Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade returns with Cher, Pentatonix and more

The 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be Thursday, Nov. 23, featuring live performances from Cher, Pentatonix, Jon Batiste and others.

Famous for its iconic cartoon balloons, the parade starts in the Upper West Side, marching down Central Park West to Sixth Avenue, before ending at Macy’s Herald Square.

In addition to Snoopy, who has been a recurring balloon character at the parade for decades, this year’s event features some new characters, including Monkey D. Luffy of "One Piece" manga fame and Po from the movie "Kung Fu Panda."

Classics like Ronald McDonald, Stuart the Minion and SpongeBob Squarepants are also set to float down the route in balloon form. On the ground, 29 clown crews will perform between balloons.

Here’s what you need to know if you want to watch:

When does the parade start?

It steps off at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 23.

What is the route?

The parade’s 2.5-mile route begins in the Upper West Side, at West 77th Street and Central Park West.

It heads down Central Park West, turning onto Central Park South, before winding onto Sixth Avenue.

From there, it heads down Sixth Avenue until 34th Street, ending in front of Macy’s at Herald Square.

What's the weather like?

The forecast is cloudy, with temperatures expected to be in the 40s in the morning.

Where can I watch?

Spectators can watch along most of the parade’s route, with the exception of a few locations where national broadcast teams are stationed.

For the least-crowded views, commenters on Reddit threads suggest staying closer to the beginning of the parade route along Central Park West and arriving as early as 6 a.m.

Macy’s parade organizers recommend watching along Sixth Avenue between 59th and 38th streets for “great views.”

If you’d prefer to sleep in or get a head start on cooking or just avoid the crowds, the parade will be broadcast live on NBC, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Who will perform?

This year’s parade features an all-star lineup of talent from a wide range of musical genres. In addition to Cher and the acapella group Pentatonix, the event will feature performances by Brandy, Jon Batiste and the classic 1970s rock band Chicago, among others.

How do I watch the balloon inflation?

The day before the parade marks another annual tradition – the inflation of the enormous parade balloons.

The public can view this spectacle on Wednesday Nov. 22, from noon to 6 p.m. outside the Museum of Natural History, between West 77th and West 81st streets.

Guests must enter the line for inflation viewing at 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue.

Admission is free.

Will streets be closed?

Streets surrounding the parade route will be closed to traffic from early morning Wednesday, Nov. 22 through Thursday, Nov. 23. Here is a list of this year’s street closures.