Typical Parade Schedule
Most major Thanksgiving Day parades begin in the morning and run through early afternoon. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade typically starts at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time and airs live on NBC, with the route running along Central Park West and Broadway in New York City. Local parades often start between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in their respective cities.
Route and Key Stops
Parade routes are usually fixed each year, with floats, marching bands, and balloons moving from a designated starting point to a finish line. For the Macy’s parade, the route generally begins at 77th Street and Central Park West, continues south on Broadway, and ends near Herald Square. Organizers often post updated maps and street closure details on their official websites.
Broadcast and Viewing Information
National parades are broadcast live on major networks and streamed online. NBC airs the Macy’s parade, while other cities may air their parades on local stations or stream them through official city websites. Viewers can check the parade schedule, live stream links, and real-time updates on the official parade organizer’s site, such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade page at https://www.macys.com/parade.
