Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 LIVE Blog | Sheryl Lee Ralph wraps up parade as the new Mrs. Claus

Sheryl Lee Ralph channels Mrs. Claus

In the concluding moments of the parade, Sheryl Lee Ralph, star of "Abbott Elementary," took the spotlight, joining Santa Claus as Mrs. Claus to ceremoniously usher in the holiday season.

Dressed in a festive green Mrs. Claus outfit, the Emmy winner delighted the crowd by waving and blowing kisses while artificial snow fell around her.

Hoda expressed admiration for Ralph's wit and grace, emphasizing the incredible atmosphere she created in that moment. The sentiment echoed the appreciation for Macy's Mrs. Claus, with Hoda noting that Ralph exuded the kind of joy needed at that particular time.

Cher dazzles with her cheerful Christmas song

Cher, the legendary singe, transformed 34th Street and the parade into a lively dance celebration with her dazzling rendition of "DJ Play a Christmas Song."

Emerging in a chic white sequined trench coat paired with a white shirt, black tie, and sequined black pants, she graced the crowd with a performance set to the track from her latest Christmas album-the inaugural release in her illustrious career.

As the audience joyfully danced along, Cher belted out the lyrics, "DJ play a Christmas song, I want to be dancing all night long," eliciting cheers and applause from the captivated onlookers.

Brandy and her 'Someday at Christmas' song wowed New Yorkers

One of the latest stars to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was superstar Brandy, who wowed the New York crowd with her presence and her rendition of a holiday theme.

Brandy sang 'Someday at Christmas' and immediately the comments on social media were not long in coming, applauding her voice and her delivery in what is the 97th edition of the famous and legendary parade.

Beyoncé offer a heartfelt video message

Beyoncé graced the parade with a special appearance, delivering a heartfelt message via a recorded video and offering a sneak peek at the latest trailer for her upcoming "Renaissance" tour film.

"Hello, it's Beyoncé, extending warm Thanksgiving wishes to you and your family," she expressed. "I'm truly honored to present to you an exclusive preview of the upcoming 'Renaissance' film trailer."

The footage unveils candid moments featuring the megastar with her children, capturing her off-stage moments and highlights from her immensely successful "Renaissance" tour.

Star Wars and Grogu make waves on the parade!

Star Wars is present in the Macy's Thanksgiving parade through several spectacular balloons, including the famous character of Grogu, also known as Baby Yoda.

Disney has had a fierce presence in the parade thanks to its various franchises, as several Marvel superheroes have also already appeared in the highly anticipated parade.

Palestinian flag during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stirred controversy

The presence of a Palestinian flag during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stirred controversy amid heightened tensions in the U.S. following the Middle East conflict. Riding on an indigenous float, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe displayed the flag, prompting accusations of a "pro-Hamas protest" by Steve Guest, former rapid response director for the Republican National Committee. Observers noted attempts by cameras to avoid the flag, but the individual persisted in being captured on film.

Conservative commentator Auron MacIntyre criticized the display, highlighting the incongruity with Thanksgiving. However, some applauded the gesture, expressing solidarity with the person holding the Palestinian flag. Social media responses varied, with one user appreciating the symbolic act, while another conveyed support and love for the flag bearer, emphasizing solidarity between Turtle Island and Palestine.

Pro-Palestinian activists glued themselves to the ground at the Macy's Parade

Activists disrupted the Macy's Parade route by firmly adhering themselves to the ground, advocating for "Liberation for Palestine and Climate." Their protest impeded the procession, specifically obstructing the Sinclair Oil Corporation Dinosaur balloon.

Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The 97th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade drew attention not just for its festive floats, but also for an unexpected protest. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the parade at Sixth Avenue and West 45th Street at 10 a.m., with around 30 protesters gathering along Sixth Avenue.

Some breached the barricades, running into the street and reportedly attaching themselves to the pavement. NYPD promptly detained and removed these individuals. Despite the disturbance, the parade continued its route around the police activity. Amidst the holiday cheer, iconic characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants floated above, accompanied by marching bands below.

The parade, commencing on Manhattan's Upper West Side, traversed Central Park and culminated in front of Macy's flagship store on 34th Street. The star-studded lineup featured performances by Cher, Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, and others, including Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke.

