MAIN Holidays Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day Parades & Events

Check out major holiday happenings for 2023 -- starting with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 23, 2023 on NBC.

What's New in 2023

NOTE: Be sure to tune in early this year as the parade -- for the first time in its history -- starts a half-hour early this year beginning at 8:30AM ET instead of its traditional 9AM start time. Other parts of the country can also expect an 8:30AM start in their local time zones.

New giant balloon joining the Macy's Parade lineup this year? They include: “Beagle Scout Snoopy,” “Blue Cat & Chugs,” “Kung Fu Panda’s Po,” “Leo,” “Monkey D. Luffy,” “Pillsbury Doughboy” and “Uncle Dan.”

Macy's Parade 2023 Performers

Show biz legend Cher leads the list of stars who will be performing at this year's parade - closing out the festivities this year just bfore the annual arrival of .... Santa!

Music legend Cher leads the lineup of stars at the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Also look for appearances by Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, ENHYPEN, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Jessie James Decker, Ashley Park with Muppets from “Sesame Street,” Pentatonix, Paul Russell, Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith, and Manuel Turizo.

Broadway shows joining the big parade will include performances from “& Juliet,” “Back to the Future: The Musical,” “How To Dance In Ohio,” “Shucked” and “Spamalot”.

For updates on this year's schedule check out Macy's official parade information here.

Just up ahead, check out more details on the 2023 Thanksgiving Day Parade (including fun facts and trivia) along with more info on where else Thanksgiving Day is being celebrated coast-to-coast in the USA.

Happy Thanksgiving!

also see-> A Trip to the NYC Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Fun Facts

Actor Edmund Gwenn as Santa went on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

• 1947's "Miracle on 34th Street" marked the parade's first Hollywood starring role.

• The scenes in "Miracle" are real, and taken from the 1946 parade the year before.

• Macy's famous parade balloons made their debut in 1927. The biggest attraction was Felix the Cat, the first cartoon character balloon.

• Today, parade balloons are filled with an average 12,000 cubic feet of helium, capable of lifting nearly 750 pounds. Carefully guiding the behemoths are up to 90 human handlers, who have to be physically fit and weigh at least 120 pounds.

• This Thanksgiving, give a thought to volunteers who guide the inflatable giants along the entire parade route. They include balloon "pilots", volunteers who walk BACKWARDS for the entire stretch of the parade who direct other volunteers holding the ropes. Due to resulting foot and leg cramps, most volunteers will give thanks for a hot shower, heading pads, and muscle cream following the parade.

• The Show Must Go On! The snowiest parade happened when almost five inches of the white stuff were dumped on New York City before the parade start in 1989. The coldest parade was in 2018, when participants and celebrities trudged through the parade during a chilly 19°F Thanksgiving morning.

What else is happening on Thanksgiving Day 2023

Just up ahead, take an online tour of what else is going on - coast to coast - with times and locations of this year's big Thanksgiving Day events. If you're staying at home to watch on TV, also be sure to stick around for the annual 2023 National Dog Show beginning right after the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC.

And for diehard football fans, the NFL Thanksgiving Day football games includes this year's top teams squaring-off around noon.

More about Thanksgiving Day parades & events around the Web:

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 - The one that started it all, with details on New York parade history and info on the traditional helium balloon extravaganza, the full parade route, celebrity floats, marching bands, maps and best viewing locations, interactive online games and more.

America's Thanksgiving Parade Detroit hosts one of the country's oldest parades, starting on Woodward Avenue and Mack, and ending at Woodward Avenue and Congress.

Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade, Houston's big holiday extravaganza with the complete parade route, promo video and photos.

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade - This year's complete schedule and parade route, VIP tickets, pics, video and a guide to parade volunteering and participation.

Carolinas' Carrousel Thanksgiving Day Parade, Charlotte's march down Tryon Street including the complete schedule, updates and photos.

Plimoth Plantation - The Massachusetts living history museum re-creates Thanksgiving with authentic 1627 theme dining and other activities. New England Thanksgiving and Victorian Thanksgiving dinners feature period food, table manners and customs.

Old Sturbridge Village - Lots of activities throughout the month, with Thanksgiving Day events at this Western Massachusetts living history museum, including a re-created Meetinghouse service, a musket shoot, and storytelling.