Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Maeve Bidonde, Staff Writer

Every year on Thanksgiving many look forward to Football while others look forward to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade is a classic and beloved Thanksgiving tradition in the U.S. Each year the day before the parade all of the balloons get blown up and this year was no different. 

Some even go to watch the balloons get inflated, but this year the Bluey balloon had a mishap during inflation. The balloon had popped and left a large hole in one of the paws. According to NBC New York, who spoke to spectators said that the parade volunteers reassured everyone that the beloved character balloon would be patched and ready to go for the parade. 

At the parade many celebrities were sighted including host of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon and Skyler Astin most known for his role as Jesse in Pitch Perfect.

 This year marked 100 years since the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924 following World War I. However, the momentous parade did not go as smoothly as some may have hoped. According to TIME Magazine Pro Palestine protesters put themselves in the path of the parade with a banner and signs protesting the Israel-Palestine war. This is the second year protests have interrupted the parade.

 It is not a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without musical performances and this year certainly did not disappoint. This year’s lineup included Kylie Minogue, T-Pain, Cynthia Erivo, Dan + Shay, Jennifer Hudson, and others. The lineup included artists every age would recognize. 

Bluey was not the only balloon to fly this year. Bluey was accompanied by various balloons from several other iconic shows and movies. Those balloons include Snoopy, Pikachu, Spider-Man, Goku, Gabby, Ronald McDonald, Minnie Mouse, and Marshall from Paw Patrol. Billboard mentions that this year marks the debut of Goku, Gabby, and Spider-Man in the parade. 

According to Billboard “The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade also showcased 34 floats, 11 marching bands, seven “balloonicles” and 28 clown crews, filling the streets with holiday cheer as the event wrapped up at noon ET.”

 It is no secret the parade is a large affair but nonetheless an affair to remember every year. The parade kicks off the holiday cheer many hang onto until the new year and highlights a holiday that tends to be forgotten between Halloween and Christmas. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an important part of the holiday festivities for many and missing it is not an option. Whether you’re in New York City watching it in person or at home watching the parade live on your TV, the parade is one of the biggest events of the holiday season in Times Square. 

The rainy weather did not put a damper on the parade or the performances. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a sure thing to happen rain or shine every year. Next year’s parade will be anxiously waited for to see which balloons are flying and which celebrities are performing.