How to watch the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off its 98th march through the streets of New York City on Nov. 28, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The annual holiday tradition involves a thrilling barrage of massive balloons, celebrity appearances, fantastical floats, and marching bands, offering plenty of spectacle to accompany your festive feasts and family get-togethers.
This year, there’ll be 22 balloons, with the introduction of new balloons inspired by the Elf on the Shelf, Dragon Ball Z, Spider-Man, and Paw Patrol. Plus, Bluey favorites Janet and Rita (Bluey and her sister Bingo in their “grannies” personas) will have their own balloon car, sure to fill fans of the Aussie animated series with glee.
Among the big names performing are Frozen and Wicked star Idina Menzel, The Bear‘s Liza Colón-Zayas, rapper T-Pain, pop goddess Kylie Minogue, and WNBA Champions New York Liberty and their mascot Ellie the Elephant.
Today show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will host at-home audiences on NBC during the 2.5-mile parade. If you don’t have cable, don’t worry; you can still keep the tradition alive via streaming. Here’s what you need to know to tune in live.
What time is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
On Nov. 28, the parade is set to air from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock and will re-broadcast from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. ET for those who don’t wake up early. If you don’t have cable, you’ll either need a Peacock subscription or a cable replacement like Sling, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV.
How to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable
Best Peacock deal for most people
Like every other streaming service, Peacock is prone to price hikes, this year upping its cost for the Premium Plan with ads from $ 5.99/month ($ 59.99/year) to $ 7.99/month ($ 79.99/year). If you want to cut out ads, you’ll have to fork over even more and pay $ 13.99/month for the Premium Plus Plan, or $ 139.99/year. But Peacock tends to offer one of the best Black Friday deals of any streamer, and wouldn’t you know, there’s a Black Friday deal on now for an entire year of the Premium Plan (with ads) for only $ 19.99. Or, you can sign up to get $ 1.99/month for 6 months. This may be your best bet for watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade for a steal.
Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers
If you use Xfinity internet, you can score a free or discounted subscription to Peacock to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and plenty more. You can check your eligibility over at the Xfinity website, but here’s a breakdown if you know which plan you’re on:
Xfinity Internet users with Gigabit or Gigabit+ speed can get Peacock Premium for free for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025).
Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by simply redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards, select the Peacock reward, and wait for an email with instructions on how to activate your offer.
NOW TV customers get Peacock Premium included as part of their service.
Best Peacock deal for Spectrum customers
According to an agreement between NBC Universal and Charter Communications, the Peacock Premium ad-supported streaming service is available for “no additional cost” to Spectrum TV Select video customers. So Spectrum TV and internet customers can also tune into the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other gems on Peacock for free.
Best Peacock Deal for students
Students can keep the Thanksgiving tradition alive even without a cable plan by snagging a Peacock Premium subscription for only $ 1.99/month (for an entire year). All you need is a verifiable student status (a .edu email address) with SheerID. Once you pass the verification, you’ll get a unique promo code to sign up for Peacock at a discount. The promo code can only be used once, though, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Best Peacock deal for first responders and medical professionals
Similarly, first responders and medical professionals can score a year of Peacock Premium for only $ 1.99/month as well (reg. $ 7.99/month). Verify your status via SheerID upon signing up and use the unique promo code to knock down the cost per month. Eligible first responders and medical professionals who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew the Peacock offer annually and enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade and much more for years to come. Learn more about eligibility and offer terms here.
Best cable replacement option
For those who would rather sign up for a cable replacement than a single streaming service to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other live events, Sling TV is your best bet. It’s by far the most affordable cable alternative and lets you pick and choose the channels you want access to. For access to NBC, you’ll need the Blue plan, which typically costs $ 45/month. However, you can save 50% on your first month and try it out for only $ 22.50.
Note: Double check that NBC is available in your local network before committing to Sling.
UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 2:56 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect 2024 parade details. Additional reporting by Kristy Puchko.
