Al, Savannah and Hoda returned to bring you the 99th edition of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. TODAY.com captured every jam-packed moment as it happened.
The countdown to Christmas has officially started with Santa and Mrs. Claus closing the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and bringing early Christmas cheer.
Country star Lainey Wilson performed her hits "Somewhere Over Laredo" and "Peace, Love, and Cowboys" at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, getting the crowd in a wistful mood before Santa's arrival.
Classic balloons including a new Shrek balloon floated down the parade route, delighting spectators.
Hoda Kotb gave a direct shoutout to former TODAY co-host Jenna Bush Hager during the parade, continuing her tradition of acknowledging Jenna during the event.
Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni promoted a Starbucks cup at the parade.
KPop group HUNTR/X of Netflix's “KPop Demon Hunters” performed for the first time at the parade, introduced by Ken Jeong.
Teyana Taylor wore a bold outfit while performing on the Peacock float.
Pac-Man made its debut as one of the new balloons in the parade.
Goldfish debuted the tiniest float in the parade, less than eight inches tall.
A new "Stranger Things" float debuted with a performance by Foreigner.
Jewel sang “You Were Meant for Me” from atop the Holland America cruise line float.
Snoopy, dressed as a Beagle Scout, made his annual appearance, marking the 75th anniversary of the first “Peanuts” comic.
Conan Gray performed "Vodka Cranberry," receiving a big cheer from the crowd.
The viral plush toys called Labubu had their first float in the parade.
SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer, Spider-Man, Stuart the Minion and newcomer Mario were among the balloons in the parade.
Ciara performed her song "Low" on the Kalahari Resorts float, joined by her family.
Mario debuted as a new balloon in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros..
The legendary Tom Turkey float, a 52-year-old parade staple, made its entrance, accompanied by cheers and Raye's "Where Is My Husband!".
Al Roker had an adorable exchange with a girl who had already seen the Rockettes.
A new Lego float featuring a family in a mountain chalet debuted at the parade.
The cast of "Buena Vista Social" club performed songs from the Cuban-themed musical.
The Tom Turkey float, debuting in 1973, remains the longest-running float in the parade's history.
A look at the Labubu doll float, which will feature the Friends-giving in PopCity theme.
A mix of 34 balloons, including old favorites and new characters, will participate in the parade.
Cynthia Erivo started the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade by singing Nina Simone's song and cutting the ribbon.
Hoda Kotb will continue her tradition of giving a secret signal to Jenna Bush Hager.
Mariska Hargitay gave Savannah and Hoda good-luck hugs before the parade.
Al Roker reported that the balloons should be able to fly despite the winds.
Performers at the parade included Cynthia Erivo, Lainey Wilson, HUNTR/X, Foreigner, Teyana Taylor, and more.
New floats at the parade included floats inspired by Stranger Things, Labubu Dolls, and Holland America line.
New balloons debuting this year include Buzz Lightyear, Mario, Pac-Man, and Shrek's Onion Carriage.
NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch discussed security for the parade amid a heightened threat environment.
Macy's director of creative production, Brendan Kennedy, explained the logistics of transporting the floats from New Jersey to the parade route in Manhattan.
The parade includes an estimated 3.5 million spectators, 8,000 participants, 34 giant balloons, 28 floats, and more.
The article details three main vantage points along the parade route.
The parade airs on NBC and streams on Peacock from 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones.