Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade recap: All the best moments, performances and floats (2024)

Jenna shares her reaction to Hoda’s special signal to her

Al posted another behind-the-scenes clip on Instagram showing his pre-hosting dance session to “Ease on Down the Road,” a song from the musical “The Wiz.” The TODAY weatherman and consummate early bird shimmied and shook past marching band members well before the sun even rose to greet the day.

“That @macys #thanksgivingdayparade feeling before it even starts,” Al captioned the post.

Billy Porter opened the parade with the Broadway classic, and it sure sounded like the Tony winner was rehearsing with backup singers off-camera.

Al Roker gave TODAY followers a glimpse of his early morning journey to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route.

“We’re on our way down to Harold Square,” Al said on Instagram in a video he took while traveling down a rainy 6th Avenue in a cart. As he passes the Goku balloon from “Dragon Ball Z” a fan off-screen shouts a friendly "hello" in the weatherman’s direction.

“I will not lie, this is the worst weather we’ve had in about five years,” Al says, his dapper brown coat and matching hat soaked with rain. “But you know what? People are still out here having a great time.”

Al shows the Goku balloon at the end of the short clip — and it seems to salute his sentiment.

It's officially Christmas season! Santa made his annual appearance to wrap up the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in style.

Also waving to the crowd was Liza Colón-Zayas, one of the stars of "The Bear," who was decked out as Mrs. Claus.

They received a show-stopping introduction from superstar Jennifer Hudson, who performed a soulful version of "Jingle Bells" in a bright red sequined dress.

Hoda called her a songstress with “genre-defying vocals,” and she couldn’t be more right.

In a sparkling red dress with ostrich feather details, EGOT-winner Jennifer Hudson emerged from the doors of Macy’s to perform some Christmas favorites, starting with “Jingle Bells” before smoothly transitioning to “Let There Be Joy” as white, snow-like confetti tumbled around her.

Both hits can be found on the chanteuse and talk show host’s first holiday album “The Gift of Love.”

Other holiday-themed performances included The Temptations, Jimmy Fallon, Joey McIntyre and husband-and-wife duo The War and Treaty, who performed “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on the Deck the Halls float.

Goku from "Dragon Ball Z" is back for another year along with several other spectacular balloons and floats as the parade approaches its big finish.

“Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon — threaded in green tartan plaid pants with a red tuxedo stripe — performs “Hey Rudy” from his new Christmas album, “Holiday Seasoning,” along with The Roots.

Fallon’s new Yuletide album, which came out on Nov. 1, features Dolly Parton, Jonas Brothers, Justin Timberlake, LL COOL J, Meghan Trainor, “Weird Al” Yankovic and more.

The talk show host performed on The Santaland Express float as it chug, chug, chugged its way down the parade route, sending a plume of real steam from its exhaust pipe.

An annual highlight is the appearance by Snoopy, who was decked out as an Eagle Scout this year with Woodstock perched on his hat.

Snoopy is the longest-running balloon in the parade's history. He and Woodstock were joined by old pals Linus, Lucy and Charlie Brown, who are getting ready for a big anniversary: 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the first "Peanuts" comic.

Grammy-winning singer and actress Coco Jones performs her song “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” on a float donning a giant momma elephant with her cute little calf. In addition to singing R&B hits like "ICU" and "Most Beautiful Design," Jones stars in Peacock’s “Bel Air” as Hilary Banks.

The float is by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, a chain of water park resorts with spots in Wisconsin, Ohio, Texas and the Poconos.

The sweetest debut of any balloon this year belonged to gummy bear makers Haribo, which has made its big entrance.

The giant gold bear is part of the "Candy Cosmos" float from Haribo along with twin snakes, frogs, gummy worms and a rocket ship. It's one of six new floats in this year's parade.

Keep calm and “Padam Padam.”

