Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual holiday parade held in New York City on Thanksgiving Day, owned and produced by the department store chain Macy's. First staged in 1924, it is one of the largest and most recognized parades in the world, drawing millions of in-person spectators along its Manhattan route and tens of millions of television viewers nationwide. The parade is best known for its giant character balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands, and celebrity performances, and it traditionally concludes with the arrival of Santa Claus, marking the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. The parade is a major marketing and brand asset for Macy's, reinforcing its identity as an iconic American retailer. It is broadcast nationally by NBC and has become a staple of American popular culture, spawning imitations and parodies. The event is managed by Macy's Parade Studio, which designs and builds the balloons and floats. Over the decades, the parade has introduced numerous cultural icons, from Snoopy and Mickey Mouse to contemporary characters, and has weathered controversies, weather challenges, and logistical changes, including a pandemic-era, audience-free format in 2020. As a trademarked commercial offering, the parade functions as a seasonal brand platform that drives foot traffic, media impressions, and goodwill for Macy's. It also generates significant economic activity for New York City through tourism and hospitality spending. The parade's enduring popularity underscores its role as both a civic tradition and a corporate branding vehicle.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was first held in 1924, organized by Macy's employees, many of whom were immigrants, to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and promote the store's new flagship location at Herald Square. The inaugural parade, then called the Macy's Christmas Parade, featured live animals from the Central Park Zoo, floats, and bands, and drew a quarter of a million spectators. In 1927, the live animals were replaced by giant rubber balloons, a format that became the parade's signature. Early balloons included Felix the Cat and, later, characters like Mickey Mouse and Popeye. The parade was suspended from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II, with the rubber from the balloons donated to the war effort. It resumed in 1945 and was broadcast on television for the first time locally in 1946; national broadcasts began in 1948 on NBC, which remains the parade's broadcaster. The 1950s and 1960s saw the introduction of new balloons, floats, and celebrity performances, and the parade grew into a national institution. In 1971, the parade was moved from its original route along Central Park West to its current route along Central Park West and Sixth Avenue, ending at Macy's Herald Square. Over the decades, the parade has featured hundreds of balloons and floats, including iconic characters such as Snoopy, Kermit the Frog, Spider-Man, and Pikachu. The Macy's Parade Studio, based in Moonachie, New Jersey, designs and constructs the balloons and floats. The parade has also faced controversies, including protests over labor issues and, in 2020, a scaled-back, audience-free version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, the parade remains a beloved annual tradition, watched by millions and serving as a major branding platform for Macy's.

• 2020

  Parade held without live audience due to COVID-19 pandemic.

• 1971

  Parade route changed to Central Park West and Sixth Avenue.

• 1948

  National television broadcast begins on NBC.

• 1945

  Parade resumes after the war.

• 1942

  Parade suspended due to World War II.

• 1927

  Giant rubber balloons replace live animals.

• 1924

  First Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held in New York City.

Iconic American holiday tradition and premier branded entertainment event

• Giant character balloons

• Floats

• Marching bands

• Celebrity performances

• Television broadcast

• Unconfirmed

  GEICO to join Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time[2]GEICO首次参加梅西感恩节大游行cnbc.com

  Reported: 2026-09-26

  GEICO said in a news release this week that its advertising characters, including the GEICO Gekko, the Caveman, and Caleb the "Hump Day" camel, will be featured on a "Road Trip to Parade" float at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first time the Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary has participated in the event. Before the parade, the Gecko will headline a 10-week promotional tour from San Francisco to New York, stopping in 12 cities.

1. 1Google Newsnews.google.com
2. 2GEICO首次参加梅西感恩节大游行cnbc.com