Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade organized by Macy's department store. The tradition that began in 1924, established the Macy's parade the second oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with the parade in Detroit and behind the 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia.
Macy's three-hour event takes place in New York City starting at 9:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving day from 145th Street in Harlem and has been broadcast nationwide on NBC since 1952.
Traditionally at the end of the parade, after a 9.7 km route, in Union Square, Santa Claus is welcomed to New York in the run-up to Christmas.
The main features of the parade are the floats and the huge inflatable structures that every year with different figures impress the attendees.
Since 2013, the balloons in the Macy's parade are divided into two categories. The first (and oldest) are balloons consisting of smaller balloons.
These balloons exist in many sizes and are held from one to thirty people (the smallest balloons are shaped like human heads to fit the actual heads of the handlers.
The second and most widely known category is huge balloons, which primarily depict pop-culture characters. Each of them is held by exactly 90 people.
In addition to the well-known balloons and floats, the parade also features live music and other performances. Bands from colleges and high schools across the country participate in the parade dressed in fancy costumes as well as acclaimed singers and bands. In the parade also the Rockettes from Radio City Music Hall give a classic performance before their official performances.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2022 will be on Thursday, November 24.
