The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual event held in New York City, presented by the department store Macy's. First held in 1924, it's one of the oldest Thanksgiving parades in the U.S., alongside Detroit's America's Thanksgiving Parade. The three-hour event takes place in Manhattan, starting at 9:00 a.m. EST on Thanksgiving Day and ending at Macy's Herald Square. It has been broadcast nationally by NBC since 1953.
1920: First Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia
The nation's oldest Thanksgiving parade, the Gimbels parade (now the 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade), debuted in Philadelphia in 1920.
1924: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's Inauguration
The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924. Store employees dressed in costumes marched to Macy's Herald Square, accompanied by floats, bands, and live animals from the Central Park Zoo. Santa Claus was welcomed at Herald Square and crowned "King of the Kiddies."
1924: First Macy's Parade Held
The inaugural Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924. The parade featured store employees in costumes, floats, professional bands, and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. Santa Claus was welcomed at Herald Square and crowned "King of the Kiddies". The parade was a success, leading Macy's to declare it an annual event.
1927: Balloons Replace Live Animals
In 1927, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade replaced live zoo animals with balloons.
1928: Helium Balloons Introduced
In 1928, Macy's began using helium to inflate the parade balloons, allowing them to float.
1928: Balloon Release and Reward
In 1928, parade organizer Tony Sarg released five balloons after the parade, offering a $100 reward for their recovery.
1931: Clarence Chamberlin's Balloon Capture
In 1931, aviator Clarence Chamberlin used his plane's wingtip to cut down a dragon balloon and claim the reward.
1932: Santa Leads the Parade
In a break from tradition, Santa Claus led the 1932 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade instead of concluding it.
1932: First Local Radio Broadcasts
The Macy's parade began broadcasting on local New York City radio stations starting in 1932, continuing until 1941 and then resuming in 1945 until 1951.
1932: End of Balloon Release Tradition
The tradition of releasing the balloons ended in 1932 after a pilot nearly crashed trying to capture one.
1933: Parade Attendance Exceeds One Million
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's popularity continued to grow, drawing crowds of over one million people in 1933.
1933: Warmest Parade on Record
The warmest Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade occurred in 1933 with a temperature of 69°F (20.5°C).
1934: Mickey Mouse Balloon Debuts
In 1934, the first Mickey Mouse balloon appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1939: First Televised Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was first televised locally in New York City in 1939.
1941: Temporary Suspension of Radio Broadcasts
Local radio broadcasts of the parade paused in 1941, resuming in 1945.
1942: Parade Suspended Due to WWII
From 1942 to 1944, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was put on hold because of World War II. Resources such as rubber and helium, needed for the war effort, were no longer available for the parade.
1944: Parade Remains Suspended Due to WWII
The parade remained suspended in 1944 due to ongoing wartime restrictions.
1945: Local Broadcasts Resume
After a wartime hiatus, the local television broadcast of the parade resumed in 1945.
1945: Parade Resumes After WWII
Following the end of World War II, the Macy's parade returned in 1945.
1945: Radio Broadcasts Resume
Local radio broadcasts of the parade resumed in 1945 after a temporary pause.
1946: Parade Filmed for "Miracle on 34th Street"
The 1946 Macy's parade was filmed for inclusion in the film "Miracle on 34th Street."
1947: Parade Featured in "Miracle on 34th Street"
Footage of the 1946 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was featured in the 1947 film "Miracle on 34th Street," increasing the parade's national visibility.
1948: Parade Debuts on Network Television
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade appeared on network television (CBS) for the first time in 1948.
1948: First Network Television Broadcast
The parade aired on network television for the first time in 1948, marking another significant step in its growing national presence.
1951: End of Local Radio Broadcasts
Local radio broadcasts of the parade ended in 1951, preceding the national television broadcast in 1953.
1953: NBC Becomes Official Broadcaster
In 1953, NBC took over the broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1953: National Television Broadcast Begins
In 1953, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was televised nationally on NBC for the first time, significantly expanding its audience and reach.
