MANHATTAN — It began as a costume parade in Newark, New Jersey: The Thanksgiving parade started by Bamberger's store transferred to New York in 1924 and featured employees of Macy's, who marched down 34th Street.
The large event included live animals, floats and bands as it entertained spectators. As it does today, 92 years later, it ended with Santa Claus being welcomed into Herald Square.
Animal-shaped balloons replaced the live animals in 1927. This year, some of the balloons will move on the ground, driven with vehicles.
The crowds grew to love the parade so much that by 1933, a million people were turning out to watch. The first television broadcast of the parade aired in 1948, and it has aired every Thanksgiving day morning ever since.
This year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will feature balloons that highlight a new film called"The Christmas Chronicles." The movie will be released Thanksgiving Day on Netflix.
Parade organizers said performers will appear on 26 floats. Some of the celebs we'll see in the parade include Diana Ross, Tony winner Anika Noni Rose, the muppets of Sesame Street, Barenaked Ladies, Pentatonix, John Legend, Martina McBride, Rita Ora and more.
And it's a sure bet we'll see The Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall, who have performed the famous Christmas kickline every year since 1957.
There are always several marching bands, cheerleaders and dancers from around the nation.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade airs at 9 a.m. EST Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. It is watched by an average of 44 million people every year.
