Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Marks Start of Holiday Season in New York

Millions of people lined the streets of Manhattan and watched on television as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returned on Nov. 27, 2025, signaling the start of the holiday season across the United States.

The 99th annual parade stepped off from Central Park West and traveled through midtown Manhattan before ending at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store. The event featured giant helium character balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands, and live performances by Broadway casts and popular music artists.

First held in 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has grown into one of the largest annual public events in the country and remains a longstanding holiday tradition, drawing families and spectators from around the nation each Thanksgiving morning.