In what city is Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held?

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held in New York City.

The parade takes place in Manhattan, beginning on the Upper West Side and traditionally ending at Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square. Its route and exact staging arrangements have changed over time, but New York City has remained its home since the event began.

Macy’s held the first Thanksgiving parade in 1924. Store employees marched in costumes alongside floats, bands, and animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. Santa Claus appeared at the end of that first parade, establishing a tradition that continues to close the celebration.

The parade is often associated with its giant character balloons, but those were introduced later, in 1927. It was suspended from 1942 through 1944 during World War II because rubber and helium were needed for the war effort. A common mix-up is Philadelphia, which hosts the country’s oldest Thanksgiving parade; Macy’s event specifically belongs to New York City.