The 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a cherished tradition in New York City, took place on Thursday, November 23, 2023. The event started 30 minutes earlier than usual, at 8:30 a.m., and concluded around noon. The parade began on Manhattan's Upper West Side and ended at Macy's flagship store on 34th Street. The route started from West 77th Street & Central Park West, traveled down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, turned onto Central Park South toward Sixth Avenue, and then headed down Sixth Avenue to Macy's Herald Square. Spectators were able to watch along the 2.5-mile route.
The parade featured a variety of attractions, including giant character balloons, floats, marching bands, and more. Seven new balloon giants were introduced this year, including Leo the lizard from a Netflix film and a new Beagle Scout Snoopy version celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first appearance in the Peanuts comics. The event also showcased performances by Cher, Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Jessie James Decker, Pentatonix, and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke.
The parade was hosted by 'Today' show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker. It was aired on NBC from 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones and was also streamed on Peacock. A Spanish simulcast was available on Telemundo 47 New York. Florida's Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagle Regiment High School Marching Band and Maria Verdeja Schools of the Arts were among the performers.
In preparation for the parade, street closures occurred on Wednesday and Thursday due to the parade and the balloon inflation event on the Upper West Side. The balloon inflation event was open to the public on Wednesday, November 22 from noon until 6:00 p.m. The viewing location was outside the Museum of Natural History between West 77th and 81st Streets. Mass transit was recommended for reaching the location.