Two-time Grammy-winning pop icon Kylie Minogue has been singing her way into the charts for five decades and graced the parade with her presence on this rainy Thanksgiving Day.

The diva performed a medley of her hits, starting with 2023’s song of the summer and viral hit “Padam Padam” before breaking into two of her other hits, “Slow” and “Can’t Get You Out of My Head.”

Al, Hoda, Savannah (and according to them, “Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo off-camera) boogied to the beat as Minogue, dressed in a red and black jumpsuit, was flanked by a sextet of dancers.

Minogue is gearing up for the worldwide “Tension Tour” next year. She’ll grace the shores of the U.S. to Padam once more when she comes to Chicago, Illinois in April 2025.

Hoda got a wicked surprise from Cynthia Erivo, who presented her with a bouquet of flowers during the parade. Hoda will be leaving TODAY in early January 2025 but will remain in the NBC family.

"Before you even begin, these flowers are for you because I know this is the last Thanksgiving parade you're doing, and I wanted to celebrate that, and I wanted to say we love you," Erivo told Hoda. "Thank you for all of the hard work you've done for all of these years."

The "Wicked" star also reflected on the film becoming a box office smash upon its release this past weekend.

"It's the most wonderful, unbelievable experience ever," she said. "This is such a wonderful thing to be able to share with everyone."

Erivo also gave her take on the debate over whether it's OK for fans to sing along to the songs in "Wicked" while in the movie theater.

Hoda made sure to sneak in her annual on-air signal to TODAY co-host Jenna Bush Hager before 600 cheerleaders performed their routine to Chappell Roan's "Hot to Go!" as part of the Spirit of America Cheer show.

Right before the camera cut to the cheerleaders, Hoda broke out the dance move with her arms that she promised Jenna she would use during the parade. Savannah also joined in the fun.

Hoda borrowed the move from the video for the song“RockaFellaCenta”by "Las Culturistas" podcast hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, which calls out Jenna. In the video, Yang shakes his arms in front of him when Rogers mentions Jenna.

Fan-favorite characters Grannie Rita (a.k.a. Bingo) and Grannie Gladys (a.k.a Muffin) from popular kids show "Bluey" drive a delightfully lavender Granny Mobile to herald the arrival of the Australian cattle dog everyone knows and loves.

The beloved cartoon character is playing a rousing game of “Keepy Uppy,” floating high in the air as she chases a giant red balloon. Savannah Guthrie also mentions that “Bluey” was the most streamed kids show in America this year, watching the show for over 35 billion minutes on Disney +.

Some new additions and old favorites are wowing the crowd as the giant balloons move down the streets of Manhattan.

Here's some of the top ones so far, from Minnie Mouse to a giant Minion.

You may suddenly be craving bananas.

“It looks like someone has been snacking down the parade route,” Hoda Kotb said as the Stuart the Minion balloon travels down the lane.

Stuart is a huge movie star, despite his diminutive frame (when he’s not filled with helium).He’s regularly appeared in the “Despicable Me” franchise, most recently in “Minions: The Rise of Gru.”

At the close of National Native American Heritage Month, dance company Indigenous Enterprise has joined the parade route for an engaging performance.

The group aims to preserve, promote, and advance Indigenous culture through powwow songs and dance, all under the leadership of founder and CEO Kenneth Shirley who took to the streets of Manhattan to do just that.

Broadway legend Idina Menzel gave fans a taste of her new Broadway musical "Redwood" that debuts in February by performing the new song "Great Escape."

Menzel mesmerized the crowd while atop the new float from The Bronx Zoo, featuring life-size giraffes and another wildlife replicas. The musical is about a woman's journey of self-discovery while in a forest of towering redwood trees.

"Idina Menzel, wow!" Hoda said after the performance.

The cast of "Sesame Street" brought their trademark joy to the parade with a performance of "Sing."

Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga joined in to help out Elmo, Oscar, Big Bird and the rest of the gang. The beloved cast is celebrating 55 years of Sesame Workshop's nonprofit mission to help children.

