Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: How to watch this year's

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2020: Everything to know about Thursday’s event

Snoopy balloon with Woodstock at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Nov. 25, 2020 8:33 AM PT

Thankfully, Macy’s has found a way to host its annual Thanksgiving Day Parade amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to avoid drawing crowds that usually flood the streets of New York City on the holiday, organizers have converted the event into a prerecorded telecast, which will be smaller in scale but still feature several parade staples, including floats, balloons, marching bands and celebrity appearances.

Here are all the details.

What time is the show, and where can I watch it?

High school band members, in costumes of swirling robes and lace jabots, carry streaming white flags.

Thursday’s made-for-TV presentation will air from 9 a.m. to noon across all time zones on NBC — and on the NBC website with a TV provider login.

Plus, a livestream of the festivities, hosted by “Saved by the Bell” star Mario Lopez, will be available from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Pacific Time on Verizon’s Twitter and YouTube pages.

Who’s hosting?

Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, holding microphones, stand alongside the Rockettes.

“Today” anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will host the main broadcast on NBC.

Who’s performing?

After partially funding Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine with a $1-million donation to coronavirus research, Dolly Parton is coming to save Thanksgiving too.

Other 2020 parade participants include Santa Claus, Jimmy Fallon and the Roots, Sebastián Yatra, Pentatonix, Patti LaBelle, Noah Cyrus, Leslie Odom Jr., Keke Palmer, Karol G, Jordin Sparks and the New York City Ballet company.

Rounding out this year’s performers are:

AJR
Ally Brooke
Bebe Rexha
Brett Young
Camille Schrier
CNCO
Darlene Love
The Goo Goo Dolls
Lauren Alaina
Sofia Carson
Tori Kelly
Macy’s Clown U
City Tourist Clowns
Coney Island USA’s Mermaid Parade
Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band
Band of the City of New York Police Department
Big Apple Circus
FDNY Emerald Society Pipes & Drums
National Puerto Rican Day Parade
West Indian American Day Carnival Association
West Point Band
Zeta Phi Beta Steppers

How will COVID affect things?

Amid skyscrapers, a Power Ranger balloon floats, dwarfing parade participants on the street.

The volume of this year’s parade participants has been reduced by about 75%. Additionally, participants must be at least 18 years old and live in the New York tri-state area.

Instead of the typical 2.5-mile parade route through the streets of New York, the festivities will be filmed exclusively in and around Midtown Manhattan’s Herald Square. The preceding balloon inflation ceremony has also been canceled to avoid drawing crowds.

Plus, performers are required to wear PPE and socially distance when necessary. Balloons — including SpongeBob and Snoopy — will still be part of the celebration thanks to new technology designed to operate them without the help of the 80-100 handlers usually necessary to bring them to life.