THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23
9am (ALL TIME ZONES)
From Madonna to Tony Bennett, don't
miss Thanksgiving Week on NBC.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade celebrates its 80th Anniversary! First time parade host Meredith Vieira joins veteran Matt Lauer for this spectacular, annual celebration. America's favorite Thanksgiving Day parade features all the amazing pageantry, fun and surprises that have made this annual New York City extravaganza a perennial favorite. Heralding the start of the Christmas season, this beloved holiday parade features colorful grand floats, lively marching bands, amazing character balloons and special performances by some of today's hottest stars and Broadway performers -- plus an appearance by Santa Claus.

Celebrating the start of the holiday season and the parade's anniversary will be performers from stage, screen and music. Riding down Broadway atop one of the parade's moving stages will be Julie Andrews, Laurie Berkner, Chris Brown, Cheyenne, Ciara, Miley Cyrus, Diana DeGarmo, Gloria Estefan, Renee Fleming, Grandma from the Big Apple Circus, Natalie Grant, Hall & Oates, the cast of Disney Channel's High School Musical, Jonas Brothers, Josh Kelley, Darlene Love, Barry Manilow, Sarah McLachlan, Miss U.S.A 2006-Tara Conner, Sandi Patty, and John Tartaglia. NBC stars Masi Oka ("Heroes"), Ali Larter ("Heroes"), Denise Van Outen ("Grease: You're THe One That I Want") and Connie Britton ("Friday Night Lights") will also make appearances.
  • The first parade was in 1924 and featured floats, clowns, bands and a few zoo animals.
  • The parade was originally called "Macy’s Christmas Parade"
  • In 1927 live animals were replaced with large balloons. The very first balloon was Felix The Cat.
  • The parade route has only changed once, in 1945, from 145th Street and Convent Avenue to the modern day kick off at 77th Street and Central Park West.
  • The parade has been held continuously from 1924, except for 1942-1944 when it was halted due to WWII.
  • The parade’s first national broadcast was on NBC in 1948.
  • This year’s 80th celebration will feature more than 10,000 participants and be viewed by approximately 3.5 million live spectators, with another 50 million watching on television.