For almost 100 years, Macy’s has taken over New York City with its annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, kick-starting the holiday season with gigantic balloons, interactive and eye-catching floats, celebrity guest appearances, and more. The three-hour parade runs along a 2.5-mile long route, starting in Central Park West and ending at Macy’s Herald Square. Luckily for those of us who aren’t New Yorkers, it’s a televised event, meaning you can watch from the comfort and coziness of your home! Not sure when or how? Our guide tells all.
When Is the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Where Can I Watch It?
This year will be the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and since day one, it hasn’t changed its date, time, or location. If you can’t watch the parade in person, you have several options to watch it without cable. However, if you live on the West Coast and want to catch it live, be prepared to wake up early. The 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a televised event on NBC, meaning any streaming service with NBC will have it available for you to tune in. Here’s when and where you can watch the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:
When: Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023 at 9 a.m. EST / 6 a.m. PST
Where: Central Park West in New York City
Where to Watch:
What Balloons Will Be in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Some familiar faces you’ll see floating above the crowd are Bluey from “Bluey,” Pikachu and Eevee from “Pokemon,” Stuart Minion from “Despicable Me,” Grogu from “The Mandalorian,” and Goku from “Dragon Ball Z.” The new balloons are Beagle Scout Snoopy, Blue Cat and Chugs, Po from “Kung Fu Panda,” Monkey D. Luffy from “One Piece,” Leo, The Pillsbury Doughboy, and Uncle Dan.
Who’s Performing at the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Besides the balloons and floats, the parade will feature musical artists like Cher, Alex Smith, Brandy, Jon Batiste, and Pentatonix. Performance groups include Big Apple Circus, the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees, and Cornell Bhangra. Needless to say, there are plenty of reasons to watch the parade this year.
Can I Watch the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast?
The 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live on NBC, but cord-cutters still have easy access to the parade. If you have internet and a device to watch it on, you can stream it. Any device that allows you to download a streaming service app is your best bet. You can use a Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, any kind of smart TV, or an Android or iOS device.
More to Watch for Fans of the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
If you’re looking for more Thanksgiving Day entertainment, then check out other parades throughout the U.S. There’s the Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, which is available to watch on ABC, and the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade is partnered with and will stream live on Pluto TV.
If you want to prepare for Christmas and New Year’s festivities, be sure to find out how you can watch timeless classics like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “A Christmas Story” without cable. For New Year’s entertainment, don’t miss out on “New Year’s Eve Live from Times Square” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”