Macy's to Hold Scaled-Down Thanksgiving Day Parade Without Spectators

The usual student marching bands will not participate in the 2020 parade.

Making his Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut this year will a 48-foot-tall version of The Boss Baby, the central character from the 2017 DreamWorks Animation film by the same name.

To avoid gathering large crowds on the traditional 2.5-mile parade route, the procession will instead take place around the Herald Square flagship store on 34th Street. The 2020 event will look different than in years past due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on NBC from 9 a.m.to noon in all US time zones. Much of the parade was pre-taped over three days for the televised event.

Overall, the number of participants this year has been cut by 75%.

Theatrical performances have always been a staple of the annual New York City celebration, which will operate differently this year. Additionally, all participants must be at least 18 years old, and "general participants" have been limited to people residing in the NY tri-state area. Participants will be distanced during performances and required to wear face coverings or additional personal protective equipment.

You can check out the height and width for each of these balloons and floats, along with the other balloons in the parade on Macy's website.

PS5 crowned as the biggest console launch ever
In a tweet thanking fans, the PlayStation account explained that the PS5 was "our biggest console launch ever". With that in mind, there will be a couple more opportunities to get a next-gen console before the end of 2020.

Groups - such as the Broadway ensembles - will also adhere to social-distancing protocols while performing.

The parade will feature a plethora of pre-record live performances, including Dolly Parton, Jordan Sparks, Keke Palmer, the cast of Hamilton, the New York City Ballet, Patti Labelle, the Rockettes, Pentatonix, Tori Kelly, and more.

Marching bands have been swappedRevelers makes their way down Sixth Avenue in front of Radio City Music Hall during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

As tradition holds, Santa Clause will appear as the parade's finale.

For just shy of a century, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City has been synonymous with the holiday.

Giant balloons will still fly, but without their 80 to 100 handlers.