Thanksgiving 2025: A Complete Guide to the Holiday Date and This Year’s Must-See Parade
As leaves turn and autumn deepens, millions of Americans find themselves asking the same timeless question: When is Thanksgiving in 2025? Mark your calendars, the holiday falls on Thursday, November 27. While the date is consistent, the celebration is always evolving, and this year’s 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade promises a spectacle of new balloons, floats, and performances that will kick off the holiday season in spectacular fashion.
When is Thanksgiving? Understanding America’s Fourth Thursday Tradition
So, when is Thanksgiving 2025? It will be observed on November 27th, solidifying its place as the official start of the holiday season for many families. This date isn’t arbitrary, federal law in the United States designates the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day.
The road to this calendar consistency was surprisingly long. The holiday’s history stretches back to a 1621 harvest feast shared between Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in Plymouth. However, it wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November.
The date became a point of controversy in 1939 when a year with five Thursdays prompted President Franklin D. Roosevelt to move it a week earlier to extend the Christmas shopping season. This decision was so divisive it split the country, with states celebrating on different Thursdays. To resolve the confusion, Congress passed a law in 1941 officially establishing Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday, where it has remained ever since.
The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade : Your 2025 Viewing Guide
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a beloved tradition that brings the holiday to life for millions. This year marks its 99th edition, and the details are set for a unforgettable show.
When to Watch: The parade will be broadcast live on Thursday, November 27, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on NBCand Peacock. An encore presentation will air at 2 p.m. ET/PT.
Who is Hosting: TODAY’s familiar faces—Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker—will return to helm the broadcast.
The Grand Finale: As always, the parade will conclude with the arrival of Santa Claus, signaling the official start of the Christmas season.
What’s New for the 99th Parade
Executive producer Will Coss describes the parade as “the largest and hopefully most entertaining variety show on television,” a place where “friends, strangers, family come together for an opportunity to just be together”. This year’s event leans into that spirit with exciting new additions.
“The beauty of that float is… you can put the actual float together based on the pieces,” Coss said of one new installation, highlighting the interactive and creative elements woven into this year’s lineup.
The table below summarizes the key new attractions for 2025:
Feature
New Additions for 2025
🎈 New Balloons
Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, Shrek’s Onion Carriage, and Mario from Nintendo.
🎡 New Floats
“Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things” by Netflix, “Brick-tastic Winter Mountain” by The LEGO Group, “Master Chocolatier Ballroom” by Lindt, and more.
🎤 Notable Performers
Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Foreigner, Jewel, Busta Rhymes, the Radio City Rockettes, and Broadway performances from “Buena Vista Social Club” and “Ragtime”.
This year’s parade blends cutting-edge technology with classic charm. The “Stranger Things” float, for instance, features an 8-foot-tall Demogorgon that is puppeteered in a classic parade style. “The face will open and close, the arms will move, and it’ll give this real sense of live theater along the parade route,” teased Coss.
More Than a Parade: The Enduring Traditions of Thanksgiving
Beyond the spectacle in New York City, Thanksgiving remains a deeply personal holiday centered on gratitude and togetherness. For many, it is a rare four-day weekend dedicated to reconnecting with loved ones over a shared meal. The traditional feast, often featuring roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, is a centerpiece of the day, though modern twists often appear, like the recent buzz that Oreo is selling some unhinged Thanksgiving flavors & fans are divided. In recent years, services like meal kit companies have emerged to help reduce the stress of preparing this large meal, offering pre-portioned ingredients and recipes for a full Thanksgiving dinner delivered to your door. The holiday also sparks a spirit of generosity, with many communities organizing food drives and free dinners for those in need.
The tradition dates back to the early observance of the holiday, which was often a day for prayer and church services. President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation set the precedent for a Thursday celebration, and the 1941 law that made it a federal holiday cemented the fourth Thursday rule.
The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be broadcast live on Thursday, November 27, 2025, starting at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones on NBC and Peacock.
While the “first Thanksgiving” was in 1621, the official date moved for years. To end confusion, Congress passed a law in 1941 officially establishing Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November.
Yes, Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States. This means all non-essential federal government offices, post offices, and most banks and public schools are closed.
The day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, is not a federal holiday. However, many employees have the day off as part of a four-day weekend, and it marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
New for the 99th parade are floats including the “Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things” by Netflix, the “Brick-tastic Winter Mountain” by The LEGO Group, and the “Master Chocolatier Ballroom” by Lindt.
