On Thanksgiving, there are many questions that one may ask. Who will win the football game? What sides will I eat with my turkey? What pie will I eat after turkey? But arguably the most important question is this: Which parade will I watch—New York or Philadelphia?

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade:

Since 1924, participants in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade have journeyed the same 2.5-mile route while millions have watched on the streets of New York City, and many more on their televisions around America. The event started as a Christmas parade to celebrate the “World’s Largest Store” and included animals from the Central Park Zoo, with over 250,000 attendees.

 In 1927, the signature balloon floats were introduced, with the first balloon being Felix the Cat, who was released into the sky at the end of the parade. The balloons gained popularity, and now there are more than 100 different animated characters that have been featured in the parade throughout the years. The most repeated balloon in the parade is Snoopy from  Peanuts.  The recognizable floats were introduced in 1968 and are used to carry cast members and performers.

 With about 34 balloons, 28 floats, 28 solo-performers, and many other groups in 2025, the parade is a tradition that is entertaining and a great way to ignite holiday cheer for all ages across the country! Notable balloons include Buzz Lightyear in honor of Toy Story’s 30 year anniversary and POP MART’s very own Labubu, a toy that gained popularity in the past year. 

This year, a record-breaking 34.6 million viewers streamed the parade on NBC. The 99th parade began with angelic vocals from Cynthia Erivo and closed with Santa Claus on his sleigh, welcoming in the holiday season. The announcers, Savannah Guthrie, Huda Kotb, and Al Roker did a great job energizing the three-hour parade on Thursday, November 27, 2025. Next year, the 100th anniversary of the parade will stream due to the break the parade took during World War II. 

Overall, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the better option for viewers since it is one of the most iconic annual events in America and is watched throughout the nation.

The Philly Thanksgiving Day Parade:

The oldest in America, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade started in 1920. It was created to promote Gimbel’s Department stores and officially kicked off the start of the holiday shopping season. The parade starts and ends at the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art, with performers and floats marching throughout the city.

Now that Gimbel’s is closed, the parade is run by ABC and sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts. Many celebrities and characters appear and perform in the parade, including Mickey Mouse, the Cast of Zootopia 2, and the Sharpe Family Singers. Also consisting of over 2,000 singers, dancers, and musicians, the Philadelphia parade is quite the spectacle, vanquishing Macy’s measly 26 celebrity performances. Throughout the whole procession, countless dance studios, show choirs, and professional singers and dancers perform, bringing energy and grateful spirit to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Of course, no parade would be complete without the floats and balloons, and the Philly Parade has over a dozen ginormous helium balloons and almost 20 full-sized floats. Some famous ones include turkeys, Smurfette, Strawberry Shortcake, and Peppa Pig. This year, all the balloons were carried at the beginning of the parade, causing latecomers to miss these all-time favorites.

In addition, there’s a bonus for Havertown residents – anyone can easily drive down or take the train to see the parade in person! This experience, although sometimes chilly, is a great way to spend time with family and friends before the big turkey dinner. Also, one can enjoy the last bits of fall weather in a festive and enjoyable setting!

So, this past Thanksgiving, which parade did you watch? The oldest and biggest, or the most popular?