NEW YORK (AP) — The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off Thursday in New York City, with new balloons depicting Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man set to take to the skies and floats featuring Labubu and Lego gracing the streets.
The parade is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. EST, rain or shine, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and will end at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street.
It’s expected to be a chilly day in the city, with temperatures in the 40s, but wind gusts between 25 mph (40 kph) and 30 mph (48 kph) will make it feel colder, according to David Stark, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York.
Officials are watching the forecast closely, since city law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 kph) or wind gusts are over 35 mph (56 kph). Weather has grounded the balloons only once, in 1971, but they have also sometimes soared lower than usual because of wind.
Authorities will decide Thursday morning whether any balloon adjustments are needed, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. She indicated there would be thousands of police officers stationed along the route, though there were no known specific threats to the event.
The parade has been a magnet for protests in the last two years, with pro-Palestinian protesters getting into the parade route. Police are prepared to address that and any other situations that may arise.
A star-studded lineup of performances will include artists such as Cynthia Erivo, Conan Gray, and Lainey Wilson, alongside dancers and marching bands. The event will feature dozens of balloons, floats, clown groups, and marching bands, leading the way for Santa Claus. Notably, an onion carriage featuring characters from “Shrek” and representations from “KPop Demon Hunters” will also be highlighted.
The parade will air on NBC, hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Hoda Kotb, with a simulcast on Peacock streaming service.
The parade is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. EST, rain or shine, on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and will end at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street.
It’s expected to be a chilly day in the city, with temperatures in the 40s, but wind gusts between 25 mph (40 kph) and 30 mph (48 kph) will make it feel colder, according to David Stark, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York.
Officials are watching the forecast closely, since city law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 kph) or wind gusts are over 35 mph (56 kph). Weather has grounded the balloons only once, in 1971, but they have also sometimes soared lower than usual because of wind.
Authorities will decide Thursday morning whether any balloon adjustments are needed, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. She indicated there would be thousands of police officers stationed along the route, though there were no known specific threats to the event.
The parade has been a magnet for protests in the last two years, with pro-Palestinian protesters getting into the parade route. Police are prepared to address that and any other situations that may arise.
A star-studded lineup of performances will include artists such as Cynthia Erivo, Conan Gray, and Lainey Wilson, alongside dancers and marching bands. The event will feature dozens of balloons, floats, clown groups, and marching bands, leading the way for Santa Claus. Notably, an onion carriage featuring characters from “Shrek” and representations from “KPop Demon Hunters” will also be highlighted.
The parade will air on NBC, hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Hoda Kotb, with a simulcast on Peacock streaming service.
