NEW YORK — Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off Thursday in New York City, where new balloons featuring Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man will take to the skies and the streets will be lined with floats featuring Labubu and Lego.
The parade is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. EST, rain or shine, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and end at the Macy's Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street.
The city is expected to have a cool day with temperatures around 40 degrees, but wind gusts of 25 mph (40 kph) to 30 mph (48 kph) will make it colder, said David Stark, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York.
Officials are closely monitoring the forecast as city law prohibits Macy's must not release full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph (37 km/h) or wind gusts exceed 35 mph (56 km/h). The weather stopped the balloons only once, in 1971, but sometimes they took off lower than usual due to the wind.
Authorities will decide Thursday morning whether any adjustments to the cylinder will be necessary, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.
She said at a news conference Wednesday that there were no known, specific or credible threats to the event, but that thousands of police would be stationed along the route as usual.
The parade has become a magnet for protests in the past two years, with pro-Palestinian protesters got on the parade route. Police are “ready to deal with this and any other situations that may come our way,” Tisch said.
An all-star cast will perform throughout the show, along with a variety of marching bands, dancers and cheerleaders. Performers include “Wicked” star Cynthia ErivoConan Gray, Lainie Wilson, Foreigner, Lil Jon and Audrey Nuna, EJAE and Rei Ami HUNTR/X, the fictional girl group at the heart of this year's Netflix hit. “KPop Demon Hunters”.” Radio City Rockets Cast members from Broadway's “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Only In Time” and “Ragtime” will also be there.
Overall, the parade is expected to feature dozens of balloons, floats, clown groups and marching bands, all leading the way for Santa Claus. Among the new balloons unveiled is a large onion carriage featuring eight characters from the world of “ Shrek” “KPop Demon Hunters” will also be featured in the sky with characters Derpy Tiger and Sassy.
The event will air on NBC and will be hosted by Today's Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker and their former colleague Hoda Kotb. On Telemundo, the hosts will be Andrea Meza, Aleida Ortiz and Clovis Ninov.
The parade is also simulcast on NBC's Peacock streaming service.
