Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade recap: All about the floats, performances and more

Santa Claus spread Christmas cheer to close out the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He made his jolly entrance on a reindeer-pulled sleigh with three merry elves alongside him. Also on the float was Mrs. Claus, played by Emmy-winning actor Sheryl Lee Ralph from "Abbott Elementary."

For the grand finale, white confetti snow descended in a flurry upon the parade, ringing in the season's holiday festivities.

The Rockettes are back with their high-kicking, highly synchronized dancing. They're performing an excerpt from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which has returned to its home in NYC for the holiday season.

The one and only Cher took center stage at the parade to sing her new holiday single, "DJ Play a Christmas Song."

The song, released in October, is from her upcoming first Christmas album.

The "Believe" singer danced as she belted her tune to the raucous applause of parade viewers.

The Thanksgiving Day parade is a show for kids of all ages, with appearances so far from Baby Shark, Sesame Street, Greg from “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” SpongeBob Squarepants and Baby Yoda.

Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, it’s hard not to smile watching New York transform for the holiday spectacle.

NYPD officers arrest two pro-Palestinian protesters who crossed over the barrier during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City today.

Po, the goofy but courageous panda from Dreamworks Animation’s “Kung Fu Panda” films, returned to the parade for the first time in over a decade.

The lovable and cuddly Dragon Warrior has a new look this year, performing a flying kick while wearing a hat and flowing cape.

Beyoncé shared Thanksgiving greetings to parade viewers and a special look at the trailer for her upcoming concert film.

“Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. I’m so honored to share with you the first new look at the new ‘Renaissance’ film trailer,” the star said in a video message.

The preview showed behind-the-scenes moments of her wildly successful “Renaissance” tour that wrapped up earlier this year, and special moments like sharing the stage with her daughter Blue Ivy.

The movie hits theaters Dec. 1.

What's a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without musical acts?

So far, we've seen hit numbers from some of the best on Broadway, including “& Juliet,” “Shucked,” “Spamalot” and “How To Dance in Ohio.”

The most recent group to dance across 34th Street was Marty McFly and friends performing an excerpt from “Back to the Future: The Musical.”

We were treated to some fun commentary at the beginning of the parade from Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad, the comedy duo who returned to Broadway this year with "Gutenberg! The Musical!"

Protests unfolded Thanksgiving morning at "various points" of the Macy's parade route, leading to several arrests, the New York City Police Department said.

It's not clear how many people were arrested or on what charges.

Police wouldn't comment on reports that protesters had glued their hands to 6th Avenue, which is along the parade route.

Police said that all protesters were cleared as of 11 a.m. and the parade route was not diverted.

So far, we’ve watched student marching bands from Alabama A&M, Mercer Island High School and Greendale High School. We've also seen the Band Directors Marching Band and the Macy’s Great American Marching Band.

The Alabama A&M marching band made a major debut alongside the university’s Dancin’ Divas, kicking off the show with a performance backing five-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste.

The Band Directors Marching Band and Macy’s Great American Marching Band are returning facets of the parade, each comprising members from across the country. We've seen Mercer Island High School march all the way from Washington, and Greendale High School brought jazz to the Big Apple from the great state of Wisconsin. Good thing these schools are used to cold weather!

Rejoice, ’90s babies!

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started dancing and rocking on their Mutant Mayhem float as it made its way through Manhattan, jamming to iconic ’90s group Bell Biv DeVoe.

The BBD members — Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe — got the crowd dancing as they sang the chorus of their classic song “Poison.”

A float carrying members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, also known as the People of the First Light, shared solidarity with Palestinians during the Thanksgiving Day parade.

Members were seen waving to the crowd while some waved Palestinian flags. The moment comes as the the Israel-Hamas war has stretched into its seventh week.

Members of R&B group En Vogue made their way to the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stage.

Group members Cindy Herron, Terry Ellis and Rhona Bennett belted out their 1990s hit “Free Your Mind.”

Looking down on crowds from above the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City this morning.

Singer Paul Russell has the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade crowd, including NBC's "TODAY" show anchors Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, on its feet.

With dancers in front of him, Russell performed his hit "Lil Boo Thang."

The beloved comic character Snoopy has made his entrance at the parade with a new look: Beagle Scout Snoopy!

The 55-foot-tall balloon features Snoopy in a green backpack, red necktie and green hat with his buddy, Woodstock the bird, perched on top.

The balloon honors the 50th anniversary of the Beagle Scouts’ appearance in the “Peanuts” cartoon, which saw Snoopy lead a scout of troops on hikes and camping trips.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called in to the 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, imparting a message of gratefulness and urging everyone to share an act of kindness.

The two shared greetings with Al Roker over the phone.

