Al Roker returns to co-host Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Lacey Chabert on new Hallmark movie ‘Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up’

Actor Lacey Chabert joins TODAY’s Al Roker to talk about her first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and share her new Hallmark holiday movie “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up.”

Macy’s CEO previews new Thanksgiving Day Parade acts

From new balloons and floats to drones, Jeff Gennette, chairman and CEO of Macy’s, previews his last Thanksgiving Day Parade after 40 years with the company.

How U.S. troops celebrate Thanksgiving away from home

While Americans at home get together for the Thanksgiving holiday, the U.S. military does its part to bring the brave men and women a small taste of home no matter where in the world they are serving. NBC’s Meagan Fitzgerald reports for TODAY.

Alabama HBCU to lead bands in parade

Officials selected Alabama A&M University Marching Marron and White to lead the 11 marching bands in the parade, making it the historically Black university’s first band appearance in the event’s almost 100-year history.

The university’s Dancin’ Divas will perform with the band and again in a special performance with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, the university announced.

Carlton Wright, the director of the university bands, told USA Today that Alabama A&M applied two years ago. He learned the band had been accepted in February last year, and the Marching Maroon and White immediately began fundraising and rehearsing for the New York trip.

Read the full story here.

What’s new this year?

Seven new character balloons will take flight this year, alongside 18 others that have flown through the streets of Manhattan before. There will also be six “Balloonicles,” smaller balloons that will wheel down the route attached to cycles.

New balloons this year include a five-story-tall Pillsbury Doughboy, “One Piece” character Monkey D. Luffy and Po from “Kung Fu Panda” doing a flying kick. Fan favorites like Smokey Bear, Grogu from “The Mandalorian” and SpongeBob SquarePants will be returning.

This year’s parade will also feature four new floats, including a replica of Willy Wonka’s candy shop, a cityscape from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” a 30-foot-tall gingerbread house and a replica of an outdoor campsite — sponsored by Snoop Dogg brand partner Solo Stove.

Where can you watch it in person?

There are 2.5 miles of public viewing this year along the parade route. Certain areas aren’t open to public viewing.

Central Park West, from West 75th to West 61st streets: Early risers can watch the beginning of the parade along this stretch. Avoid the section between West 59th and West 60th streets, where there is no public viewing.

Central Park South and 6th Avenue: Spectators can catch a view of the parade just after it turns at Columbus Circle onto Central Park South but before it switches onto 6th Avenue.

6th Avenue, from West 59th to West 38th streets: Viewers can get as close as possible to the end of the parade here, but avoid the area on 6th Avenue between West 34th and West 38th Street, where viewing is limited.

Parade to feature 30 more minutes of entertainment and spectacle

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition that has long been synonymous with the beginning of the holiday season.

And this year, the event will run for 3½ hours instead of the normal three hours.

“This year, we’ve got more parade than ever before,” parade executive producer Will Coss told NBC’s “TODAY” show. “We’re going to start our parade at 8:30 in the morning, so we have 3½ hours of parade.”

He added the parade is “the one time of year where we have three, this year 3½ hours, to all just take a beat, stand together, shoulder to shoulder, across New York City or the comfort of our living rooms, enjoy a little bit of spectacle, enjoy a little bit of tradition and enjoy a little bit of family, friends, love and community.”

Read about other new additions to the parade here.