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Nothing kicks off Thanksgiving quite like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s as essential to the holiday as turkey and stuffing—and if you’re like millions of Americans who make watching those giant balloons float through Manhattan an annual tradition, you’ll want to know exactly how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free this year.
This beloved parade has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1924, when a group of Macy’s employees first marched to the iconic Herald Square store in New York City. Store workers in colorful costumes paraded alongside floats and—believe it or not—actual animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo! That first parade drew a crowd of 250,000 people, and a holiday tradition was born. Today, it stands as one of America’s oldest Thanksgiving parades, sharing that distinction with Detroit’s America’s Thanksgiving Parade. (Fun fact: Philadelphia’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes the crown as the oldest, having started in 1920.)
Since 1953, NBC has brought the magic right into our living rooms, broadcasting everything from the spectacular balloon characters to the show-stopping performances outside Macy’s Herald Square. While the parade has evolved into a massive production running from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, it still keeps one charming tradition alive: Macy’s employees can still march in the parade, just like their predecessors did nearly 100 years ago.
Ready to join the millions of Americans who make this parade part of their Thanksgiving morning routine? Here’s everything you need to know about watching the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade online—including how to stream it for free.
Image: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images.
When does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 air?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST on NBC.
How to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 live online
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live on NBC, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Peacock Premium Plus, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, and starts at $86.99 per month after the trial ends. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, and starts at $79.99 per month after the trial ends.
Peacock and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Peacock Premium Plus costs $13.99 per month and offers a current Black Friday deal where users can subscribe for $1.99 per month for 6 months. Meanwhile, Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $81.99 per month and offers plans that include free subscriptions to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus.
Best Overall Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Direct TV Stream
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free for its free trial, price (including its current deal), and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial and has a current deal where new subscribers can receive $10 off their first three months. Direct TV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $86.99 per month; Choice, which costs $114.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $129.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $169.99 per month. NBC is available with all four plans.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
Visit streamtv.directv.com
Click “Shop Packages”
Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Best Free Trial Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Fubo
Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month, with a current $30 off deal for $49.99 your first month; Elite, which costs $89.99 per month, with a current deal for $59.99 for your first month; and Latino, which costs $32.99 per month. NBC is included in the Pro and Elite plans.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Fubo’s free trial.
Visit Fubo.TV
Click “Start Free Trial”
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Best Budget Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Peacock
Peacock Premium Plus is our best budget pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live for its price. Peacock Premium Plus costs $13.99 per month and includes no ads, the ability to download and watch select titles offline, and your local NBC channel live and 24/7. Peacock Premium Plus also includes more than 80,000 hours of TV shows, movies, and sports, including original Peacock films and series; current NBC and Bravo shows; other live sports and events; and 50 channels.
For Peacock’s Black Friday 2024 deal, users can subscribe to Peacock’s Premium ad-supported plan for $1.99 per month for 6 months with the code REALDEALMONTHLY or $19.99 for one year with the code REALDEAL. Without any deals, Peacock Premium’s regular price is $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Peacock Premium Plus.
Visit PeacockTV.com
Click “Get Started”
Select Peacock Premium Plus as your plan
Enter your information and payment method
Navigate to NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Best Upgrade Pick to Watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $81.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $82.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $87.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $95.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. NBC is included in all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Hulu+ Live TV.
Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
Click “Sign Up Now”
Enter your information and payment method
Search for NBC and start watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Image: Michael Nagle/Xinhua via Getty Images.
Where is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 held?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 is held in New York City. The parade runs for 2.5 miles and starts at West 77th Street and Central Park West at 8:30 a.m. EST. The parade ends at Macy’s Herald Square.
Who are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 performers?
Read on for a full list of acts performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
Musical Performers & Special Guests
Alex Warren
Ariana Madix
Bishop Briggs
Charli D’Amelio
Chlöe
Coco Jones
Dan + Shay
Dasha
Idina Menzel
Jimmy Fallon & The Roots
Joey McIntyre
Kylie Cantrall
Lea Salonga
Liza Colón-Zayas
Loud Luxury
Natti Natasha
New York Liberty & Ellie the Elephant
Rachel Platten
Roman Mejia
Sebastián Yatra
The Temptations
Tiler Peck
T-Pain
Walker Hayes
The War and Treaty
Dance Groups
AUM Dance Creations
Black Haus Creative
BOSS Kids
Circus Vazquez
Indigenous Enterprise
Kilgore College Rangerettes
La Fuerza Dance Company
MOVE NYC
Riverdance
Spirit of America Cheer
Spirit of America Dance Stars
Marching Bands
Avon Marching Black & Gold
The Carolina Band
East Tennessee State University Marching Bucs
Flower Mound High School Marching Band
Jonesboro High School Majestic Marching Cardinals
Lake Hamilton High School Marching Power Band of Arkansas
Macy’s Great American Marching Band
NYPD Marching Band
Sioux Falls Lincoln Patriot Marching Band
University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band
West Virginia University Mountaineer Marching Band
Broadway Performances
Death Becomes Her cast
Hell’s Kitchen cast
The Outsiders cast
The Radio City Rockettes
What are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 balloons?
Read on for a full list of balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
New Giant Character Balloons for 2024
Minnie Mouse
“Extraordinary Noorah” (The Elf on the Shelf)
Gabby’s Dollhouse
Goku
Spider-Man
Returning Character Balloons
Beagle Scout Snoopy
Bluey
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Kung Fu Panda’s Po
Marshall from PAW Patrol
Monkey D. Luffy
Opening Macy’s Stars
Pikachu and Eevee
The Pillsbury Doughboy
Pumpkins
Ronald McDonald
Sinclair’s Dino
Smokey Bear
Snow Crystals
SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary
Stuart the Minion
Tip Toe
What are the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024 floats?
Read on for a full list of floats in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024.
New Floats for 2024
Candy Cosmos (Haribo)
Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest (Nickelodeon & Paramount)
Magic Meets the Seas (Disney Cruise Line)
Pasta Knight (Rao’s Homemade)
Wednesday’s Feast (Netflix)
Wondrous World of Wildlife (Bronx Zoo)
Returning Floats
1-2-3 Sesame Street
Big City Cheer
Big Red Shoe Car
Big Turkey Spectacular
Birds of a Feather Stream Together
The Brick-Changer
Camp Snoopy
Colossol Wave of Wonder
Deck the Halls
Fantasy Chocolate Factory
Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party
Gift of Freedom
Harvest in the Valley
Heartwarming Holiday Countdown
Macy’s Santaland Express
Macy’s Winter Wonderland in Central Park
Palace of Sweets
Rocking Animal Collection:
Giraffe
Horse
Flamingo
Lobster
Moose
Santa’s Sleigh
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Tom Turkey
Universal’s Merry Moment
The Wondership
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here’s how to watch it for free.