Destiny's Child alum Michelle Williams strutted her stuff in purple and black at the parade, performing the song "If You Want Perfection" as her character Viola Van Horn from the hit Broadway musical "Death Becomes Her."

The play is based on the 1992 film of the same name starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn.

Minnie Mouse, a character who was created all the way back in 1928, finally has her own parade float.

“Ooh look! There’s Minnie!” Al said as the giant balloon turned onto Columbus Circle. “I gotta tell you Hoda and Savannah, I’ve never had a vantage point like this.”

The 60-foot balloon celebrates the beloved Disney toon’s fashion sense, threaded in her iconic red bow, puffy-shouldered blouse and yellow heels. This year, polka dots are in.

Al Roker, often thought of as TODAY’s own living mascot, hit the road on the “one-of-a-kind” Tom Turkey float, travelling with influencer Charli D’Amelio, who is making her Broadway debut as Charmian in “& Juliet.”

Folks bedecked in bright maple leaf costumes and acorn seed berets waved to the cheering crowds as Tom’s wings gently flapped.

“Guys, its going to rain all morning, but we don’t care!” Al said to cheers from the crowd.

Emmy Award-winning Billy Porter opened the parade with a rousing rendition of “Ease on Down the Road,” a song from the Broadway musical “The Wiz.”

Porter wowed the crowds by singing — and dancing — in the rain, all while backup dancers roller skated around him and golden confetti tumbled to the ground.

"Wicked" star Idina Menzel spoke to Al ahead of the parade and joked that she "won't melt" in the rain as she opened up about her "full circle" moment. Menzel appeared at the parade in 2003 when she was starring in "Wicked" on Broadway, and now the movie version is the No. 1 film in the country.

"It's a source of great pride to be part of the genesis and the legacy that has become 'Wicked,'" she said. "And something I will hold dear forever."

This is Menzel's sixth appearance at the parade, and she also talked about her new musical "Redwood."

If you’re looking to see the floats, giant balloons, performances and all the other attractions today at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, there are 2.5 miles of public viewing along the parade route this year in New York City.

The New York Police Department will be out patrolling along the route to keep people safe.

“Our job is to keep this a safe and fun parade for New Yorkers and our visitors and their families and we’ve got lots of resources out there,” Jessica Tisch, the NYPD’s new police commissioner told TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb before the parade began.

There are three areas in Manhattan where you can watch the Thanksgiving magic happen IRL:

Central Park West, from West 75th to West 61st streets: Early birds can watch the start of the parade along this stretch. Macy’s says to avoid the section between West 59th and West 60th streets, where there’s no public viewing.

Central Park South and 6th Avenue: Viewers can see the parade as it pivots at Columbus Circle onto Central Park South just before it turns onto 6th Avenue.

6th Avenue, from West 59th to West 38th streets: Spectators can get great views along this stretch, but should avoid the limited-viewing area at 6th Avenue between West 34th and West 38th Street.

Hoda and Savannah were insiders when it came to getting a sneak peek at "The Outsiders."

Performers from the hit Broadway play were rehearsing along the parade route in Manhattan's Herald Square as Hoda and Savannah kicked off Thanksgiving morning on TODAY.

"They're just getting ready right now to rehearse one of the Broadway shows, 'The Outsiders,'" Savannah said.

There is always a big Broadway presence at the parade, and this year will also feature performances from the musicals “Death Becomes Her,” and “Hell’s Kitchen” as well as the annual appearance by the Radio City Rockettes.

The New York Police Department will have counterterrorism units, special operations units, drones in the sky, and K-9 units on hand to keep everyone safe at the parade.

New NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch said on TODAY "there are no specific, credible threats" to the parade and they don't expect any protests, but they are prepared for anything.

NBC News correspondent Stephanie Gosk also reported on TODAY that there is an emergency service unit within the NYPD that will monitor the giant balloons flying over the crowd to keep everyone safe.

