The streets of Manhattan filled early Thanksgiving morning in the cold wind, as families, tourists and longtime parade-goers braved the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Despite shivers and bundled coats, cheers rolled down the route the moment Tom Turkey appeared. Hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker, the parade stretched from Central Park West to Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square, offering a front-row view into the annual tradition for millions, both at home and in person.
Whether watching from the sidewalk or bundled under blankets on the couch, viewers of all ages found something to watch in the parade. The parade delivered its classic staples, like Santa’s sleigh and the Rockettes, while giving the new generation something to watch. This year’s lineup featured new hits like the tiger from “KPop Demon Hunters” and giant versions of the viral Labubus, drawing chants from the crowd. Meanwhile, intergenerational favorites like Luffy from One Piece and Mario made appearances, delighting fans of all ages.
The parade’s pull was clear both on the streets and on screen. Drawing the largest audience on record, the parade had 34.3 million viewers from home across NBC and Peacock. Younger audiences, in particular, were tuning in more than ever, with a 20 percent increase in viewers under 25, showing that some of the new balloons are working.
For some fans, being there in person was the thrill of the parade. Maya Espinoza, a junior who recently transferred to the University from California, shared her excitement about watching the parade from the sidelines instead of across the country.
“Being from California, I had only ever seen the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade on TV, so this was my first time seeing it in person,” she said. “I had no idea what to expect besides the huge balloons, but what I enjoyed the most was noticing all the different outfits the rope holders were wearing and how they coordinated with what balloon they were holding.”
Espinoza and her friends arrived at 4 a.m. to secure a coveted front-row spot—cold, sleep-deprived, but excited. “I’m glad that I was able to experience such an iconic event like this in the city, and I’m forever grateful that I was able to see it with friends who were willing to wake up at 4 a.m. to snag a spot to watch.”
Others arrived later and still caught the show, joining in the festivities. “The Snoopy float was awesome,” said junior Josie Buescher, who watched uptown near 72nd street.
She remembered the parade being surprisingly accessible even after it’d begun, joining crowds made up largely of families, grandparents, and students alike, all enjoying a tradition that has captivated generations for nearly a century.
