Santa never gets upstaged at the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but he’s got some strong competition this year.
Macy’s has a star-studded lineup for the parade this month, including 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 in the lineup: Dance sensation Charli D’Amelio and ballet dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia, as well as Jonathan Bennett, Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny, Ginna Claire Mason and members of New York Liberty WNBA team, which won the 2024 championship. The Liberty’s mascot, Ellie the Elephant, will also make an appearance. And the iconic Radio City Rockettes synchronized dance troupe, a regular featured fixture in the parade, will be on hand.
Macy’s said its parade will be the largest yet with more than 5,000 volunteers, 17 character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 11 marching bands and 10 performance groups. Broadway is always a major component of the parade and this year there will be performances from “Death Becomes Her,” “Hell’s Kitchen” and “The Outsiders,” which will be seen on television. The event will be televised on NBC television and simulcast on Peacock.
Along with Santa, Macy’s giant character balloons are also beloved by the kids. This year, there will be six new balloons, including Minnie Mouse by The Walt Disney Company; Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf by The Lumistella Company; Gabby by DreamWorks Animation; Goku by Dragon Ball/Toei Animation; Marshall by Nickelodeon and Spin Master, and Spider-Man by Marvel.
“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,” said Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer. “A dedicated team of artisans and production experts at Macy’s Studios work year-round to bring this experience to life.”
Actress Alison Brie, the star of the Macy’s 2024 holiday ad campaign, will be on the parade route. For the campaign, Brie portrays an expert gift curator along with her mentee portrayed by Matt Bush.
The parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28 and starts at 77th Street, proceeding downtown via a 2.5-mile route to Macy’s Herald Square flagship. It’s scheduled to end at noon.
The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was held in 1924. The parade was canceled in 1942, 1943 and 1944 due to World War II, when materials that would have been used in the celebration, including rubber, were donated to the war effort. The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will occur in 2026.
