Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: The Ultimate Guide to Every Balloon, Float, and Performer

Alright, let's get right to it. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is more than just a tradition; it's the official, no-arguments-allowed kickoff to the holiday season in America. It’s that one morning a year where we all agree to grab a hot drink, and watch giant cartoon characters float down the streets of New York City.

And let me tell you, the 2025 parade is shaping up to be an absolute showstopper.

You could spend hours trying to piece together who's performing, what new balloons are showing up, and what time to even tune in. But why would you? You’ve got us.

This is your one-stop, no-BS guide to the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’ve packed everything you need to know into one place, from the brand-new floats you can't miss to some seriously weird facts from the parade's history.

• Editor's Note: This is your ultimate guide to the 2025 parade, based on the latest official information! We'll be updating this post with any new details as they're announced, so be sure to bookmark this page and check back as the big day gets closer!

The Key Info You Need (The "No-Time-to-Read" Version)

Pressed for time? Here are the must-know details in a nutshell.

• What: The 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

• When: Thursday, November 27, 2025

• Time: Kicks off at 8:30 AM and runs until 12:00 PM (Noon) in all time zones.

• TV Channel: Tune into your local NBC station.

• Streaming: Peacock will have the live feed!

• Starting Point: 77th Street & Central Park West in NYC.

• Ending Point: Macy's Herald Square at 34th Street & 7th Ave.

What's New for 2025: The Absolute Can't-Miss Floats & Balloons

Okay, this is what you're really here for. What's brand new and guaranteed to blow you away this year?

Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix

You read that right. Hawkins, Indiana, is coming to Manhattan. This brand new float is a must-see for any fan of the show, featuring a top-secret design that unleashes the Upside Down onto the parade route. And to make it even more epic, the legendary rock band Foreigner will be performing live on the float!

To Infinity and Beyond! Buzz Lightyear is Here!

Celebrating 30 incredible years of Toy Story, a brand new Buzz Lightyear balloon is soaring into the lineup. Get ready to see everyone's favorite Space Ranger, blaster at the ready, flying high above the city streets.

Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by The LEGO Group

Get ready for a frosty, fun-filled adventure. This new float features a whole world built of LEGO, from skiing Yetis to playful penguins. It's the kind of imaginative, awesome creation that only LEGO could pull off, and it'll have singer Meg Donnelly performing!

The Classics Make a Comeback!

In a super cool nod to its own history, Macy's is bringing back several classic balloon designs from parades of the past, including the Rainbow and Greybow Trouts and the adorable Happy Hippo Triple Stack!

• Beagle Scout Snoopy (by Peanuts Worldwide): The king of the parade returns! Fun Fact: Snoopy's giant hat is as long as 17 beagles!

• Bluey (by BBC Studios): Wackadoo! Fun Fact: It took about 50 gallons of blue paint to get Bluey's color just right.

• Buzz Lightyear (by Pixar Animation Studios): Celebrating 30 years of Toy Story! Fun Fact: The Buzz balloon is nearly as long as 4 Pizza Planet delivery trucks.

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid (by Abrams Books): He's back for the 16th time! Fun Fact: Greg's backpack is so huge it could hold 2,000 regular-sized backpacks inside.

• Freida the Dachshund (by Macy's): This familiar face is a specialty balloon perched atop two NYC food carts! Fun Fact: At 8 x 18 feet, Freida's bandana is the largest in the world!

• Gabby from Gabby's Dollhouse (by DreamWorks Animation): This returning fan favorite is the widest balloon in the parade.

• Goku (by Toei Animation): The Dragon Ball hero is in his original Saiyan form. Fun Fact: Goku is one of the longest balloons in the parade, measuring over 70 feet!

• Happy Hippo Triple Stack (by Macy's): A new trio of hippos descended from a legendary Macy's balloon of the past.

• KPOP Demon Hunters: Derpy Tiger & Sussie (by Netflix): Two new specialty balloons from the worldwide animated sensation.

• Mario (by Nintendo): The hero of the Mushroom Kingdom makes his debut! Fun Fact: Mario has been delighting gamers for 40 years!

• Marshall (by PAW Patrol): Adventure Bay's resident firedog is fired up for his first appearance. Fun Fact: Marshall is twice the size of a standard NYC Fire Department firetruck.

• Minnie Mouse (by The Walt Disney Company): Everyone's favorite sweetheart returns! Fun Fact: Minnie's birthday is November 18th, the week before Thanksgiving!

• Monkey D. Luffy (by Toei Animation): The captain of the Straw Hat Crew! Fun Fact: It takes over 20 different colors of paint to bring this pirate king to life.

• Noorah the Arctic Fox (by The Lumistella Company): Santa's magical fox from The Elf on the Shelf.

• PAC-MAN (by Bandai Namco): The hungry hero has been chomping PAC-Dots for 45 years.

• Pikachu & Eevee (by The Pokémon Company): These two are sledding into their 25th consecutive appearance!

• The Pillsbury Doughboy (by Pillsbury): Hoo-hoo! Fun Fact: Over 250,000 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls could fit inside this balloon!

• Rainbow & Greybow Trouts (by Macy's): A reimagining of the classic Flying Fish balloon from parades past.

• Shrek's Onion Carriage (by Universal Pictures'): This balloon features 8 characters, the most ever on a single balloon!

• Smokey Bear (by USDA Forest Service): Returning after his 80th birthday. Fun Fact: The balloon is so large, 85 average-size black bears could fit inside!

• Spider-Man (by Marvel): Your friendly neighborhood web-slinger. Fun Fact: At 77.5 feet long, Spidey is one of the longest balloons in the entire parade.

• SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary (by Nickelodeon): He's ready! Fun Fact: SpongeBob was the very first "square" balloon ever in the parade's history.

• Stuart the Minion (by Illumination): Stuart is getting a makeover courtesy of his fellow Minions!

The Complete 2025 Balloon Lineup

The Complete 2025 Float Lineup (And Who's Performing!)

The floats are where the party is! Here is every single rolling stage and the superstar performing on it. Get ready for some serious music.

• 1-2-3 Sesame Street (by Sesame Workshop) - Performing: The Cast & Muppets of Sesame Street & Christopher Jackson

• Big City Cheer! (by Spirit of America Productions)

• Big Turkey Spectacular (by Jennie-O) - Performing: Shaggy

• Birds of a Feather Stream Together (by Peacock) - Performing: Teyana Taylor

• Brick-tastic Winter Mountain (by The LEGO Group) - Performing: Meg Donnelly

• Camp Snoopy (by Peanuts Worldwide)

• Candy Cosmos (by Haribo)

• Colossal Wave of Wonder (by Kalahari Resorts) - Performing: Ciara

• The Counting Sheep's Dream Generator (by Serta) - Performing: Debbie Gibson

• Deck the Halls (by Balsam Hill) - Performing: Darlene Love

• Dora's Fantastical Rainforest (by Nickelodeon & Paramount) - Performing: Luísa Sonza

• Fantasy Chocolate Factory (by Kinder) - Performing: Lauren Spencer Smith

• Friends-giving in POPCITY (by Pop Mart)

• Geoffrey's Dazzling Dance Party (by Toys"R"Us) - Performing: Lil Jon

• Harvest in the Valley (by Green Giant) - Performing: Russell Dickerson

• Heartwarming Holiday Countdown (by Hallmark Channel) - Performing: Mickey Guyton & Drew Baldridge

• The Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder (by Holland America Line) - Performing: Jewel

• Magic Meets the Seas (by Disney Cruise Line) - Performing: Captain Mickey Mouse, Captain Minnie Mouse and Friends

• Master Chocolatier Ballroom (by Lindt) - Performing: Calum Scott

• Palace of Sweets (by Brach's) - Performing: Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw

• Pasta Knight (by Rao's Homemade) - Performing: Matteo Bocelli

• Pirate Ship (by Macy's) - Performing: Mr. Fantasy

• Santa's Sleigh (The Grand Finale!)

• Tom Turkey (The Iconic Opener!)

• Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things (by Netflix) - Performing: Foreigner

• Wondrous World of Wildlife (by Bronx Zoo) - Performing: Kool & the Gang

• World of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (by Nickelodeon & Paramount+) - Performing: Busta Rhymes

• Specialty Unit: Pinelope (by GoBowling!)

Special Appearances to Watch For!

Beyond the musical acts, keep an eye out for these special guests appearing on the floats!

• On the Birds of a Feather Stream Together float: Look for U.S. Olympian Ilia Malinin and U.S. Paralympian Jack Wallace.

• On the Heartwarming Holiday Countdown float: Hallmark stars Nikki DeLoach & Kris Polaha will be making an appearance.

• On the Master Chocolatier Ballroom float: See ballet dancers Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia.

• On the Tom Turkey float: The iconic opener will feature an appearance by Big Brothers Big Sisters.

A Little Bit of Parade History (The Weird & Wild Stuff)

To really appreciate the parade, you have to know where it came from. And trust us, it started out pretty weird.

• It wasn't for Thanksgiving! The first parade in 1924 was a Christmas Parade.

• They used live zoo animals. Seriously. Lions, tigers, and bears were the main attractions before they wisely switched to balloons in 2-7.

• They used to release the balloons into the sky! Up until 1932, they just let them fly away. They stopped after a pilot nearly crashed his plane trying to "capture" one. Good call.

Parade Route & Viewing Tips

Heading to the city to see it live? The 2.5-mile route starts at 77th Street & Central Park West, heads south to 6th Avenue, and finishes right at Macy's Herald Square. For the best (and slightly less crowded) views, try staking out a spot along Central Park West.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What channel is the Macy's Day Parade on?
  It's on NBC! It has been the official broadcaster for decades. You can also stream it live on Peacock.

• What time does the 2025 Macy's Parade start?
  The parade officially starts at 8:30 AM ET, but the broadcast will run in every time zone from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM local time.

• Who is performing in the 2025 Macy's Parade?
  A ton of huge names! The lineup includes Ciara, Foreigner, Kool & the Gang, Gavin DeGraw, Busta Rhymes, Jewel, Lil Jon, Mickey Guyton, and many more.

• What new balloons will be in the 2025 parade?
  The biggest new balloon for 2025 is Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story! There are also several other brand new floats and specialty balloons.

• How long is the Macy's Parade?
  The parade broadcast is 3.5 hours long, but the actual route for a participant takes about 90 minutes to walk. The route itself is 2.5 miles long.

Ready to Plan Your Own American Adventure?

Feeling that buzz of excitement? Seeing an event like the Macy's Parade can give you that itch to get out there and explore this amazing country. But where do you even start?

We've got your back. To help you cut through the noise, we created a no-BS directory of the official tourism websites for every single U.S. state and territory. No third-party fluff, just direct links to the real experts.

Whether you're suddenly inspired to plan a trip to New York City or want to explore somewhere totally new, this is your perfect starting point.

-> Check out our Official U.S. State & Territory Tourism Directory! <-

And there you have it! Everything you need to get hyped for the 2025 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

If you love seeing this country's amazing events and hidden gems, make sure you check out the American Travel Fun channel on YouTube! We're always posting new videos to help you plan your next adventure.

Happy travels, and happy holidays

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