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Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023: How to Watch

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023: How to Watch

With Halloween behind us and Christmas ahead, it’s time to answer the annual question, to choose sides in a debate as old as time itself: what about Thanksgiving? Many have already traded jack-o-lanterns for Christmas trees, but what about the turkeys and cornucopias? Whether you’ve already decked the halls or are patiently waiting for December’s arrival, there’s one Turkey Day tradition that can’t be overlooked: the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

An American tradition since 1924, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been captivating millions across the country for nearly a century. Held in New York City, the parade features a mix of whimsical floats, colossal character balloons, marching bands, and celebrity performances. And, of course, it’s all capped off with the arrival of Saint Nick, officially ushering in the holiday season.

The annual spectacle draws a jaw-dropping 3.5 million attendees to the streets of NYC, visitors packing every available inch along the parade’s 2.5-mile route. That’s nothing, however, compared to the number of viewers who catch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from home. Last year’s parade alone, for example, drew a staggering 27.7 million viewers across the country.

Luckily for those of us unable to make a trip to the Big Apple to witness the 5-story tall Beagle Scout Snoopy balloon in person, the parade is easy to stream from home.

What Time Does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Start?

The 97th Macy’s parade will, of course, take place on Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd. The performers, floats, and balloons, will begin the 2.5-mile trek at 8:30 a.m. ET (5:30 a.m. PT), with the excitement concluding at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Depending on your time zone, that might be a little too early. If you’d rather not start Turkey Day before dawn, you can catch the encore of the parade at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT), airing on NBC.

How to Watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade

In addition to airing on NBC, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be simulcast on Peacock, as well as Telemundo for Spanish-speaking audiences.

Now, watching on Peacock does require a subscription to Peacock Premium. A regular subscription costs $5.99 per month, while the ad-free version, Peacock Premium Plus, is priced at $11.99 per month. Keep an eye out for Peacock’s Black Friday deal, though, as it can knock the price down quite a bit. Last year, the price of Peacock Premium was slashed from $4.99 to $0.99 – an 80% discount.

For those without cable OR Peacock, there are plenty of other streaming options. Any TV streaming service that carries NBC will be airing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This includes YouTube TV, Hulu Plus Live TV, Fubo TV, Sling Blue, DirectTV Stream, and others.