By Caroline Cope

The 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade will air on November 27 at 8:30 a.m. EST and will feature many new floats and balloons.

The festive parade will be live on NBC and Peacock and will last over three hours, with TODAY Show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, and former host Hoda Kotb giving commentary.

Senior Lizzie Visger has seen the parade in person before when she lived in New York. “It was hard to see the [performers], but seeing the floats was really cool,” Visger said. “I’ve watched it [on TV] most every year since.”

There will be various new character balloons featured this year: Buzz Lightyear, PAC-MAN, Shrek’s Onion Carriage with multiple characters inside, Mario, and Derpy Tiger and Sussie from K-Pop Demon Hunters.

Most of the new floats and balloons coming to this year’s parade are being featured because their shows, movies, or products are gaining popularity or anticipation for new episodes. Other floats, such as the Buzz Lightyear float, are honoring certain milestones, like the 30-year anniversary of Toy Story.

“Some of the [new floats] sound like a really good idea,” Visger said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the chocolate and LEGO floats.”

In addition to the new balloons, there will be a Labubu float by Pop Mart, a Wildlife float by Holland American Cruise Lines, a Master Chocolatier Ballroom float by Lindt, an “Upside Down” Stranger Things float by Netflix, a Counting Sheep float by Serta Mattresses, and a Winter Mountain float by LEGO.

“I think Labubus are a microtrend of 2025,” senior Simra Islam said. “But they’re cute. When I went to San Francisco, I almost bought a Labubu.”

“I don’t watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade,” Islam said. “But I’ll probably look for the Labubu float on TikTok.”