1956: Last Ragamuffin Parade
By 1956, the growing popularity of the Macy's parade contributed to the decline of Ragamuffin Day, a children's Thanksgiving Day activity that involved a primitive version of trick-or-treating. Public backlash against begging during the Great Depression, coupled with Macy's competition, led to the end of ragamuffin parades.
1957: The Rockettes Become a Regular Act
The Rockettes began their annual performance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1957.
1958: First Celebrity Performances
The Benny Goodman sextet's appearance in the 1958 parade marked the introduction of celebrity performances to the event.
1960: Color Broadcast Begins
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began broadcasting in color in 1960.
1963: Lorne Greene and Betty White begin hosting Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
In 1963, Lorne Greene and Betty White started hosting NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1964: Transition to Lip Syncing Begins
Due to technical difficulties with live performances on moving stages, the parade started transitioning to lip-synced performances in 1964.
1969: Three-Hour Broadcast Begins
The television broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade expanded to three hours in 1969.
1971: Balloons Grounded
Balloons were grounded in 1971 due to weather conditions.
1972: End of Lorne Greene and Betty White's hosting era
1972 marked the end of Lorne Greene and Betty White's run as hosts of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC.
1974: David Hartman and Karen Grassle host, Ed McMahon joins as man on the street
In 1974, David Hartman and Karen Grassle hosted the parade, with Ed McMahon joining as a man on the street host.
1977: Ed McMahon becomes main host
Ed McMahon transitioned from man on the street to a main host of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1977.
1979: Parade wins first Emmy Award
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade won its first Emmy Award for outstanding special event coverage in 1979.
1980: Goodyear Ends Balloon Production
1980 marked the end of Goodyear's production of the large animal-shaped balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, after decades of collaboration starting in the 1920s.
1981: End of Ed McMahon's hosting era
1981 was the last year Ed McMahon hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1982: Bryant Gumbel begins hosting
Bryant Gumbel began hosting NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1982, marking the start of the tradition of Today show hosts emceeing the event.
1984: End of Bryant Gumbel's hosting stint
Bryant Gumbel concluded his role as host of the Macy's Parade in 1984.
1984: Raven Industries Begins Making Balloons
Raven Industries of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, began manufacturing the parade balloons through its Raven Aerostar division in 1984, lasting until 2019.
1985: NYPD Highway Patrol Leads Parade
Starting in 1985, the New York City Police Department Highway Patrol traditionally led the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1987: Willard Scott starts hosting
Willard Scott took over as host of NBC's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1987.
1993: End of Dick Schneider's production and direction
Dick Schneider ceased producing and directing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade telecast in 1993.
1993: Sonic the Hedgehog Balloon Incident
Strong winds during the 1993 parade caused the Sonic the Hedgehog balloon to hit a lamppost, causing damage and injuring a child and a police officer.
1994: Brad Lachman becomes executive producer, Bill Bracken producer, Gary Halvorson director
In 1994, Brad Lachman took over as executive producer, Bill Bracken as producer, and Gary Halvorson as director for the parade telecast.
1997: Balloon Grounding Law Enacted
A law was passed in 1997 prohibiting the flying of large balloons in sustained winds exceeding 20 knots or gusts over 30 knots.
1997: Cat in the Hat and Other Balloon Incidents
High winds during the 1997 parade led to several balloon incidents. The Cat in the Hat balloon hit a lamppost, injuring a spectator, while the Barney and Pink Panther balloons were also damaged. This incident prompted the formation of a task force and new safety regulations.
1997: CBS replaces Disneyland with Opryland USA in All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade
In 1997, CBS's All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade replaced Disneyland footage with footage from Opryland USA.
1997: Beavis and Butt-head provide commentary on parade
MTV's Beavis and Butt-head offered their unique commentary on the 1997 Macy's parade.
1997: End of Willard Scott's hosting run
Willard Scott's time as host of the parade concluded in 1997.
1998: Matt Lauer becomes host
Matt Lauer began his long stint as a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade host in 1998.
