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Dolly Parton Will Perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade This Year

Dolly Parton Will Perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade This Year

From Prevention

  • The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is still happening this year, but with huge changes like no crowd, no parade route, and many fewer balloon handlers than usual.

  • Dolly Parton, Patti LaBelle, Keke Palmer, and other stars will perform live as usual.

  • The parade airs on NBC from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26.


When the United States first locked down back in March, most of us assumed we’d be in the clear before summer, and definitely before the start of the holiday season. But here we are, months later, still waiting for the chance to return to “normal” as coronavirus cases hit an all-time high across the country.

Although Thanksgiving will certainly be stranger (and more distanced) this year, some of the most important traditions live on in the age of the novel coronavirus, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This November, the annual event will see some major changes—but that doesn’t mean you won’t get the chance to see those iconic floats traveling the streets of New York City.

The parade is going to look and feel different—think no crowd, smaller performances, and way fewer balloon handlers. But despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the show is still on, at least virtually. Here’s what to expect from the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

When is the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the 94th annual parade is still scheduled to air on Thanksgiving, just not in its usual form. “It will not be the same parade we’re used to; it will be a different kind of event,” de Blasio said. “They are reinventing the event for this moment in history.”

According to Macy’s, the event usually draws 3.5 million spectators and more than 8,000 volunteers in New York City, on top of 50 million broadcast viewers. Obviously, a crowd that large won’t work well in the midst of a second wave and flu season, so the city is getting creative with its 2020 plans.

What’s different about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year?

“This year the celebration will shift to a television-only special presentation,” Macy’s confirmed in a statement, “showcasing the Macy’s Parade’s signature mix of giant character helium balloons, fantastic floats, street performers, clowns, and heralding the arrival of the holiday season with the one-and-only Santa Claus.” This year's changes are pretty widespread:

  • The usual Thanksgiving Day Parade route, which kicks off in uptown Manhattan and ends in Midtown, has been scrapped this year. Instead, expect staging at the Macy’s flagship in Herald Square.

  • The balloons will fly with fewer handlers and “an innovative, specially rigged anchor vehicle framework of five specialty vehicles” instead, according to Macy’s.

  • Performers and participants, most of whom hail from the tri-state area, will be socially distanced and largely required to wear masks.

  • Most out-of-town performers, including high school and college marching bands, will be deferred until next year. They’ve been replaced by alternatives based in New York City.

  • The public is not invited to the balloon inflation event on Wednesday night.

  • All participants in the parade are 18 or older.

The changes are coming for good reason: Macy’s reports that these measures will cut down on the total number of participants in the event by about 88% to reduce the chances of COVID-19 transmission.

Who is performing at the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

This year’s lineup is just as impressive as any other’s, despite the pandemic. Live performers include Dolly Parton, Patti LaBelle, Pentatonix, Keke Palmer, Bebe Rexha, Brett Young, and more. Each will perform a socially distanced set on their own float.

Although the beloved high school and college marching bands from the country won’t be performing this year, Macy’s has a perfect solution: They’ll instead recognize local talent that hasn’t been able to participate in other events this year, like the Coney Island USA Mermaid Parade, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, the NYC Pride March, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

And, of course, the giant balloons will be there. Eighteen balloons, including Snoopy, Pikachu, and the Elf on the Shelf, are scheduled to fly this year, along with 35 floats and six “balloonicles” on the ground. See the full parade lineup here.

How can I watch the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

The 94th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on NBC on Thursday, Nov. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST. You can catch it on any device with access to a live NBC feed. If you’re located in New York City, you might still be able to witness the event in-person, although it would probably be best for everyone if you stay home and get a head start on cooking instead.


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