The 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade didn’t just stroll down Manhattan—it took the entertainment world by storm, racking up a jaw-dropping 31.3 million viewers.
This year’s parade was a visual feast, featuring standout performances and appearances from EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, Billy Porter, Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo and electrifying dance numbers that kept fans glued to their screens.
With 23.6 million live viewers on NBC alone, it became the most-watched entertainment special on linear TV since the 2020 Academy Awards, according to Variety.
That’s a solid 10% increase from last year’s record-breaking 28.5 million viewers.
The 18-49 crowd was especially tuned in, giving the parade its highest rating since 2021’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, per the outlet.
‘The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an event in which we take enormous pride, and it’s an absolute joy to know that there was a record number of people watching across both NBC and Peacock,’ Jen Neal, Executive Vice President, Live Events and Specials, NBCU Entertainment, said in a statement.
The 98th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade didn’t just stroll down Manhattan—it took the entertainment world by storm, racking up a jaw-dropping 31.3 million viewers
This year’s parade was a visual feast, featuring standout performances from EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson , Billy Porter, Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo and electrifying dance numbers that kept fans glued to their screens
‘The parade is a tradition like no other,’ Neal added. ‘Year after year, it’s the best way to kick off the holiday season, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it with our partners at Macy’s.’
The 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was a spectacular event, hosted by Today Show favorites Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker.
This year’s parade featured an impressive lineup, including 17 giant character balloons, 22 floats, and 15 novelty and heritage balloons.
It also marked the debut of a new production company, Silent House, which aimed to enhance the viewing experience with more cameras focused on both the parade and the audience.
The parade covered a 2.5-mile route through Manhattan, starting at West 77th Street and Central Park West before winding its way to Macy’s Herald Square.
Despite the drizzly weather and temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, an estimated 3.5 million spectators lined the streets to catch the action live, with many more tuning in from home.
Along with the disappointing weather, ozens of protesters attempting to block the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade were arrested as it kicked off with pouring rain and frigid temperatures driving away crowds.
At least 21 anti-Israel protesters were arrested after trying to disrupt the parade at W. 55th Street and Sixth Avenue, reported WABC.
With 23.6 million live viewers on NBC alone, it became the most-watched entertainment special on linear TV since the 2020 Academy Awards , according to Variety
That’s a solid 10% increase from last year’s record-breaking 28.5 million viewers
The 18-49 crowd was especially tuned in, giving the parade its highest rating since 2021’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, per the outlet
For the second year in a row, they tried to rush in front of Ronald McDonald float and stop the parade.
Crowds booed at the protesters wearing rain ponchos and holding Palestine flags as cops quickly swarmed them and moved them off the route.
On Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams called parade protesters ‘grinches’ and vowed to stop any disruptions.
‘I really want to take the moment to tell those grinches that believe they are going to disrupt the parade that it is not going to happen,’ Adams said.
