NEW YORK CITY – The 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the most wonderful time of the year on Thursday, November 28 – and New York City must close several streets along the parade route to make room for the magic.

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People participate in Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 23, 2023 in New York City. Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the 25 balloons and hundreds of performers march in this parade that has been taking place since 1924. (Photo by Stephanie

Here’s what you need to know about this year’s parade, including a list of street closures, the parade route and the best places to watch.

This year the parade starts at 8:30 am

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Route Map

The 2.5-mile parade route begins at West 77th Street and Central Park West on Manhattan’s Upper West Side

• The parade first heads south through Central Park West for 18 blocks to Columbus Circle.
• From Columbus Circle, the parade turns onto Central Park South and heads east to 6th Avenue.
• From Central Park South and 6th Avenue, the parade turns onto 6th Avenue and heads south to 34th Street.
• The parade then marches south from 6th Avenue for 25 blocks to 34th Street.
• From 34th Street, the parade turns west to 7th Avenue.
• The end point of the parade is Macy’s Herald Square at 34th Street and 7th Avenue.

Dancers cut the ribbon at the start of the 96th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 24, 2022 in New York City. The annual Macy’s parade includes 16 giant character balloons, 28 floats and 12 marching bands. The organizers expect closure ()

MORE: Here’s a look at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade through the years

The following streets are closed for the parade this year:

Formation:

• Columbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 83rd Street
• Central Park West between 81st Street and 86th Street
• 83rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 82nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 75th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
• 62nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
• 61st Street between Central Park West and Broadway
• 59th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue

MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE — Pictured: The Muppets performing on the Sesame Street float during the 93rd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday, November 28, 2019 — (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images )

Route:

• Central Park West between 81st Street and East Side of Columbus Circle/59th Street
• Columbus Circle (entire circle)
• 59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th Street
• 34th Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue

Distribution:

• 33rd Street between 5th Avenue and 10th Avenue
• 34th Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• 34th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 35th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue
• 36th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 37th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 38th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 40th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 41st Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
• 7th Avenue between 31st Street and 41st Street
• Broadway between 45th Street and 34th Street

MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE — 2023 Downtown Production — Pictured: Radio City Rockettes — (Photo by: Cara Howe/NBC via Getty Images)

Miscellaneous (formation and dissemination):

• 58th Street between 9th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
• 40th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 39th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 38th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 37th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 36th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 32nd Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between 32nd Street and 34th Street
• 8th Avenue between 41st Street and 33rd Street
• Broadway between 32nd Street and 34th Street
• Broadway between Columbus Circle and 58th Street
• 8th Avenue between Columbus Circle and 58th Street
• Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 5th Avenue

Additional locations

• 86th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 85th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 84th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 73rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 70th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 69th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 67th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 66th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 65th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 64th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 63rd Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• 62nd Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway
• 61st Street between Columbus Avenue and Broadway
• 60th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
• Grand Army Plaza between 59th Street and 58th Street
• 57th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 56th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 55th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 54th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 53rd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 52nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 51st Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 50th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 49th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 48th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• Rockefeller Plaza between 51st Street and 48th Street
• 47th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 46th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 45th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 44th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 43rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 42nd Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 41st Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue
• 40th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 39th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 38th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 37th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 36th Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 33rd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue
• 6th Avenue between 33rd Street and 32nd Street
• Columbus Avenue between 86th Street and 83rd Street
• Columbus Avenue between 72nd Street and 59th Street
• 9th Avenue between 59th Street and 58th Street
• Broadway between Columbus Circle and 65th Street

Where you MUST see the parade

According to Macy’s West 59th to West 38th Street along 6th Avenue will have a great view for parade goers.

Early birds can also go to the west side Central Park between West 75th Street and West 61st Streetnear the parade starting point, beginning at 6 a.m. for public viewing.

Where you SHOULD NOT watch the parade

The public will not be allowed to view the parade at the start at West 77th Street and Central Park West.

Further south, people are not allowed to gather near the parade’s turning point, Columbus Circle.

The nationally televised broadcast will take place between West 38th Street and West 34th Street and will be closed to the public. There will also be no public viewing at the end of the parade at Macy’s Herald Square. This includes West 34th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue.

Macy’s limited grandstand tickets are not available for purchase to the general public.

Performers from the Macy’s Singing Christmas Tree wave to spectators during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)

What you need to know about this year’s parade

The holiday season really begins when the huge helium balloons start floating through New York. For the second year in a row, the Nov. 28 parade starts at 8:30 a.m., in all time zones and will be on NBC, available with an antenna or through cable and satellite providers. For wire cutters, the parade will be simulcast on Peacock with an encore broadcast beginning at 2:00 PM ET/PT. There will also be a Spanish-language simulcast on Telemundo. This year it is more exciting than ever. Grammy, Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Jennifer Hudson will perform, as will global pop icon and Grammy winner Kylie Minogue and Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner Billy Porter.