MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE FEATURES PAC-MAN, SHREK, AND LABUBU IN MANHATTAN. (PHOTO).

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade features Pac-Man, Shrek, and Labubu in Manhattan 

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade lit up the skies over New York City on Thursday, featuring balloons of Buzz Lightyear, Shrek, and Pac-Man, alongside floats highlighting Labubu and Lego. The procession began on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and concluded at Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street, showcasing a mix of balloons, floats, marching bands, and clown groups.

Temperatures hovered in the 40s, with wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph adding to the chill, but parade-goers bundled up to enjoy the spectacle. City officials monitored the winds carefully, as regulations prohibit flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or gusts surpass 35 mph. Despite the cold, attendees like Megan Christy from North Carolina were excited, describing the weather as “just a great day for a parade.”

The parade included a lineup of musical and theatrical performances, with appearances by Cynthia Erivo, Conan Gray, Lainey Wilson, Foreigner, Lil Jon, and Audrey Nuna, EJAE, and Rei Ami from “KPop Demon Hunters.” The Radio City Rockettes performed, along with Broadway casts from “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Just in Time,” and “Ragtime.”

Several new balloons debuted this year, including an onion carriage with eight characters from “Shrek,” while “KPop Demon Hunters” brought the characters Derpy Tiger and Sussie to the skies. The event was broadcast on NBC, hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and Hoda Kotb, and on Telemundo with Andrea Meza, Aleyda Ortiz, and Clovis Nienow, with a live simulcast available on NBC’s Peacock streaming service.