The 87th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is set to kick off the holiday season tomorrow, as more than 8,000 marchers will shove off at Central Park West and 77th Street and head down into Herald Square.
Some 3.5 million spectators are expected to line the streets on the route and will be joined by more than 50 million viewers worldwide, as 15 giant character balloons, 37 enormous novelty and ornament balloons, 30 floats 11 marching bands and more spread cheer throughout the city.
"I’m pretty sure the magicians at Macy’s Parade Studio have once again made it onto Santa’s nice list," said Amy Kule, executive producer of the parade, adding that "four brand new giant character balloons, five new intricately designed floats and one spinning dreidel" will join the parade for the first time this year.
"These new entries join the already stellar grouping of balloons, floats, performers and adorable kids that will once again make Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade the perfect way for everyone to begin their Thanksgiving holiday," Kule said.
NBC’s Matt Lauer, Al Roker and Savannah Guthrie will host the parade, and will be joined by an all-star cast of giant balloons including Snoopy, Spongebob Squarepants, Toothless from "How to Train Your Dragon," Hello Kitty Buzz Lightyear and more.
Also on hand will be the typical bevy of stars, this year including Kristin Chenoweth, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, Fall out Boy, Austin Mahone, Kellie Pickler and more.
But for all the star power and fanfare around the parade, the weather may be the real story, as an incoming storm this week is threatening to ground the balloons due to high-speed winds.
If you go:
When: Begins at 9 a.m., lasts around 3 hours
Where: Starts at Central Park West and 77th Street, marches down CPW to 59th Street where it will take a left then continue to Sixth Avenue. There, the parade takes a right and heads down to 34th Street, finally heading west toward Herald Square.
