Some Thanksgiving traditions never get old — they just get bigger, brighter, and a little more magical. This year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is turning 100 in parade years, and it’s celebrating by bringing back the classics.

The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade steps off on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, in New York City, running from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET and ending outside Macy’s Herald Square. You can watch it live on NBC and Peacock — so whether you’re cooking, cheering from the couch, or sneaking a second helping of pie, you won’t miss a balloon.

Here’s the fun math behind the milestone: the first parade was held in 1924, so the 100th anniversary of that first parade was 2024. But because the parade was canceled during World War II, from 1942 to 1944, the 100th parade itself doesn’t take place until 2026. A century of Thanksgivings, with a three-year pause — and now, a comeback worthy of the occasion.

To mark the moment, the 2026 edition will celebrate with revivals of past balloons and marionettes from across the parade’s history. Think of it as a greatest-hits parade: familiar favorites floating back down the route, alongside the new floats, marching bands, and performances that make Thanksgiving morning feel like a holiday all its own.

The balloon history alone is worth a toast. The first giant balloon was Felix the Cat in 1927, and the first Mickey Mouse balloon followed in 1934, created with help from Walt Disney himself. Generations of kids — and plenty of grown-ups — have looked up to see those characters drifting over Manhattan, and this year’s throwback lineup is a nod to every one of them.

The parade has been televised nationally on NBC since 1953, making it as much a part of Thanksgiving morning as the turkey, the football, and the family debate over who gets the last roll.

And here’s a fun local tie for parade fans closer to home: Detroit’s own America’s Thanksgiving Parade is tied with Macy’s as the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the U.S. So whether you’re watching from New York, Detroit, or right here in Toledo, you’re part of a tradition that has been bringing people together for a century.

So set the alarm, grab the hot cocoa, and settle in. A hundred parades in, Macy’s is proving that some classics only get better with age.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources: The Futon Critic; Wikipedia