The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has changed for 2020. Like with Thanksgiving traditions and Santa Claus at malls, COVID has altered the way we’ll be experiencing it this year. So here are the updates.
2020 Fast Facts
The parade will…
- Air nationwide as a television-only event.
- Not have a live audience.
- Be broadcast on NBC and Telemundo on Thursday, Nov. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., in all time zones.
“In order to avoid gathering large crowds of spectators along our traditional 2.5-mile route in New York City, we have shortened the route to focus solely on the last section of our annual march,” the website reads. “On Thanksgiving Day, we will showcase our annual celebration’s signature balloons, floats, performances and herald the arrival of Santa Claus, in front of Macy’s famed flagship store on 34th Street for our national television special on NBC.”
Even though the parade won’t have people packed on the street watching, organizers are trying to keep it as traditional as ever. There will be amazing balloons and gloats, as well as having the usual theatrical and musical performances as part of the broadcast.
As always, the list of performers may change, but here’s who is scheduled to participate.
Broadway / Theatrical Performances
- Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations
- Hamilton
- Jagged Little Pill
- Mean Girls
- Radio City Rockettes
Performance Groups
- All-female samba drumline Fogo Azul NYC along with Pulitzer Prize winning playwright and Mermaid Queen Lynn Nottage and Dick Zigun representing the Coney Island USA Mermaid Parade
- Danza Fiesta representing the National Puerto Rican Day Parade
- The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps Band representing the NYC Pride March
- The Sugarplum Fairy from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker representing the New York City Ballet
- The FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums representing the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- A special performance entitled CaribeFuturism featuring a collective of acts including partners Pan in Motion, Batingua Arts, Sesame Flyers, and Kaisokah Moko Jumbies with Carnival Queen Kay Mason representing the West Indian American Day Carnival Association
- The Big Apple Circus
- The NYPD Police Band
- The West Point Marching Band
- Zeta Phi Beta
Celebrities and Musical Performances
- Lauren Alaina
- Jimmie Allen and Noah Cyrus
- Ally Brooke
- Sofia Carson
- CNCO
- Jimmy Fallon and The Roots
- Karol G
- Tori Kelly
- Patti LaBelle
- Ella Mai
- Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier
- The cast and Muppets of Sesame Street
- Leslie Odom Jr.
- Keke Palmer
- Dolly Parton
- Pentatonix
- Bebe Rexha
- Jordin Sparks
- Sebastián Yatra
- Brett Young
And, of course, Santa Claus will be there.
Learn more about the floats, balloons, and other fun festivities on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2020 website.
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