Name: Macys parade preview: Cynthia Erivo, Ciara, Bust Rymes, more
Uploaded: 2025-11-25T17:05:10.765Z
Duration: 7 min 8 s
Description: This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings 64 balloons, 27 floats and a lineup packed with stars, from Debbie Gibson to Cynthia Erivo. Expect fun surprises, a few secrets, and even the parade’s first furry balloons.

This year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade brings 64 balloons, 27 floats and a lineup packed with stars, from Debbie Gibson to Cynthia Erivo. Expect fun surprises, a few secrets, and even the parade’s first furry balloons.

New York

The 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place in New York City, featuring an array of new balloons, floats, and performances from notable artists. Recording artist Debbie Gibson will make her third appearance, performing on a new SIRTA float, while Cynthia Erivo and Conan Gray are among the other highlighted entertainers.

This year's parade includes 64 balloons, 27 floats, and several firsts, such as the debut of furry balloons and the smallest Goldfish float in parade history. The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, with organizers encouraging viewers to tune in for special moments and surprises.

Macy's parade preview: Cynthia Erivo, Ciara, Bust Rymes, more

One of America's favorite holiday traditions, the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade returns Thursday with new balloons, fabulous floats, and amazing entertainers. I know. Recording artist Debbie Gibson is going to be there making her third parade appearance this Thursday. She's here to help us celebrate. She's joined with Brendan Kennedy, the parade's director of creative production. Nice to see you. Nice to see you. Happy Thanksgiving. It's going to be a great Thanksgiving. The weather looks like it's going to be good. Yeah. We're holding out. We got some rain tonight, but it's going to chill out and have a vibey day. Okay. Why did you want Debbie to be part of it again this year? An icon, a legend. Truly, we wanted, we have a new float with SIRTA that have the counting sheep on them. Here we go. A brand new sheep with a 34 sheep. I've been carting this sheep all over town because it's just fun. It takes all the seriousness out of life. What's 34? What's 34th Street? Taking the seriousness out of life. That's what the parade is all about. It's all about having a fun, joyful moment, and that's really the music of Debbie. What she brings to the parade is just going to be so much magic. Wait. Only in my dreams. It's got to be that song. I'm sworn to secrecy. Only Sam knows. Right? She's on a mattress. It totally makes sense. It makes sense. All right, so this is the third time you've done the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Yes. What experience did you learn from the first two that you're going to use to your advantage this time? Oh, my gosh. Deep-probing questions. You know, there's... Is it about the floats bounce? There's really nothing to think about. Yeah, well, that's true. Yeah, yeah. Honestly, it's just so joyful. Like, people always go, oh, I hope the weather's good. I'm like, I'm not thinking about the weather. I don't care. It's just, like, the energy from the people is so incredible. How much fun is this for you? It's so much fun. You grew up in New York. I grew up in New York. So you've had this as part of your life. Yes, as part of my life. And I think that, like, everyone around the country, like, centers their Thanksgiving around watching this parade. I know we did. And it's a pinch-me moment to be asked to do it once. So to be on my third time, first of all, I mean, I've been in this business a long time. But, no, it's so incredible. And, like, two of my three sisters live in New York now, and they're going to be, like, along the route, and they're going to be waving. It's, yeah, there's nothing to think about. Like, it's just kind of the joy takes care of itself. It is a beautiful New York moment. And I feel like Macy's is always trying to up itself from the year before. Oh, you got it. This year we have, I mean, 64 balloons, 27 floats. We've got four brand-new giant balloons with Mario and Shrek. We've got Buzz Lightyear and Pac-Man. We even have a feature-sized balloon with Derpy from K-Pop Demon Hunters and a massive performance from the singing voices of Huntrix of K-Pop Demon Hunters. Just a big smash this year. A big smash, yes. We've got La Boo Boo's there. You got La Boo Boo's. We've got two 16-foot-tall giant inflatable