coverage was originally part of the ''All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade'', a broadcast that included footage from multiple parades across [[North America]], including parades at [[America's Thanksgiving Parade|Detroit]], [[6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade|Philadelphia]] and [[Disneyland]] (the latter was later replaced by [[Opryland USA]] in 1997 and after that [[Miami Beach]]), and taped footage of the [[Toronto Santa Claus Parade]] (taped usually the second or third weekend of November) and the Aloha Floral Parade in [[Honolulu]] (which usually took place in September). Beginning in 2004, however, CBS has focused exclusively on the Macy's parade, but avoids using the Macy's name due to the lack of an official license. To compensate for the fact that the Broadway and music performances can only appear on NBC, CBS adds their own pre-recorded performances (also including Broadway shows, although different from the ones that are part of the official parade and recorded off-site) to fill out the special.<ref>Gioia, Michael (November 26, 2015). [http://playbill.com/news/article/what-was-it-like-to-perform-on-the-macys-parade-over-20-broadway-actors-remember-a-dream-come-true-373245 What Was It Like to Perform on the Macy's Parade? Over 20 Broadway Actors Remember a Dream Come True!] ''Playbill''. Retrieved November 26, 2015. "We pre-recorded the opening number of the show for the CBS broadcast, down on South Ferry."—Carly Hughes</ref> With the lack of a live parade for 2020, CBS aired ''The CBS Thanksgiving Day Celebration''—which was hosted by [[Kevin Frazier]] and [[Keltie Knight]] of ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'', and featured highlights and new performances.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harms|first=Talaura|date=2020-11-23|title=In the News: Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away Performances to Air During CBS' Thanksgiving Coverage, Laura Linney and More Nominated for United Solo Special Award|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/in-the-news-dear-evan-hansen-and-come-from-away-performances-to-air-during-cbs-thanksgiving-coverage-laura-linney-and-more-nominated-for-united-solo-special-award|access-date=2020-12-06|website=Playbill|language=en}}</ref>

For the 1997 parade, [[MTV]] guest reporters, [[Beavis and Butt-head]], with host [[Kurt Loder]], provided their usual style of commentary on aspects of the parade, and of their take on Thanksgiving in general. The special, titled ''[[List of Beavis and Butt-head episodes|Beavis and Butt-head Do Thanksgiving]]'', included a balloon of Beavis and Butt-head spectating from their couch. The balloon was not participating in the parade, but stationed on top of a building alongside the parade route.

CBS did not carry parade coverage in 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ingenthron |first=Blair |title=CBS Will Not Air Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade This Year |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/CBS-Will-Not-Air-Macys-Thanksgiving-Day-Parade-This-Year-20241124 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CBS not broadcasting Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/cbs-not-broadcasting-thanksgiving-day-parade.774050/ |access-date=November 25, 2024 |website=RadioDiscussions|date=November 19, 2024 }}</ref> as the network has been cutting expenses under its current [[Paramount Global]] ownership as part of its [[Proposed merger of Skydance Media and Paramount Global|proposed merger]] with [[Skydance Media]], which included the defection of its longtime specials ''[[Frosty the Snowman (TV special)|Frosty the Snowman]]'' and ''[[Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special)|Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer]]'' to NBC, whose parent company owns the rights to both programs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bonomolo |first=Cameron |date=2024-11-24 |title=A Beloved Christmas Classic Won't Air on TV in 2024 |url=https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/watch-frosty-the-snowman-streaming-frosty-returns-tv-cbs-nbc/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=ComicBook.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Radio coverage of the parade is provided by [[Audacy, Inc.|Audacy]]'s [[WINS (AM)|WINS]] (1010 AM) in New York City; it is one of the few times throughout the year in which WINS breaks away from its [[all-news radio]] format.

==Parade route==
The Parade has always taken place in [[Manhattan]]. The parade originally started from [[145th Street (Manhattan)|145th Street]] in [[Harlem]] and ended at [[Macy's Herald Square|Macy's flagship]] in [[Herald Square]] (at the intersection of [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]], [[Sixth Avenue]], and [[34th Street (Manhattan)|34th Street]]), making a {{convert|6|mi|km|adj=on}} route.<ref name="Klein 2014" />{{Better source needed|date=November 2023}}

In the 1930s, the balloons were inflated around 110th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, near the [[Cathedral of St. John the Divine]]. The parade proceeded south on Amsterdam Avenue to 106th Street and turned east. At Columbus Avenue, the balloons had to be lowered to go under the [[IRT Ninth Avenue Line|Ninth Avenue El]]. Past the El tracks, the parade proceeded east on 106th Street to Central Park West and turned south to terminate at Macy's flagship.