"I think it’s important that we also commit to an act of kindness today," Jill Biden said. "Call someone and wish them a Happy Thanksgiving or do something kind."

Biden said despite divisiveness in the country and abroad against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war, "we have to bring the nation together and treat each other with a little bit of decency."

"We have to come together. We can have different political views but we have one view: The one view is we’re the finest, greatest nation in the world," he said. "We should focus on dealing with our problems and being together and stop the rancor."

Millions of people are on the move packing airports and jamming highways, but the busiest travel days are still to come as rain and snow could add to delays. NBC’s Maggie Vespa reports and NBC’s "TODAY" show’s Al Roker tracks the latest forecast for Thanksgiving Day.

Busy roads and crowded skies are as much a part of the holiday season as turkey and pumpkin pie.

And as travel industry chiefs hope to avoid the sort of meltdowns that have marred previous Thanksgivings, they are also urging the public not to resort to abuse when dealing with inevitable flight delays.

“If you’re flying, please be nice to your flight crew. They are there for your safety,” Mike Whitaker, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, said on X. “The FAA has zero tolerance for unruly behavior.”

Read the full story here.

The 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has officially started with the sounds and moves of the marching band and dancers from Alabama A&M University.

There might not be a more grateful person on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade route than Al Roker.

The NBC "TODAY" show weatherman returned to his happy place on the broadcast of this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday after missing it for the first time since 1995 last year due to health issues.

“Look, I missed last year, I am so thankful to be anywhere this year, but especially here,” Al said on “TODAY” before the parade gets underway.

Read the full story here.

Parade performers lead the Tom Turkey float down Central Park West at the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City this morning.

“TODAY’s” Hoda Kotb takes a dive into what it takes to put the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together, including the number of hours, volunteers, costumes and more!

Actor Lacey Chabert joins “TODAY’s” Al Roker to talk about her first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and share her new Hallmark holiday movie “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up.”

From new balloons and floats to drones, Jeff Gennette, chairman and CEO of Macy’s, previews his last Thanksgiving Day Parade after 40 years with the company.

While Americans at home get together for the Thanksgiving holiday, the U.S. military does its part to bring the brave men and women a small taste of home no matter where in the world they are serving. NBC’s Meagan Fitzgerald reports for "TODAY."

Officials selected Alabama A&M University's Marching Maroon and White to lead the 11 marching bands in the parade, making it the historically Black university’s first band appearance in the event’s almost 100-year history.

The university’s Dancin’ Divas will perform with the band and again in a special performance with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, the university announced.

Carlton Wright, the director of the university bands, told USA Today that Alabama A&M applied two years ago. He learned the band had been accepted in February last year, and the Marching Maroon and White immediately began fundraising and rehearsing for the New York trip.

Read the full story here.

Seven new character balloons will take flight this year, alongside 18 others that have flown through the streets of Manhattan before. There will also be six “Balloonicles,” smaller balloons that will wheel down the route attached to cycles.

New balloons this year include a five-story-tall Pillsbury Doughboy, “One Piece” character Monkey D. Luffy and Po from “Kung Fu Panda” doing a flying kick. Fan favorites like Smokey Bear, Grogu from “The Mandalorian” and SpongeBob SquarePants will be returning.

This year’s parade will also feature four new floats, including a replica of Willy Wonka’s candy shop, a cityscape from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” a 30-foot-tall gingerbread house and a replica of an outdoor campsite — sponsored by Snoop Dogg brand partner Solo Stove.

There are 2.5 miles of public viewing this year along the parade route. Certain areas aren’t open to public viewing.

Central Park West, from West 75th to West 61st streets: Early risers can watch the beginning of the parade along this stretch. Avoid the section between West 59th and West 60th streets, where there is no public viewing.

Central Park South and 6th Avenue: Spectators can catch a view of the parade just after it turns at Columbus Circle onto Central Park South but before it switches onto 6th Avenue.

6th Avenue, from West 59th to West 38th streets: Viewers can get as close as possible to the end of the parade here, but avoid the area on 6th Avenue between West 34th and West 38th Street, where viewing is limited.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition that has long been synonymous with the beginning of the holiday season.

And this year, the event will run for 3½ hours instead of the normal three hours.

“This year, we’ve got more parade than ever before,” parade executive producer Will Coss told NBC’s “TODAY” show. “We’re going to start our parade at 8:30 in the morning, so we have 3½ hours of parade.”

He added that the parade is “the one time of year where we have three, this year 3½ hours, to all just take a beat, stand together, shoulder to shoulder, across New York City or the comfort of our living rooms, enjoy a little bit of spectacle, enjoy a little bit of tradition and enjoy a little bit of family, friends, love and community.”

Read about other new additions to the parade here.