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Sinclair's Dino and the rest of the giant balloons start taking shape at midday on Thanksgiving eve.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Inflation 2024

This popular—and crowded—Thanksgiving eve event has become a tradition of its own, See our in-depth post on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon inflation for more info and pictures.

The viewing gallery is open from noon-6pm. In years past, tens of thousands have crowded the streets surrounding the American Museum of Natural History as annual favorites like Snoopy, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Spongebob, Ronald McDonald, and more come to life alongside the new additions.

Experienced balloon watchers know not to expect a leisurely stroll Wednesday night. All visitors must go through a security check, before being herded into a procession that favors older kids. Preschoolers might find it overwhelming. Be forewarned: It is very difficult to push a stroller through the galleries, so we recommend baby carriers or waiting until your little one can endure long periods of standing to visit.

If you want to attend with friends, travel to the site together or meet a few blocks away. It can be impossible to connect once you're in the fray. If this all sounds too challenging, consider watching the post-parade balloon deflation on the side streets around 34th Street and Sixth Avenue.

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Santa always brings up the rear of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ushering in the start of the Christmas season in NYC.

98th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024

Thursday, November 28, 2024, 8:30-noon

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is total holiday madness, but incredible fun for families and a NYC holiday bucket list must. Where else can you see clowns, floats, giant balloons, and Santa Claus all at once? You'll see everything from Sesame Street characters to cheerleaders, and (my favorite!) Santa's sleigh!

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Minnie Mouse is set to take flight as one of six new balloons in the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Each parade brings a mix of characters old and new, and the 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade welcomes six brand-new balloons, including Minnie Mouse by The Walt Disney Company; Extraordinary Noorah and The Elf on the Shelf by The Lumistella Company; Gabby by DreamWorks Animation; Goku by Dragon Ball/Toei Animation; Marshall by Nickelodeon and Spin Master; and Spider-Man by Marvel. 

Old favorites returning to the parade route include Bluey, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Pikachu, Beagle Scout Snoopy, the Pillsbury Doughboy, Kung-Fu Panda's Po, and more. You can find the full parade lineup on Macy's official site. 

In addition to the new balloons, keep your eyes peeled for six new floats designed and built at the magical Macy's Parade Studio. We're especially excited to see the Wondrous World of Wildlife by Bronx Zoo! Other new additions include Candy Cosmos by Haribo; Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest by Nickelodeon & Paramount; Magic Meets the Seas by Disney Cruise Line; Pasta Knight by Rao’s Homemade; and Wednesday’s Feast by Netflix. 

All told, the lineup features 17 giant character balloons, 22 floats, seven balloonicles, more than 700 clowns, 11 marching bands, and plenty of star-powered performers, including the Radio City Rockettes, Broadway stars from Death Becomes Her, Hell’s Kitchen, and The Outsiders. Hometown heroes from the world champion New York Liberty—and their scene-stealing mascot, Ellie—will participate, too. Star-studded performers include Bishop Briggs, Kylie Cantrall, Chlöe, Dan + Shay, Dasha, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Coco Jones, Walker Hayes, Ariana Madix, Joey McIntyre, Idina Menzel, Natti Natasha, T-Pain, Rachel Platten, Lea Salonga, The Temptations, The War and Treaty, Alex Warren, and Sebastián Yatra. Of course, the true star of the show, as always, is the one-and-only Santa Claus, who takes up residence at Macy's Santaland following his parade appearance.

The 2024 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade follows the traditional route, stepping off from 77th Street on Central Park West, traveling south to 59th Street, east on 59th to Sixth Avenue, where it heads south to Macy's flagship 34th Street store.

Wisdom says to arrive early to secure the best parade-watching sight lines. However, some experienced paradegoers prefer a leisurely stroll across town to a comfortable vantage point closer to the parade's kick off, knowing the giant inflated balloons are visible from a block away.

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An early morning arrival pays off with a front-row view of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and a magical childhood memory. Photo by Jody Mercier

While my family and I have been lucky enough to watch from some indoor vantage points over the years, nothing compares to the magic of being at street level. The energy is electric, from the clowns and confetti to the marching bands booming along the route. It truly is worth the early morning stakeout—we're talking arriving before 6am!—at least once. I even braved 2018's coldest-since-1901 parade and didn't regret it. Neither did my daughter, who has requested a return visit this year, even if it's that cold again.

There is no secret, uncrowded place from which to watch. It's best to avoid Sixth Avenue between 34th and 38th streets and the grandstand area (usually near Columbus Circle); both are closed to the public. Be prepared for other street closings, and comply with any NYPD directions.

For an unobstructed view, stake out your spot around 5:30am, perhaps earlier. In that case, consider the west side of Central Park West in the 60s or 70s. The east side of Central Park West is not open for viewing. However, if you enter Central Park north of 86th Street and meander south, you can catch a peek from a hill or playground.

A few final tips: The farther you are from Herald Square, the lighter the crowds tend to be. Also, Macy's doesn't distribute grandstand tickets to the public.

The parade route is as follows: The parade begins at 77th Street and Central Park West, then travels downtown to Central Park South (59th Street). It then heads east to Sixth Avenue, and south along Sixth Avenue to 34th Street/Herald Square. The Macy's website has a detailed map of the route, plus full details on the parade rundown and characters. If you can’t handle the cold and crowds, stay home and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC along with 50 million other Americans. It airs from 8:30am to noon.

This article, originally published in November 2009, is updated annually.

Photo courtesy of Macy's Inc.