Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: Giant balloons take over New York city

A giant balloon of Bluey hangs from strings in New York city, being pulled along my people wearing red vests and hats.

57 minutes ago

When would you see Huntr/x, giant Labubu's and a floating Bluey hanging out together? At the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, of course!

34 balloons and 28 floats took to the streets of New York for the annual parade, with thousands of people watching.

Read on to find out more about the festivities.

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Derpy tiger balloon floats down the streets of New York.

It wasn't just Derpy from the KPop Demon Hunters universe who made an appearance.

EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami - who make up the fictional K-pop group Huntr/x - did a special performance of Golden to the crowd.

People stand at the barriers wearing turkey hats and throwing confetti.

A huge parade float of a turkey wearing a pilgrims hat. Everything is golden orange coloured.

Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in America every year on the fourth Thursday in November.

Most people celebrate by eating a big meal with all of their family, which normally includes a big turkey.

Two Labubus, one pink one brown, sit on a parade float of brightly coloured presents.

These Labubu's were out to woo you at this year's parade.

A woman dressed as the statue of liberty walks down the street, performing for the crowd.

A marching band wearing dark blue, white and gold uniforms marches on the street holding trombones.

Performers wearing blue and green cheerleading outfits wave bright pink pompoms in the air. They are all smiling and cheering.

The annual extravaganza always features marching bands and performers. And of course it wouldn't be a classic American parade without cheerleaders!

Big bird sits on a nest parade float clapping its hands. People watch out the window behind it.

A minion balloon is carried by people wearing yellow with blue tabards through the streets of New York.

A giant Dora the Explorer float is held by people wearing pink and orange, wearing purple tabards.

Fan-favourite TV and film characters often appear in the parade too. Dora's certainly exploring the streets of New York!

What is thanksgiving?

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WATCH: learn what thanksgiving is all about

Thanksgiving Day goes back to the time when Europeans went to start new lives in America.

In 1621 a group of Europeans, who became known as the 'Pilgrims', invited the local Native Americans to join them in a feast.

The Pilgrims had trouble growing enough food to eat in the years before. The Native Americans had taught them how to grow crops successfully and, according to the story, to thank them for this, the Pilgrims invited them to a big feast.

Unfortunately good relations between Native Americans and pilgrims did not last long and violence between European settlers and Native Americans increased and led to many years of conflict.