The 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade filled Manhattan with giant character balloons, detailed floats, marching bands, dancers, clowns, and live music on November 23, 2023. The 2.5-mile procession began earlier than usual and moved from Central Park West to Herald Square. TheNakedNYC documented the streets and route, and this guide explains how the enormous production came together.
TheNakedNYC Coverage
YouTube: Along the 2023 Parade Route
What to Know
The Ninety-Seventh Parade
The 2023 event was the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It brought the long-running New York tradition back to Manhattan on Thanksgiving morning.
An Earlier Start
For the first time, the parade began at 8:30 a.m. in New York and on the national broadcast. The program ran until noon, adding 30 minutes to the familiar schedule.
A Two-and-a-Half-Mile Route
The parade began at West 77th Street and Central Park West, curved around Columbus Circle, crossed Central Park South, and traveled down Sixth Avenue before finishing at Macy's Herald Square.
Five Thousand Volunteers
Macy's listed 5,000 volunteers across the production. They guided balloons, supported floats, wore costumes, joined performances, and helped keep the long procession moving.
Forty-Eight Balloons
Sixteen featured character balloons flew above the route alongside 32 heritage and novelty balloons. Seven featured balloons debuted, including Beagle Scout Snoopy, Po, Leo, Monkey D. Luffy, and Uncle Dan.
Twenty-Six Floats
The lineup carried 26 floats through Manhattan. Four were new, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Palace of Sweets, Igniting Memories, and The Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka.
Bands, Clowns, and Groups
More than 700 clowns, 12 marching bands, and nine performance groups added constant motion at street level. Santa Claus closed the parade in the traditional final float.
Cher at Herald Square
Cher performed near the finish on 34th Street. Jon Batiste, Brandy, Bell Biv DeVoe, Pentatonix, Broadway casts, the Radio City Rockettes, and other guests expanded the music lineup.
Free Streetside Viewing
Watching from the public route was free and required no ticket. NBC carried the national broadcast while Peacock streamed the event at the same time.
A Year-Round Production
Macy's Parade Studio works throughout the year to build the event. Carpenters, engineers, electricians, painters, animators, balloon technicians, sculptors, metal fabricators, costume teams, and scenic designers all contribute.