New York (WABC) — This year the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature Labooboo and the “Kpop Demon Hunters” as they take over the skies and streets of New York.
The parade begins rain or shine on Manhattan’s Upper West Side on November 27 and ends at the Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for the performance.
This year’s parade will include 34 balloons, four mini-balloons, 28 floats, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands – all led by Santa Claus.
The cast includes Audrey Nuna, Ciara and Busta Rhymes. New balloons include Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man, while new floats include Labooboo and “Stranger Things”.
Marching bands come from various states and Panama.
What time does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade start?
It starts at 8:30 am Eastern
What’s the weather going to be like?
Eyewitness News The AccuWeather team is predicting a sunny and cool day with sunny to partly cloudy skies. Feels like the 30s because of the wind. Strong gusts should subside by the end of the day. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if winds exceed 23 mph or gusts exceed 35 mph.
Who are some of the stars performing?
“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will open a spectacular show. Hunter/X’s Audrey Noona, EJAE and Ri Ami, the fictional girl group at the center of the Netflix hit “Kpop Demon Hunters,” will appear alongside Ciara, Foreigner, Lil Jon, Cool. And the Gang, Busta Rhymes, Mickey Guyton and Teyana. An eclectic group of stars — from ballet dancer Tiller Peck to YouTube’s “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans — will attend the annual holiday kick-off.
Broadway will be represented by the cast of “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time” and “Ragtime,” while there will be the Radio City Rockettes and some serious athletes — three-time U.S. national champion figure skater Ilya Malinin and U.S. Paralympian Jack Wallace. Alumni and students of New York City’s LaGuardia High School — the school featured in the film and TV series “Fame” — will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of “A Chorus Line.”
The others will be Jewel, Debbie Gibson, Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Christopher Jackson, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith and Luisa Sonza.
What are the new balloons?
This year, four new featured character balloons will launch, including Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, Mario from Super Mario Bros. and a 32-foot-tall (9.8 m) balloon onion cart featuring eight characters from the world of “Shrek.” “Kpop Demon Hunters” will also be featured in the sky with Derpy Tiger and Susie characters.
What about the new tableaus?
Seven new floats will debut during the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Each year, new floats are conceived and crafted by artisans from the Macy’s Parade Studio, a design and production facility that includes carpenters, engineers, electricians, painters, animators, balloon technicians, sculptors, metal fabricators, scenic and costume designers.
This year’s new tableaux include land of glaciers, wildlife & Wonder by Holland America Line; Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by the LEGO Group; Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt; The Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix; Friend-donated to PopCity by Pop Mart, creator of Laabooboo; The Counting Sheeps Dream Generator by Serta; And The Littlest Float from Goldfish.
Is your state represented by a band?
Marching bands will come from South Carolina, California, Texas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Santiago, Panama. The New York Police Department’s marching band will also participate. There will also be dancers and cheerleaders from Spirit of America Dance and Spirit of America Cheer.
What’s the best way to get to the parade?
mass transit.
Not only is heavy traffic expected due to the holiday, but many roads will also be closed.
The NYPD also reminds spectators that no large backpacks, lawn chairs, umbrellas, large coolers or alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the viewing area along the route.
Central Park West will be closed from West 72nd Street to West 86th Street from 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26 to 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 27.
West 72nd Street West will be closed from 8th Street West through Central Park West to Columbus Avenue from 12:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 26 through Thursday, November 27.
79th Street Transverse will be closed from 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 26 to 12:00 a.m. Thursday, November 27.
34th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
The following streets will be closed on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at the discretion of the NYPD:
Formation:
Columbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 86th Street
Central Park West between 81st Street and 86th Street
86th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
85th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
84th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
83rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
82nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
75th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
62nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
61st Street between Central Park West and Broadway
59th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
route:
Central Park West between 81st Street and the eastern side of Columbus Circle/59th Street
Columbus Circle (Complete Circle)
59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th Street
Spread:
33rd Street between 5th Avenue and 10th Avenue
34th Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue
34th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
35th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue
36th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
37th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
38th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
40th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
41st Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
7th Avenue between 31st Street and 41st Street
Broadway between 45th Street and 34th Street
Miscellaneous (Formation and Dispersion):
58th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
40th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
39th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
38th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
37th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
36th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
32nd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
6th Avenue between 32nd Street and 34th Street
8th Avenue between 41st Street and 33rd Street
Broadway between 33rd Street and 34th Street
Broadway between Columbus Circle and 58th Street
Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 5th Avenue
Event Day Construction Restrictions:
73rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
70th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
69th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
67th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
66th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
65th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
64th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
63rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
62nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway
61st Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway
60th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 58th Street
58th Street between 9th Avenue and 6th Avenue
57th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
56th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
55th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
54th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
53rd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
52nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
51st Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
50th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
49th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
48th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
Rockefeller Plaza between 51st Street and 48th Street
47th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
46th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
45th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
44th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
42nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
41st Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
40th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
39th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
38th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
37th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
36th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
33rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
6th Avenue between 33rd Street and 32nd Street
Columbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 59th Street
9th Avenue between 59th Street and 58th Street
Broadway between Columbus Circle and 65th Street
8th Avenue between Columbus Circle and 58th Street
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