2000: Joel Godard becomes announcer
Around 2000, Joel Godard took over announcing duties for the Macy's Parade telecast.
2000: Today Show Shortened on Thanksgiving
Starting in 2000, NBC's Today show reduced its airtime on Thanksgiving Day to accommodate the expanding parade broadcast. In 2023, the parade started even earlier impacting the Today Show's timeslot even more.
2002: Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando Resort
In 2002, Macy's Studios partnered with Universal Orlando Resort to bring elements of the Thanksgiving Day Parade to the theme park for the holiday season.
2003: Spanish broadcast begins on Telemundo
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade started broadcasting in Spanish on Telemundo in 2003, hosted by María Celeste Arrarás.
2004: CBS focuses exclusively on Macy's parade coverage
CBS began focusing solely on the Macy's parade in its Thanksgiving coverage starting in 2004.
2005: "Blue Sky Gallery" Balloon Program Begins
In 2005, the "Blue Sky Gallery" program was launched, featuring contemporary art in the form of parade balloons.
2005: M&M's Balloon Incident
In 2005, the M&M's balloon collided with a streetlight in Times Square, resulting in minor injuries.
2006: New Safety Measures Implemented
Following the M&M's balloon incident in 2005, new safety measures were introduced in 2006, including wind measurement devices and keeping balloons lower to the ground in windy conditions.
2006: Macy's Sponsorship of Celebrate the Season Parade
Macy's began sponsoring the Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburgh in 2006 after acquiring the Kaufmann's store chain, which was the previous sponsor.
2006: María Celeste Arrarás ends hosting of Spanish broadcast
María Celeste Arrarás finished her role as host of the Spanish-language broadcast of the parade in 2006.
2006: Meredith Vieira begins co-hosting
Meredith Vieira joined the hosting lineup for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2006.
2006: Wettest Parade on Record
The 2006 parade holds the record as the wettest, with 1.72 inches (49 mm) of rain.
2007: Broadway Show Performs Amidst Strike
During the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the cast of "Legally Blonde" performed with limited props and costumes due to an ongoing stagehands' strike.
2009: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route Change
In 2009, there was a change in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route. This served as a basis for the 2012 route adjustment, influencing the course of the parade in later years.
2009: Same-Day Rebroadcast Introduced
In 2009, NBC began airing a same-day rebroadcast of the parade in the afternoon.
2009: New parade route established
A new route for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was established in 2009, eliminating Broadway and providing more viewing space.
2010: Meredith Vieira finishes co-hosting
2010 marked the end of Meredith Vieira's time as a co-host of the parade.
2010: End of Joel Godard's announcing role
Joel Godard concluded his role as announcer for the parade in 2010.
2011: Ann Curry hosts
Ann Curry hosted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2011.
2011: 9/11 Victims' Families Participate
In 2011, families of 9/11 victims participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, cutting the ribbon at the start.
2011: Les Marshak becomes announcer
Les Marshak became the announcer for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade telecast in 2011.
2012: "Blue Sky Gallery" Shifts to Intermittent Releases
By 2012, the "Blue Sky Gallery" program, which annually released a new balloon based on contemporary art, transitioned to a less frequent release schedule.
2012: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Route Change
In 2012, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route was altered, similar to the 2009 route but bypassing Times Square entirely. The parade proceeded east from Columbus Circle along Central Park South and then south on Sixth Avenue to Herald Square.
2012: Savannah Guthrie joins as host
Savannah Guthrie joined the Macy's Parade hosting team in 2012.
2012: Parade route rerouted, impacting CBS coverage
The Macy's parade route was changed in 2012, affecting CBS's unauthorized coverage.
2013: End of delayed broadcasts on CNN Philippines
Delayed broadcasts of the Macy's parade on CNN Philippines (formerly known by other names) stopped in 2013.
2013: End of Macy's Sponsorship of Celebrate the Season Parade
Macy's ended its sponsorship of the Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburgh in 2013.
