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Nothing kicks off Thanksgiving quite like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s as essential to the holiday as turkey and stuffing—and if you’re like millions of Americans who make watching those giant balloons float through Manhattan an annual tradition, you’ll want to know exactly how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free this year.
This beloved parade has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1924, when a group of Macy’s employees first marched to the iconic Herald Square store in New York City. Store workers in colorful costumes paraded alongside floats and—believe it or not—actual animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo! That first parade drew a crowd of 250,000 people, and a holiday tradition was born. Today, it stands as one of America’s oldest Thanksgiving parades, sharing that distinction with Detroit’s America’s Thanksgiving Parade. (Fun fact: Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes the crown as the oldest, having started in 1920.)
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Since 1953, NBC has brought the magic right into our living rooms, broadcasting everything from the spectacular balloon characters to the show-stopping performances outside Macy’s Herald Square. While the parade has evolved into a massive production running from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, it still keeps one charming tradition alive: Macy’s employees can still march in the parade, just like their predecessors did nearly 100 years ago.
Ready to join the millions of Americans who make this parade part of their Thanksgiving morning routine? Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade online—including how to stream it for free.
When does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 air?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST on NBC.
How to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 live online
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live on NBC, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Peacock Premium Plus, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $86.99 per month after the trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends.
Peacock and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Peacock Premium Plus costs $13.99 per month and offers a current Black Friday deal where users can subscribe for $1.99 per month for 6 months. Meanwhile, Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $81.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
Best Overall Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Direct TV Stream
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free for its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $86.99 per month; Choice, which costs $114.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $129.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $169.99 per month. NBC is available with all four plans.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com
- Click “Shop Packages”
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Fubo
Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month, with a current $30 off deal for $49.99 your first month; Elite, which costs $89.99 per month, with a current deal for $59.99 for your first month; and Latino, which costs $32.99 per month. NBC is included in the Pro and Elite plans.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Fubo’s free trial.
- Visit Fubo.TV
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Best Budget Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Peacock
Peacock Premium Plus is our best budget pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for its price. Peacock Premium Plus costs $13.99 per month and includes no ads, the ability to download and watch select titles offline, and your local NBC channel live and 24/7. Peacock Premium Plus also includes more than 80,000 hours of TV shows, movies, and sports, including original Peacock films and series; current NBC and Bravo shows; other live sports and events; and 50 channels.
For Peacock’s Black Friday 2024 deal, users can subscribe to Peacock’s Premium ad-supported plan for $1.99 per month for 6 months with the code REALDEALMONTHLY or $19.99 for one year with the code REALDEAL. Without any deals, Peacock Premium’s regular price is $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Peacock Premium Plus.
- Visit PeacockTV.com
- Click “Get Started”
- Select Peacock Premium Plus as your plan
- Enter your information and payment method
- Navigate to NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $81.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $87.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $95.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. NBC is included in all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Hulu+ Live TV.
- Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Where is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 held?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 is held in New York City. The parade runs for 2.5 miles and starts at West 77th Street and Central Park West at 8:30 a.m. EST. The parade ends at Macy’s Herald Square.
Who are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 performers?
Read on for a full list of acts performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
Musical Performers & Special Guests
- Alex Warren
- Ariana Madix
- Bishop Briggs
- Charli D’Amelio
- Chlöe
- Coco Jones
- Dan + Shay
- Dasha
- Idina Menzel
- Jimmy Fallon & The Roots
- Joey McIntyre
- Kylie Cantrall
- Lea Salonga
- Liza Colón-Zayas
- Loud Luxury
- Natti Natasha
- New York Liberty & Ellie the Elephant
- Rachel Platten
- Roman Mejia
- Sebastián Yatra
- The Temptations
- Tiler Peck
- T-Pain
- Walker Hayes
- The War and Treaty
Dance Groups
- AUM Dance Creations
- Black Haus Creative
- BOSS Kids
- Circus Vazquez
- Indigenous Enterprise
- Kilgore College Rangerettes
- La Fuerza Dance Company
- MOVE NYC
- Riverdance
- Spirit of America Cheer
- Spirit of America Dance Stars
Marching Bands
- Avon Marching Black & Gold
- The Carolina Band
- East Tennessee State University Marching Bucs
- Flower Mound High School Marching Band
- Jonesboro High School Majestic Marching Cardinals
- Lake Hamilton High School Marching Power Band of Arkansas
- Macy’s Great American Marching Band
- NYPD Marching Band
- Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriot Marching Band
- University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band
- West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band
Broadway Performances
- Death Becomes Her cast
- Hell’s Kitchen cast
- The Outsiders cast
- The Radio City Rockettes
What are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 balloons?
Read on for a full list of balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
New Giant Character Balloons for 2024
- Minnie Mouse
- “Extraordinary Noorah” (The Elf on the Shelf)
- Gabby’s Dollhouse
- Goku
- Spider-Man
Returning Character Balloons
- Beagle Scout Snoopy
- Bluey
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid
- Kung Fu Panda’s Po
- Marshall from PAW Patrol
- Monkey D. Luffy
- Opening Macy’s Stars
- Pikachu and Eevee
- The Pillsbury Doughboy
- Pumpkins
- Ronald McDonald
- Sinclair’s Dino
- Smokey Bear
- Snow Crystals
- SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary
- Stuart the Minion
- Tip Toe
What are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 floats?
Read on for a full list of floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
New Floats for 2024
- Candy Cosmos (Haribo)
- Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest (Nickelodeon & Paramount)
- Magic Meets the Seas (Disney Cruise Line)
- Pasta Knight (Rao’s Homemade)
- Wednesday’s Feast (Netflix)
- Wondrous World of Wildlife (Bronx Zoo)
Returning Floats
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street
- Big City Cheer
- Big Red Shoe Car
- Big Turkey Spectacular
- Birds of a Feather Stream Together
- The Brick-Changer
- Camp Snoopy
- Colossol Wave of Wonder
- Deck the Halls
- Fantasy Chocolate Factory
- Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party
- Gift of Freedom
- Harvest in the Valley
- Heartwarming Holiday Countdown
- Macy’s Santaland Express
- Macy’s Winter Wonderland in Central Park
- Palace of Sweets
- Rocking Animal Collection:
- Giraffe
- Horse
- Flamingo
- Lobster
- Moose
- Santa’s Sleigh
- Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- Tom Turkey
- Universal’s Merry Moment
- The Wondership
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here’s how to watch it for free.