America’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2016: How To Watch Live Online, TV Start Times, And Fun Facts

The Thanksgiving parades are coming, and right at the top of the list are the two longest-running parades in America – the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and America’s Parade in Detroit.

While many people will celebrate the day with family and friends over a feast at dinner, certain traditions are just as timeless when it comes to Thanksgiving Day traditions. NFL football, turkey dinner, hanging out with good company, and of course watching parades on television. They all just seem to go hand-in-hand.

The America’s Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit will be celebrating 90-years of tradition this year, which makes it one of the longest running parades in American history. With the Detroit Lions facing the Minnesota Vikings right after the parade, Detroit is going to be one busy place to be this Thanksgiving.

The parade has been a holiday tradition in Detroit since it first rolled down Woodward Avenue in 1924, which ironically was the same year that Macy’s began its tremendous Thanksgiving traditional run in New York City. Although, back in 1924, Macy’s first parade was held on Christmas Day, not Thanksgiving.

The Grand Marshals of the annual America’s Parade will include Detroit natives Damon Keith, a longtime federal judge and civil rights figure, and popular comedian Keegan-Michael Key. Key, a Southfield native, is becoming one of the best known comedians in the circuit today and is seemingly popping up on television everywhere.

Other celebrities who will be making an appearance at the parade in Motown include Women’s U.S. Soccer stars Ali Krieger and Crystal Dunn, former Detroit Tiger great Willie Horton, Run-D.M.C. founder Darryl McDaniels, Access Hollywood’s Liz Hernandez, and Miss Michigan, along with many others. Of course the biggest celebrity of all will be none other than Santa Claus himself.

According to a Click on Detroit report, the 2016 America’s Thanksgiving Parade will get underway at 8:50 a.m. ET and air live on NBC, local 4. The parade will also be live-streamed on ClickOnDetroit.com.

Also airing at 9 a.m. will be the annual Macy’s Parade from New York.

Forbes reports that this year’s cast will feature 19 musical acts, from legend Tony Bennett, to 12-year-old America’s Got Talent winner Grace Vanderwaal, to R&B duo and YouTube stars Chloe x Halle. Former NHL star players Adam Graves and Eric Lindros, along with TV chef Sandra Lee, and the members of the Muppets cast will also be in attendance.

Here are a couple of fun facts you may not know about the Macy’s Parade:

• Felix the Cat was the first balloon ever to appear in the Macy’s Parade in 1927.
• Mickey Mouse made his Macy’s Parade debut in 1934.
• Macy’s canceled the parade from 1942 to 1944 due to World War II.
• Three new floats will debut in 2016: DreamWork’s Trolls and new versions of Charlie Brown and Felix the Cat

Okay, here is the last fast fact, so lets see if you can get it right. Do you know which float has appeared the most times in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade? Give up? The answer is Snoopy. The lovable beagle will make his 40th appearance in the Macy’s Parade this year. He first appeared on the streets of New York for the big day back in 1968.

The 2016 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will get underway just after 9 a.m. and run until approximately noon ET. It will air nationally on NBC and will be hosted by Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, and Al Roker.

BGR is reporting that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will also be available via live stream. Macy’s, NBC Universal, and Verizon have partnered to live stream the parade in 360-degree video for parade fans around the world. You can click here for all the details.

[Featured Image by Yana Paskova/Getty Images]