where can you watch the macy's day parade
You can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade both on traditional TV and via several streaming options, plus in person along the New York City route.
Main ways to watch
- Broadcast TV (U.S.)
- NBC carries the official national broadcast live on Thanksgiving morning, typically starting around 8:30–9 a.m. local time.
* NBC usually re-airs the parade later in the afternoon (often around 2 p.m. in many time zones).
* Telemundo simulcasts the parade in Spanish, starting in the morning as well.
- Streaming without cable
- Peacock (NBC’s streaming service) live-streams the full parade at the same time as the broadcast.
* Live TV streaming services that include NBC—such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling (in select markets), and Fubo—can also be used to watch the parade live if NBC is in your local channel lineup.
- Replays and clips online
- After the live event, highlight clips and selected performances are typically posted on NBC’s official site, the Peacock app, and NBC’s YouTube and social channels.
* Various creators and walking-tour channels also upload parade recordings or street-level views to YouTube later on Thanksgiving Day and the following weekend.
Watching in person in NYC
If you happen to be in New York, you can also watch from the streets along the route.
- Typical route
- The parade generally starts near Central Park West and 77th Street, then moves south along Central Park West, across Central Park South, and down 6th Avenue toward Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street.
- Best street viewing zones
- Popular (and less restricted) viewing stretches are usually along Central Park West and parts of 6th Avenue above Herald Square, where there is more sidewalk space and fewer broadcast barriers.
* People often arrive as early as 6 a.m. to secure a front-row spot along the barricades.
- Indoor / VIP viewing
- Some midtown restaurants and event venues on or near the route sell special “parade brunch” or VIP viewing packages with indoor seating and private outdoor viewing areas.
* These often include breakfast, drinks, restrooms, and access to a balcony or patio looking directly over the balloons and floats.
TL;DR:
- Turn on NBC (or Telemundo in Spanish) on Thanksgiving morning.
- Stream it live on Peacock or any live-TV service that carries NBC.
- In NYC, line up early along Central Park West or 6th Avenue, or book a restaurant/VIP viewing package on the route.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.