HOLLYWOOD—Who’s ready for the 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Being with family is the best, even if your family is small. The annual holiday tradition will kick-off on November 23 on the streets of New York City with Grammy and Oscar-winning musician Jon Batiste. The 2.5-mile parade route features Cher as a headlining act, aside from Santa Claus.
The singer, who released her first Christmas album last month, will perform a new holiday hit and kick off the holiday season at 34th Street. Of course, the Today show anchors, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Koth and Al Roker will return to host this year. Since so many people speak Spanish, Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza are hosting the simulcast on Telemundo. The parade this year will begin at 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones, and if you miss it, re-broadcasting will air at 2 p.m. on NBC.
So, what other celebrities will participate? Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, Enhypen, David Foster and Katherine McPhee, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Jessie James Decker, Ashley Park with “Sesame Street “Muppets, Pentatonix, Paul Russell, Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith, Manuel Turizo and many others. The balloons are always the fan favorite including Grogu from “The Mandalorian,” “Paw Patrol’s” Chase and SpongeBob and Gary-are returning this year and viewers will see some new characters.
There will be Beagle Scout Snoopy, Blue Cat & Chugs from the “Cool Cats”, Po from “Kung Fu Panda”, Leo from Netflix’s upcoming animated film, “Leo,” Monkey D. Luffy from “One Piece,” The Pillsbury Doughboy, Uncle Dan from the upcoming animated film “Migration.” There will be marching bands as well. The festivities will feature 31 floats, 25 balloons and six self-powered “balloonicles.”
The best place to watch the parade if you are there in person is along Central Park West, between West 75th and West 61st Streets. The great views are also along 6th Avenue from 59th to 38th Street. Now, if you are in the comfort of your home, you really have the best view of all. After the 25-block march down 6th Avenue, the Thanksgiving Day Parade hits the final stretch at 34th Street and heads west towards 7th Avenue. The traditional Thanksgiving Day Parade finishes in front of Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street between Broadway and 7th avenue.
The tradition is the TV is on while the hostess begins to prepare the turkey. Rule of thumb is one pound of turkey per person is generally a good place to start. So, if you want leftovers, you buy one a few extra pounds. Yes, expect extra pounds as well, if you indulge in the turkey, sides and desserts. It’s all about family, food and football. The NFL has given fans a feast of Thanksgiving games each year. That will continue this year with a three-course schedule filled with rivalry games.
The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will continue their decades-long tradition of hosting Thanksgiving games. The Lions will face the Green Bay Packers, while the Cowboys will take on the Washington Commanders. The third and final Thanksgiving game will feature the San Francisco 49ers battling the Seahawks in Seattle. Packers vs Lions will be shown on FOX, Commanders vs Cowboys on CBS and 49ers-Seahawks on NBC/Peacock.
While many people will hit the mall on Black Friday to kickstart the Christmas shopping season, many will have its first ever Black Friday game on November 24. The Miami Dolphins will visit the New York Jets at 3 p.m. ET. Amazon Prime will broadcast the matchup. The party continues for those that have the Thanksgiving weekend off. If you want to continue the Thanksgiving weekend, the film “Thanksgiving,” is playing everywhere.
The 2023 slasher film is directed by Eli Roth, from a screenplay written by Jeff Rendell and a story by Roth and Rendell, who produced with Roger Birnbaum. The film stars Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Milo Mannheim, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Neil Verlaque, Gina Gershon and Rick Hoffman who you may remember from the Netflix series, “Suits.”
Rose’s Scoop: Wishing everyone a blessed, safe Thanksgiving Day. It is a day to show gratitude. Gratitude is a practice, a mindset and an approach that has potential to heal, energize, change our lives and our relationships. What are you grateful for?