A new route was established for the 2009 parade. From 77th Street and Central Park West, the route went south along [[Central Park]] to [[Columbus Circle]], then east along Central Park South. The parade would then make a right turn at 7th Avenue and go south to [[Times Square]]. At 42nd Street, the parade turned left and went east, then at 6th Avenue turned right again at [[Bryant Park]]. Heading south on 6th Avenue, the parade turned right at 34th Street (at Herald Square) and proceeded west to the terminating point at 7th Avenue where the floats are taken down.<ref>{{cite news|title=City to Change Route of Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=97183 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911131049/http://www.ny1.com/Default.aspx?ArID=97183 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |publisher=NY1 News |date=April 10, 2009 |access-date=April 10, 2009 }}</ref> The 2009 route change eliminated [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] completely, where the parade has traveled down for decades. The City of New York said that the new route would provide more space for the parade, and more viewing space for spectators. Another reason for implementing the route change is the city's subsequent transformation of Broadway into a pedestrian-only zone at Times Square.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/nyregion/30parade.html|title=Macy's Thanksgiving Parade May Be Rerouted|last=Newman|first=Andy|date=March 29, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Another new route was introduced with the 2012 parade. This change is similar to the 2009 route, but eliminated Times Square altogether, instead going east from Columbus Circle along Central Park South, then south on Sixth Avenue to Herald Square.<ref>{{cite web | title=New Route For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012 | website=CBS New York – Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic And The Best of NY | date=November 16, 2012 | url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/11/16/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-will-have-new-route-this-year/ | access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=DeNinno | first=Nadine | title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2012: Floats And Lineup Preview, Route Map And Where To Watch Live Stream &#91;PHOTOS&#93; | website=International Business Times | date=November 21, 2012 | url=https://www.ibtimes.com/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-2012-floats-lineup-preview-route-map-where-watch-live-stream-photos | access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref>

Balloon teams race through Columbus Circle due to higher winds in this flat area, making it a less desirable observation site. New York City officials preview the parade route and try to eliminate as many potential obstacles as possible, including rotating overhead traffic signals out of the way. Viewing is restricted from 38th Street through the end of the parade route, as this area is used for the NBC telecast.<ref>{{cite web |title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - Info & More |url=https://www.macys.com/social/parade/where-to-watch/ |website=macys.com |publisher=Macys.com, Inc. |access-date=January 4, 2020}}</ref>

==Similar parades==
Other American cities also have parades held on Thanksgiving, none of which are run by Macy's. The nation's oldest Thanksgiving parade (the Gimbels parade, which has had many sponsors over the years, and is now known as the [[6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade]]) was first held in [[Philadelphia]] in 1920. Other cities with parades on the holiday include the [[McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]] and parades in [[Plymouth, Massachusetts|Plymouth]], [[Massachusetts]]; [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]; [[Houston]], [[Texas]]; [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]; and [[Fountain Hills, Arizona|Fountain Hills]], [[Arizona]]. There is also a second Thanksgiving balloon parade within the [[New York metropolitan area]], the [[UBS]] balloon parade in [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], Connecticut, located {{convert|30|mi|km}} away; that parade is held the Sunday before Thanksgiving, so as not to compete with the parade in New York City. It usually does not duplicate any balloon characters. The [[Celebrate the Season Parade]], held the last Saturday in November in [[Pittsburgh]], was sponsored by Macy's from 2006 to 2013 after Macy's bought the [[Kaufmann's]] store chain that had sponsored that parade prior to 2006.

