Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2020: Time, channel, free livestream and COVID-19 safety

by 24USATVNov. 26, 2020, 1 a.m. 64
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Like many traditions in 2020 — including Thanksgiving itself — the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade isn’t going to proceed as normal.

The parade, which normally draws plenty of spectators to New York City, will mostly be a broadcast-only event this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 94th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will shed its usual 2.5-mile route in order to prevent large crowds. Instead of having 80 to 100 handlers, some balloons will be outfitted with a “specially rigged anchor tether framework of five specialty vehicles,” Macy’s and NBC say.

The event is also being limited to 88% of its usual number of participants, and those people are being spread out over three days (though the parade is still being broadcast as one event).

What COVID-19 safety precautions are being taken for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

Besides the change in the usual parade route, number of participants, balloon handlers and timing over three days, the parade has implemented the following changes:
• None Everyone participating in the parade is being tested for COVID-19 and undergoing wellness checks before the event.
• None No one under 18 is allowed to participate. Professional marching bands and ensembles are replacing high school and college marching bands this year.
• None Performers and participants will be socially distanced and wear masks.
• None Most participants are from the tri-state area.

Who is performing/appearing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The parade will give a nod to shows that had to shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with performances from Broadway’s “Ain’t Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations,” “Hamilton,” “Mean Girls” and “Jagged Little Pill.”

There will also be performances from the Radio City Rockettes, Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, Patti LaBelle, Dolly Parton, Leslie Odom Jr., Bebe Rexha, Jordin Sparks, Sebastián Yatra, Brett Young, Pentatonix, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, CNCO, Sofia Carson, Lauren Alaina, Ally Brooke, Tori Kelly and Karol G.

Miss America Camille Schrier will make an appearance along with Santa, of course.

Which balloons and floats will be at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

New balloons for 2020: Boss Baby and the Red Titan from “Ryan’s World.”

Returning balloons: Astronaut Snoopy, the Sinclair Oil Dino, Elf on the Shelf, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” the Pillsbury Doughboy, Ronald McDonald, Chase from “Paw Patrol,” SpongeBob SquarePants, Smokey the Bear, Go Bowling balloonicles, Hugg, Bjorn, Jojo and Fleck from “The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two” on Netflix, Love Flies Up to the Sky by Yayoi Kusama, The Nutcracker and “Trolls.”

Another returning balloon, Pikachu, will reportedly arrive with a team of Pikachu dancers, potentially to make an announcement or tease an upcoming project.

New floats this year include turkey brand Jennie-O’s Big Turkey Spectacular with Bebe Rexha, Olay’s Her Future is STEM-Sational, Lifetime’s “Christmas in Town Square” with Tori Kelly and a Warner Bros. Pictures float for “Tom & Jerry’s Tourist Trap.”

What time is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The parade airs from 9 a.m. to noon in all time zones on Thursday, Nov. 26, with an encore presentation airing from 2 to 5 p.m.

What channel is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

NBC and Telemundo will broadcast the parade.

For the first time, NBC will provide a live audio description of the parade via secondary audio program (SAP) along with audio narration.

How to stream the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

You can also head to youtube.com/verizon or twitter.com/verizon to watch the parade starting at 9 a.m. ET.

Who is hosting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

“Today” hosts Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker will host for NBC. Adamari Lopez, Rodner Figueroa, Jessica Carrillo and Nastassja Bolivar will host for Telemundo. Mario Lopez is hosting the Verizon stream.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at [email protected].

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