They are trained to assist the balloon handlers with the ropes if there's any problems with high winds. They also help clear the route of any obstructions and will help bring any of the balloons down if it gets too windy.

"Our job is to keep this a safe and fun parade for New Yorkers, visitors and our families," Tisch told Savannah and Hoda.

As he stood out in the raindrops, Al Roker delivered the news that it's going to be a soggy day at the parade this morning with light rain, 44-degree temperatures and winds about 7 miles per hour in New York City.

Wind gusts could reach 20 miles per hour by the end of the parade, which could have an effect on the balloons, according to Al.

That still hasn't stopped people from across the country to make the journey to the iconic parade.

"Even though it's raining people always come out rain or shine," Hoda Kotb said on TODAY ahead of the parade.

Three million people are expected to attend the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

An annual tradition for the last four years has been Hoda Kotb signaling her fourth-hour co-host Jenna Bush Hager with a blink-and-you'll-miss-it gesture while hosting the parade.

Hoda revealed on TODAY Nov. 27 that she plans on taking a cue from the song “RockaFellaCenta”by "Las Culturistas" hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. In the video, Yang shakes his arms in front of him when Rogers mentions Jenna, which Hoda plans on borrowing for her signal during the parade.

This year's moment between the two friends is a little bittersweet because it's their last Thanksgiving together as co-hosts before Hoda leaves TODAY in January 2025.

You know the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is officially underway when Tom Turkey rolls down the streets of Manhattan.

The animatronic turkey with the giant tail feathers is traditionally the first float to hit the parade route every year. It's the longest-running float in the parade's history after debuting in 1973.

Hoda Kotb rode in on Tom Turkey for the first time at the 2023 edition of the parade.

"It was a perspective I’d never seen. I’m totally into it, you can feel it," she said at last year's parade. "And I’ve never sort of seen this city from that perspective, so it was pretty amazing.”

Haribo is blasting off to the Candy Cosmos as part of six new floats this year.

The gummy bear purveyors have a float that features a giant replica of its gold bear mascot along with twin snakes, frogs, gummy worms and a rocket ship.

Also joining the party is the Pasta Knight float from Rao’s Homemade that features a fire-breathing dragon. The iconic Bronx Zoo will also take part with an exotic Wondrous World of Wildlife float adorned with life-size replicas of giraffes, tigers, a gorilla and more.

The three other new floats this year are Dora’s Fantastical Rainforestby Nickelodeon & Paramount, Magic Meets the Seasby Disney Cruise Line and Masterfeastby Netflix.

Old favorites like Snoopy, Pikachu and SpongeBob SquarePants will be joined by six new balloons this year.

Minnie Mouse, Extraordinary Noorah& The Elf on the Shelf, Gabbyfrom “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” Goku from “Dragon Ball,” and Marshall from “Paw Patrol” will all be flying high this year. Spider-Man also returns to spin his webs down the streets of Manhattan after a hiatus.

This year’sstar-studded lineupincludes headliners Jennifer Hudson, Kylie Minogue and Billy Porter.

They are part of a long list of performers that also include: Loud Luxury, T-Pain, Ariana Madix, Idina Menzel, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Dan + Shay, Bishop Briggs, Kylie Cantrall, The Temptations, Charli D’Amelio and more.

Actor Alison Brie of "Community" and "GLOW" fame will cut the ribbon to kick off this year’s parade festivities.

“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo will also make an appearance along with Jonathan Bennett,Liza Colón-Zayas, Tom Kenny, and Ginna Claire Mason. Members ofthe reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty and Ellie the Elephant will join in the fun as well.

As always, there will be plenty of Broadway flair. This year will feature performances from the musicals “Death Becomes Her,” “Hell’s Kitchen” and “The Outsiders,” as well as the annual appearance by the Radio City Rockettes.