Macy’s Parade 2018: Start time, where to watch, live stream broadcast

It’s Thanksgiving 2018, and of course that means one thing more than any other in TV terms: The return of the Macy’s Parade! It’s a tradition like no other as you get a chance to see a wide array of different performances, floats, marching bands, and of course, Santa Claus before he makes his long trek across the world on Christmas eve handing out presents. It’s a long-standing tradition and, beyond just that, one of our favorite things to watch year after year.

So where can you watch the big parade this year? There are a number of different options that are out there, but the most-traditional method of viewing is of course on NBC. The parade itself formally begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time with an array of Broadway performances. Typically, the part of the parade featuring the floats begins around an hour later. During the NBC broadcast, you are going to see a (tentative) lineup of performers that include Bad Bunny, Barenaked Ladies, Bazzi, Ally Brooke, Kane Brown, Brynn Cartelli, Jack & Jack, John Legend, Leona Lewis, Ella Mai, Tegan Marie, Martina McBride, Rita Ora, Carly Pearce, Pentatonix, Anika Noni Rose and the cast and Muppets of “Sesame Street,” Diana Ross with her children and extended family (including Rhonda Ross, Tracee Ellis Ross, Chudney Ross, Ross Naess and Evan Ross with wife Ashlee Simpson-Ross), Sugarland, Ashley Tisdale, Mackenzie Ziegler and Johnny Orlando.

What about a live stream? – If you have access to NBC’s online stream through a cable provider, that is going to be at your disposal. For a different sort of second-screen experience, you don’t even have to leave CarterMatt! Below we have a live stream of the proceedings that includes a 360-degree view of the entire parade. Note that this stream is not the same as the NBC broadcast, but it still may help for you to capture the feel of the parade even if you are not watching it on traditional television.

If you’ve seen the parade, you probably know a little bit about what to expect — a lot of fun festivities, some musical performances, and in the end, a number of reasons to smile. This is a nice, lighthearted bit of Thanksgiving fun that serves primarily as a great way to kick off the holiday. It rakes in big ratings for NBC and is really the perfect thing to watch while you’re getting an early start on Thanksgiving dinner or while you are spending time with your family. In between this and the National Dog Show later, these are our familiar go-to events leading up to the big meal of the day. Sure, there’s also football — but that can occasionally lead to anger.

Throughout the morning, we may be back with some more headlines in the event some major stuff happens — stay tuned!

What do you want to see on the Macy’s Parade this year, and are you planning to watch? Be sure to share right now in the comments, and stay tuned to get even more of the latest news. (Photo: NBC.)