On November 27, 2025, the streets of Manhattan once again swelled with cheers, music, and oversized balloons as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, now in its 99th edition, marched through New York City.

Kicking off the holiday season, the parade brought back its tradition of festive spectacle: giant balloons, colourful floats, live performances, and families lining the route from early morning. With new balloons, fresh floats and beloved traditions intact, this year’s parade aimed to write another memorable chapter in a century-long legacy.

What’s New This Year: Balloons, Floats & Lineup

This year’s parade added a splash of novelty to its classic lineup. Among the new giant balloons floating above the crowds were characters from pop-culture favourites, including Buzz Lightyear, Super Mario, PAC-MAN, a fantastical Derpy Tiger balloon (from K-pop Demon Hunters), and the whimsical Shrek's Onion Carriage.

Floats also returned dozens of them from nostalgic favorites to newly designed spectacles like the themed “Friends-giving in POPCITY” float featuring character tie-ins. Overall, the 2025 parade featured 32–34 balloons, 27–28 floats, plus “balloonicles,” clown groups, marching bands, performance groups, and thousands of participants.

Adding to the vibrancy were musical and performance acts spanning genres and generations part of what keeps the parade’s mix of tradition and pop-culture relevance alive.

A Beloved Tradition: Route, Timeline & Viewing Options

As with every year, the parade began around 8:30 a.m. Eastern, moving from the Upper West Side (near Central Park West / West 77th Street) and weaving through Manhattan before ending outside the flagship store at Herald Square.

Millions tuned in via live broadcast on NBC or streamed on Peacock, while others opted for the timeless tradition of lining the streets, some families even arriving hours or a day early to secure a good viewing spot.

For many, the parade isn’t just a show it’s a ritual marking the start of the holiday season, blending nostalgia, celebration, and community in one grand procession.

The Magic & Importance of the Parade

Since its beginnings in 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has become more than a store-sponsored event, it’s an American tradition. Over the decades, the parade has evolved with changing times, adding pop-culture icons, contemporary floats, and inclusive performances, yet the core remains the same: joy, spectacle, and bringing people together.

The 2025 edition reflects this balance perfectly. Old favorites and timeless wonder meet modern flair: beloved characters, brand-new balloons and floats, and a fresh parade lineup that appeals to children, longtime fans, and pop-culture enthusiasts alike.

Moreover, the parade offers a shared experience: families, tourists, New Yorkers and viewers across the country all participating, whether on the streets or in front of screens. It stands as a celebration of community and of a holiday season that, year after year, draws people together.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade proved once again why it’s a cornerstone of holiday tradition: a dazzling blend of nostalgia, spectacle, and surprise. With towering balloons, creative floats, joyous performances, and crowds filled with excitement, this 99th parade reaffirmed its place in hearts and homes. As confetti drifts and floats fade into memory, the parade carries more than just helium, it carries the spirit of togetherness, wonder, and the promise of a festive season ahead.