99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Returns

New York City's iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade returns for its 99th edition on Thursday, November 27, 2025, kicking off the holiday season with a procession of giant balloons, elaborate floats, and live performances along a 2.5-mile route from West 77th Street in Manhattan to Macy's Herald Square on 34th Street.

The event, which draws millions of spectators in person and on television, begins at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time and will proceed rain or shine. Organizers expect mild weather, with temperatures reaching a high of 52 degrees Fahrenheit under partly cloudy skies and light winds of 6 to 10 miles per hour. Full-size balloons will remain grounded if sustained winds exceed 23 miles per hour or gusts surpass 35 miles per hour, in accordance with city regulations.

This year's parade features 32 balloons, including four new character designs: Buzz Lightyear from Pixar's Toy Story, celebrating the film's 30th anniversary; Super Mario from Nintendo, marking the 40th anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game; Pac-Man from Bandai Namco; and a 32-foot-tall onion carriage from DreamWorks' Shrek universe, carrying eight characters. Additional debuts include the Derpy Tiger...