The Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® marks the start of the 2018 holiday season with a beloved spectacle featuring giant helium balloons, floats of wonder, pulsepounding marching bands, engaging performance groups, celebrity appearances and our special Santa Claus.

The 2018 lineup featured 16 giant character balloons. These balloons were more spectacular than ever! The Parade’s novelty and giant balloons included the famed Saiyan warrior Goku from “Dragon Ball Super: Broly;” the elf stars of “The Christmas Chronicles” on Netflix – Fleck, Bjorn, Jojo and Hugg; Sunny the Snowpal; colorful Americana spheres; Peanuts’ loveable blockhead Charlie Brown; DINO; the Flying Fish; Greg Heffley from the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series by Jeff Kinney; Illumination Presents Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch and his loyal dog Max; Jett by Superwings; the Nutcracker; Olaf, the snowman from Disney’s Frozen; PAW Patrol; Pikachu; Pillsbury Doughboy; Red “Believe” Stars as well as other stars in Blue & White and Yellow; Red & Gold Macy’s Snowflakes; Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger; Ronald McDonald; SpongeBob SquarePants; The Elf on the Shelf; Toothless from "How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World;" and Trolls. And Macy’s Blue Sky Gallery series returned to the sky this year with Little Cloud, the iconic creation of art collaborative FriendsWithYou™.

The Parade also included Balloonicles—selfpowered balloon vehicles. New this year were: Go Bowling and Three Baby Dinos.

Of the 26 floats were four new floats and many that have appeared in past Parades. The new floats: Santa’s Saint Bernards Save Christmas based on a new animated holiday special, Elf Pets: Santa’s Saint Bernards Save Christmas; Splashing Safari Adventure from Kalahari Resorts and Conventions showcasing a thrilling safari through the savannah and down a shimmering river with exotic animals; Fantasy Chocolate Factory by Kinder® and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Nickelodeon.

More than 1,200 cheerleaders, dancers, over 1,000 clowns, and 12 marching bands cheered along. Among the performers were Diana Ross, John Legend and Martina McBride. Broadway performances included: Mean Girls, My Fair Lady, The Prom, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Broadway performances took place in front of Macy’s in the restricted viewing area only.

The parade started at 9 a.m, Thursday, November 22, 2018. it was officially the coldest day in the parade's history since 1901 with temperatures reaching 6C.

The parade began at 77th Street and Central Park West and marched south to Columbus Circle. It then headed east on 59th Street before turning onto Sixth Avenue and heading south to 34th Street. The parade headed west on 34th Street before culminating at Macy's.

This video was shot at the cross at 59th Street and 6th Ave.