balloons that are furry. First-time furry balloons ever in parade history on the Pop Mart float, which will be super fun. We have six new floats, including actually 6.1. We got a little tiny float with Goldfish. Oh, we heard about that. Yeah, the littlest float in parade. So it's like 1 49th the size of a giant. You'll be on one of the biggest floats. You won't be on that one? Yeah, 1 49th the size of a float that will be towed by a 1 8th scale of a Ram truck because all the floats are towed by a Ram truck, which is so fun. Ah, you know, one of the things I noticed, obviously, Debbie's going to be there performing on her float, but I saw Cynthia Erivo. Oh, wow. Cynthia Erivo, a magical moment. I can't speak too much to it, but I will say, tune in right at the start of parade as we kick off for a special treat. I mean, what a year, several years. What time does the parade start? It kicks off at 8 30. Yeah, there's some like last minute additions, right? Like Conan Gray just got announced. Conan Gray. I love him. We were hiding that. Great artist. But we just had rehearsals last night, and we have rehearsals tonight again with Debbie. And so Conan Gray came out and did a full rehearsal on the street. It's a really exciting time, and it's so fun to finally share with the world. Debbie, when you do these rehearsals, are other performers there, other people? And do you get to like, I don't know, say hi to people, shake hands with people, have a drink with people, like socialize? There often is that, like the first time I did it, it was when the Backstreet Boys were first coming on the scene. And I remember like, who is this group? Like, it's crazy to think of Wynonna, and there are so many great artists like all packed into one trailer. And so, yes, you do get to meet people. What are you going to wear? Because I'm concerned. Last weekend, you wore somebody's suit. Oh, my God. That's, wow. I think we have a little video. Oh, my God. I won't be wearing this in the parade or anything like it. Your body is in A-plus shape, okay? Well, thank you. But I'm afraid you might be a little cold if you wear this outfit on Thursday. I've never learned so much about underdressing as I have with Parade. We have, you know, like 650 clowns. We have to make sure that they're all set. We have to make sure everybody on the floats are all good. I won't be wearing that. Don't worry. Okay, good. There it is. I love it. We need some heat tech for you under that. Between the family friendliness and the, yes, the cold factor. None of that works. That's already been shipped home. That was from my last concert of the year. Is some of that fun pop style still coming? But I will, yes. I actually have some options. I'm an options girl. Should we go over them? I'm like 11th hour. Maybe, yes. Okay. Because, like, warmth and comfort is important, but also, like, a vibe. And I want to color coordinate with the float. And, you know, it's a fun thing to put together. So, yes, I have some options. Yeah, we'll talk. Okay, great. We'll talk after the show. Maybe there's a wardrobe change in the future. Yes. I love that. There's a ball pit on your float. So just, you know, make sure you're ball pit ready. I know. That's his thing. Ball pit ready is definitely going to lean me toward one particular option. And confetti. I'm just prepping you. There'll be so much confetti. I love confetti. I was on that mixtape tour with New Kids, and it was confetti, confetti, confetti. We love confetti. This is a dream. Talk about dreams. This is going to be great. Everybody can watch it. I love it. I'm just wondering, Debbie, is there a little song in your head this morning? You are so funny. Listen, there are so few surprises left in this world. We're keeping this one. Okay, then sing something else. Oh, my gosh. Like what? You can't, because it's only in my dreams is in your head. No, I was going to go a totally different route and just say... Really? Without you, without you, I always thought that everything was fine without you. Oh, no, you know what I did on my Instagram the other day, too? What? Just a foolish sheep of mine. Ooh, foolish sheep. Maybe that's what she'll be singing. Maybe that's what I'm doing. The 99th edition of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Everybody knows it. Get out there. Get a chance to see it. It starts at 8.30 on Thanksgiving Day. Dress warmly. We appreciate it. Can't wait to see you in your living room. Have a fun morning. Sing something.

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