The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the epitome of Thanksgiving in NYC, getting us all officially into holiday mode.
Year after year we’re blown away by all the amazing–and gigantic–balloons we see floating through the city. And while we can always count on our returning favs, we’re also surprised with new ones each year!
New Balloons for 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Spider-Man
The beloved Spider-Man returns to the Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in over a decade! This year’s float was crafted in the style of comic book artist John Romita Sr’s Spider-Man from the Daredevil comic book series.
- 44 feet tall
- 77.5 feet long
- 34 feet wide (that’s the width of 5 taxi cabs!)
Minnie Mouse
Disney icon and favorite sweet heart Minnie Mouse is set to make her Thanksgiving Day Parade debut this year! She’ll be galloping down the parade route in her recognizable red polka dot outfit!
- 60 feet tall
- 60 feet long
- 34 feet wide
Goku
Goku, the legendary anime character from Dragon Ball is back in 2024 with a brand new design! He’s a frequent flyer on the parade route over the past few years, but this time around he’s debuting a new look!
- 56 feet tall
- 70 feet long
- 36 feet wide
Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf®
Helping to spread Christmas cheer this year, Santa’s magical arctic fox Extraordinary Noorah will be joined by one of Santa’s official & most trusted helpers, The Elf on the Shelf® Scout Elf.
- 44 feet tall
- 66 feet long
- 19 feet wide
Gabby
Gabby is the star of the hugely popular Gabby’s Dollhouse series from DreamWorks Animation, and she’ll be bringing her best friend Pandy Paws and her iconic magic cat ears to the 2024 parade this year! She’s also getting ready for a new film set to hit theaters next fall.
- 55.5 feet tall
- 36 feet long
- 66.5 feet wide
Marshall from Paw Patrol
/ Getty Images for Macy’s
Adventure Bay’s resident firedog Marshall is making his Thanksgiving Parade debut this year, and the Paw Patrol icon is quite literally twice the size of a standard New York City Fire Department firetruck!
New Floats for 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Wondrous World of Wildlife
The Bronx Zoo is debuting a float for the first time ever, featuring all sorts of amur tigers, western lowland gorillas, giraffes, and more! It’s all to celebrate the zoo’s incredible 125th anniversary!
To make the celebration even more exciting, Idina Menzel will join the festivities and perform “Great Escape,” a song from her new Broadway musical, Redwood.
“As a native New Yorker, it’s such a joy to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and to partner with the Bronx Zoo, whose connection to the city and mission to protect nature is very near and dear to me,” the singer said in a press release. “Conservation is at the heart of my new musical, and an important message for viewers. I can’t wait to connect with my fans on the streets of Manhattan and soon again on Broadway.”
Candy Cosmos by Haribo
Haribo is taking their gummi friends to outerspace in this brand new float featuring Goldbear & friends! Get ready to touch the cosmos.
Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest
For the first time in 15 years, iconic Nickelodeon characters Dora the Explorer and Boots return to the Thanksgiving Day Parade! They’ll be traveling along the route in a tropical environment…looking for Swiper the Fox along the way.
Pasta Knight
Rao’s Homemade is debuting probably the best pasta-focused duel you’ll ever see! The Rao’s Homemade Pasta Knight will be dueling a fire breathing dragon all the way down the parade route…all while seeing if you can spot the variety of pasta shapes on the float, like Orecchiette, Fusilli, Penne, Tortiglioni, Rotelle & Rigatoni.
These new balloons and floats will, of course, join returning favorites, such as Bluey, Greg Heffley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Chase from PAW Patrol® by Nickelodeon, and Spongebob Squarepants & Gary by Nickelodeon.
Whether you’re lucky (and brave) enough to bare the cold to see the parade in person, or you watch it on TV in the warmth of your home while getting started on your Thanksgiving day feast, one things for sure–the Thanksgiving Day Parade is definitely a spectacle that cannot be missed!
Here’s everything you need to know about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Contributions by Brianna Perry