Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 in NYC: Route, street closures, balloons, floats and performances
NEW YORK (WABC) — The 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature Labubu and “KPop Demon Hunters” this year, filling New York’s sky and streets.
The parade on November 27 begins rain or shine on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street, which serves as a stage and backdrop for performances.
This year’s parade will feature 34 balloons, four mini-balloons, 28 floats, 33 clown groups and 11 marching bands – all leading the way for Santa Claus.
Performers include Audrey Nuna, Ciara, and Busta Rhymes. New balloons feature Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man, while new floats include Labubu 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 a.m. Eastern
What’s the weather going to be like?
The Eyewitness News AccuWeather team predicts a blustery and chilly day with sunny to partly cloudy skies. It’s going to feel like the 30s because of the wind. Stronger gusts should hold off until later in the day. New York City law prohibits Macy’s from flying the full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or wind gusts are over 35 mph.
Who are some of the stars performing?
“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will kick off a starry show. Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami of HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group at the heart of the Netflix hit “KPop Demon Hunters,” will feature alongside Ciara, Foreigner, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Busta Rhymes, Mickey Guyton and Teyana. An eclectic group of stars – from ballet dancer Tiler Peck to YouTube’s “Hot Ones” host Sean Evans – will join the annual holiday kick-off.
Broadway will be represented by cast members from “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time” and “Ragtime,” while the Radio City Rockettes will be there and some serious athletes – three-time U.S. national champion figure skater Ilia Malinin and U.S Paralympian Jack Wallace. Alumni and students at LaGuardia High School in New York City – the school featured in the movie and TV series “Fame” – will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of “A Chorus Line.”
Others on hand 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 Luísa Sonza.
What are the new balloons?
This year, four new featured character balloons will debut, including Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, Mario from Super Mario Brothers and a 32-foot-tall (9.8-meter) balloon onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of “Shrek.” “KPop Demon Hunters” will also be represented in the sky with the characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie.
What about new floats?
Seven new floats will debut during the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Each year, new floats are conceived and crafted by the artisans of 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 floats include The Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder by Holland America Line; Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by The LEGO Group; Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt; Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix; Friends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart, the makers of Labubu; The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta; and The Littlest Float from Goldfish.
Toni Yates reports from Moonachie, New Jersey.
Is your state represented by any of the bands?
The marching bands will hail from South Carolina, California, Texas, Arizona, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Alabama, Pennsylvania and Santiago, Panama. The New York Police Department’s marching band will also join. 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 anticipated because of the holiday, but also many streets will 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. Wednesday, November 26 through 12:00 p.m. Thursday November 27.
West 72nd Street will be closed through West 8th Street will be closed from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue from 12:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 26 through Thursday, November 27.
The 79th Street Transverse will be closed from 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 26 through 12:00 p.m. Thursday, November 27.
34th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
The following streets will be closed Thursday November 27th, 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 East Side of Columbus Circle/59th Street
Columbus Circle (Entire Circle)
59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th Street
Dispersal:
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 Dispersal):
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 Embargo:
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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