New balloons like Leo the lizard, from a Netflix film, joined classics like SpongeBob. Notably, this year's Snoopy balloon marked the 50th anniversary of his Peanuts comics debut, encapsulating the parade's enduring tradition since its inception in 1924.

Best images and quotes to share on WhatsApp

We've put together a few Thanksgiving wishes to share with your friends and family, as well as some images that are perfect to send to a friend, colleague or loved one over the holiday.

What are the best balloons that will be in this year's parade?

This year's parade featured 25 balloons, introducing characters such as Beagle Scout Snoopy, Blue Cat and Chugs from Cool Cats, Po from "Kung Fu Panda," LEO from an upcoming animated film, Monkey D. Luffy from "One Piece," Uncle Dan from "Migration," and a new Pillsbury Doughboy balloon.

Additionally, 31 floats graced the parade, with newcomers including Camp Snoopy, the Good Burger Mobile, "Igniting Memories," Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' "Mutant Mayhem," "Palace of Sweets," and the Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka.

What are the best side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner?

If you're planning your Thanksgiving menu, we can offer you some traditional ideas and inspiration for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner.

Our suggestions include a simple roast turkey recipe with butter, salt, and pepper, cooked to perfection for about four hours. Stuffing is a key element, and three stuffing recipes with pecan, cornbread, or chestnut are suggested.

Creamy mashed potatoes are a must, while additional side dishes could include a classic green bean casserole, a Southern corn casserole or a sweet potato casserole with or without marshmallows.

The menu could also feature honey-glazed Brussels sprouts, a flavorful dish with charred vegetables, honey and balsamic vinegar.

Friends Thanksgiving episodes

Thanksgiving, known as a celebration for family, friends, and feasting, is also synonymous with great TV shows. The beloved sitcom, Friends, boasts ten iconic Thanksgiving episodes.

Friends stands out with the most and arguably the best Thanksgiving episodes among TV shows. The Central Perk Six, spanning a decade from 1994 to 2004, delivered several memorable Thanksgiving episodes.

Other shows might hesitate to attempt such episodes, fearing unfavorable comparisons to the iconic Friends Thanksgiving moments.

What are the best sport events to watch during Thanksgiving this year?

Thanksgiving weekend is a sports enthusiast's dream, with a packed schedule of NFL, NBA, and NHL games across the country. Whether you're a football fan, basketball buff, or hockey enthusiast, there's something for everyone to enjoy on TV during the holiday weekend.

Starting with the NFL, Thanksgiving Day itself features three exciting matchups, with the Bears taking on the Lions at 12:30 ET / 9:30 PT on FOX. However, there is no NBA action on Thanksgiving this time around.

Where are the best places you can buy your food for the holiday?

It's almost time for Thanksgiving 2023, with families coming together to celebrate the period of gratefulness and humbleness and community around them. For this year, it will take place on Thursday, November 23.

There are two types of Thanksgiving eaters, ones who would prefer to cook themselves or others who would simply prefer the convenience of eating out at a local restaurant, but which restaurants are open? Here are 15 of them:

Red Lobster

Golden Corral

Tony Roma's

BRIO Italian Grille

Domino's

Applebee's

Boston Market

Bob Evans

Buffalo Wild Wings

Burger King

Chart House

Denny's

Eddie V's

IHOP

Maggiano's Little Italy

Can you get a free turkey?

For the majority of the year, turkeys get to live their lives, albeit in confinement, but with both Thanksgiving and Christmas on the way, people are trying to secure them for as cheap as possible.

But there are many states and cities offering turkeys for free. Over in Alabama, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Oregon and Texas for example, Albertsons will give you a free turkey when you spend more than 75 dollars, 100 dollars or 150 dollars (depending on location) in a single transaction. The spending requirement doesn't include the cost of the turkey.

What time is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and where to watch it

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and millions of Americans are getting ready to celebrate in whatever way they see fit.

For the first time in almost a century, the event is going to start half an hour earlier than normal. It will be at 08:30 ET, starting with a performance from Jon Batiste.

You will be able to watch the parade live on NBC from 08:30 on Thanksgiving. You can also tune in at noon to pick up the stream on Peacock.