2014: Float Sponsorship Costs Increase
By 2014, the cost for sponsors to have a float in the parade, including performer fees, reached between $200,000 and $250,000.
2015: Milton DeLugg passes away
Milton DeLugg, the longtime music director for the parade telecast, passed away in 2015.
2016: Verizon launches 360-degree VR broadcast
Verizon began offering a 360-degree virtual reality live stream of the parade in 2016.
2017: End of Matt Lauer's hosting tenure
Matt Lauer's nearly two-decade run as a parade host ended in 2017.
2017: Macy's Singing Christmas Tree Precedes Santa
Starting in 2017, the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree choir performed just before Santa Claus, becoming the second-to-last act in the parade. This changed in 2022 and 2023 when they performed third-to-last again.
2017: Renaming of Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando Resort
The Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando Resort was renamed Universal's Holiday Parade Featuring Macy's in 2017.
2018: Hoda Kotb starts co-hosting
Hoda Kotb became a co-host of the parade in 2018.
2018: Coldest Parade on Record; First Same-Sex Kiss Broadcast
The 2018 parade was the coldest on record at 19°F (-7.2°C). This year also featured the first broadcast of a same-sex kiss in the parade's history during a performance of The Prom.
2019: Near Balloon Grounding
A potential grounding of the balloons was narrowly avoided in 2019 due to windy conditions.
2019: Character Balloons Handled by 90 People
By 2019, each of the 16 character balloons was handled by a team of 90 people.
2019: Raven Industries Ends Balloon Production
In 2019, Raven Industries ended its 35-year run as the maker of the Macy's parade balloons.
2019: Enhanced VR broadcast with hosts and virtual balloons
In 2019, Verizon's VR broadcast was enhanced with hosts and interactive "virtual balloons."
2019: Sesame Street Leads Parade
The cast of Sesame Street led the 2019 parade in celebration of the show's 50th anniversary.
2020: First international broadcast on Verizon and Macy's platforms
Verizon's 2020 broadcast was the first to be officially streamed internationally on their and Macy's online platforms.
2020: First live international broadcast on TAP TV
In 2020, the Philippine channel TAP TV aired the first live international broadcast of the Macy's parade.
2020: Universal's Holiday Experience Featuring Macy's Balloons
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional parade format was replaced with a walkthrough experience called Universal's Holiday Experience Featuring Macy's Balloons in 2020.
2020: CBS airs special highlights and performances due to lack of live parade
Due to the lack of a traditional Macy's parade in 2020, CBS aired a special program with highlights and pre-recorded performances.
2020: Downsized Parade Due to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 parade was significantly downsized and closed to the public, transitioning to a televised-only event.
2020: Audio description added to broadcast
Audio description was introduced to the Macy's Parade broadcast in 2020, increasing accessibility.
2021: Return to Traditional Parade Format
The Macy's parade returned to its traditional format in 2021, with a full in-person procession after the pandemic-related modifications of the previous year.
2021: Verizon suspends simulcast
Verizon did not produce a simulcast of the Macy's parade in 2021.
2022: Dylan Dreyer fills in for Al Roker
In 2022, Dylan Dreyer filled in for Al Roker as host due to Roker's health issues, and Hoda Kotb led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
2023: Pluto TV starts covering Chicago Thanksgiving Parade
CBS's streaming platform Pluto TV began covering the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade in 2023.
2023: CBS changes West Coast parade broadcast schedule
In 2023, CBS altered its scheduling for delayed broadcasts of the parade on the West Coast.
2023: High Ad Revenue for NBC
In 2023, NBC generated significant ad revenue from the parade broadcast, with 30-second commercials costing around $900,000.
2023: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Starts Early, Faces Protests
In 2023, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began at 8:30 am, marking the earliest start in nearly a century. Around 10 am, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the parade at three different points along the route, including a demonstration near 45th street and Sixth Avenue where some protesters glued themselves to the street.
2024: CBS ends Macy's parade coverage
CBS discontinued its coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2024.