===Universal's Holiday Parade Featuring Macy's===
Since 2002, Macy's Studios has partnered with the [[Universal Orlando|Universal Orlando Resort]] (owned by NBC parent [[NBCUniversal]]) to bring balloons and floats from New York City to the theme park in [[Florida]] every holiday season in an event known as the Macy's Holiday Parade. The parade is performed daily and includes the iconic Santa Claus float. Performers from the Orlando area are cast as various clowns, and the park used to invite guests to be "balloon handlers" for the parade.<ref>[http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/index.html Universal Studios, Orlando: Theme Parks, Attractions, Accommodations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217092105/http://www.universalorlando.com/holidays/index.html|date=December 17, 2006}}</ref> In 2017, the Macy's Holiday Parade was renamed to Universal's Holiday Parade Featuring Macy's. In 2020, as a result of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the parade could not be run. Instead, a walkthrough experience known as Universal's Holiday Experience Featuring Macy's Balloons took place throughout the holiday season, displaying various floats and balloons that would normally be seen in the parade.

==In popular culture==
* The 1947 film ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'', begins with the parade, as do most of its remakes. The film portrays the real [[Santa Claus]] being hired to work at Macy's after its own Santa impersonator gets drunk during the parade. NBC, in its telecasts, often showed the original 1947 film on Thanksgiving afternoon, following its coverage of the parade and the [[National Dog Show]].
* The 1984 film ''[[Broadway Danny Rose]]'' features a sequence in which Danny ([[Woody Allen]]) and Tina ([[Mia Farrow]]) are chased into a warehouse containing Parade materials and helium gas supplies; near the end of the film Tina is at the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade itself.
* The parade is featured in the 1987 children's book ''[[We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (book)|We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story]]'' and its [[We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (film)|animated film adaptation]] where Rex mistakenly befriends a dinosaur balloon.
* In the 1994 ''[[Seinfeld]]'' episode "[[The Mom and Pop Store]]", Elaine wins a spot on the parade route for her boss, Mr. Pitt, to hold the [[Woody Woodpecker]] balloon.
* In 1994 the first Thanksgiving-themed episode of ''[[Friends]]'', "The One Where Underdog Gets Away", centered on the accidental release of the (unused at the time) "[[List of Underdog characters#Underdog|Underdog]]" balloon.
* In 2008, a [[Coca-Cola]] [[computer-generated imagery|CGI]] ad aired in the United States during [[Super Bowl XLII]]. The commercial's plot centered around Underdog and fictional [[Stewie Griffin]] balloons chasing a Coke bottle-shaped balloon through New York City. The spot ended with a [[Charlie Brown]] balloon holding the Coke balloon.<!--The wording has been changed as both Underdog and Charlie Brown have appeared in the parade in the past, and Stewie Griffin was merely a ficticious balloon that was used for the ad, and Macy's has no plans for one.--> The advertisement won a Silver Lion Award at the annual Lions International Advertising Festival in [[Cannes, France|Cannes]], France, that year, and the clip of the commercial with the Griffin balloon was featured in a Macy's commercial in October 2008 (along with clips from ''Miracle on 34th Street'', ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''Seinfeld'' and other media where Macy's was mentioned). The commercial was also referenced in [[Thanksgiving (Family Guy)|a 2011 episode]] of ''[[Family Guy]].'' Stewie, one of its main characters, is seen watching the parade only to see the balloon of himself in the parade.
* In the 2011 film ''[[Tower Heist]]'', the climax of the film takes place during the parade, using archival footage from the 2010 parade.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Albrecht |first=Leslie |date=December 4, 2010 |title=Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Recreated for Film Shoot |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20101204/upper-west-side/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-recreated-for-film-shoot.amp/ |access-date=December 3, 2024 |work=[[DNAinfo ]]}}</ref>
* In [[Ghostbusters (2016)|the 2016 reboot of ''Ghostbusters'']], the Ghostbusters fight a haunted balloon parade including several Macy's balloons from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

==See also==
* [[Santa Claus parades]]
* [[List of Christmas and holiday season parades]]
* [[1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]]

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{Reflist|30em}}

'''Further reading'''
* {{cite book|first=William L. Jr.|last=Bird|title=Holidays on Display|location=Washington, D.C.|publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]], [[National Museum of American History]] in Association with [[Princeton Architectural Press]]|year=2007}}

==External links==
* {{Commons and category inline|Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade}}
* {{Official website|1=http://www.macys.com/parade}}

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