99 Years of Spectacular Spectacle with MACY’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 

Before sunrise on Thanksgiving morning, crowds pressed against barricades with coffee cups, blankets, and the kind of electric anticipation only this parade can summon. A low cheer rippled down Central Park West as the opening floats emerged, bright against the crisp November air. 

The parade’s signature giants soon followed. Buzz Lightyear soared between the buildings as if mid–space mission, Mario’s red cap bobbed like a beacon above the crowd, PAC-MAN chomped his way down the avenue, and Shrek’s Onion Carriage rolled through like a fairytale dropped straight into Midtown. Children pointed, adults grinned, and for a moment, the whole city felt weightless. 

This year’s parade featured 32 balloons, 3 ballonicles, 27 floats, 4 specialty units, 33 clown troupes, and a precision performance from the Radio City Rockettes.  

As tradition dictates, the event was set to conclude with the appearance of Santa Claus. 

But before the sleigh bells rang, the streets pulsed with a different rhythm: 2000s hip-hop. The parade transformed into a time machine as Ciara, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Wayne brought downtown swagger to uptown tradition, their performances ricocheting off the glass towers as spectators danced in their scarves and gloves. 

A new spectacle arrived in the form of towering balloons inspired by K-pop demon hunters’ characters, their dramatic silhouettes casting animated shadows over the crowds. As they floated past, the moment was cinematic.  Eaj, Rei Ami, and Audrey Nuna delivered a live performance tied to the year’s most-watched Netflix animated hit, their voices warm, fierce, and otherworldly, wrapping the avenue in a spell. 

Then the cheers rose once more. Santa appeared, waving from his sleigh and bringing the festivities to a jubilant finale. With that final flourish, the parade marked its 99th year, proving that nearly a century on, its magic not only endures but continues to find new ways to rise above the skyline.