Macy's Thanksgiving Parade 2023! The 97th annual event sees Cher, Katharine McPhee, Jessie James Decker and Brandy celebrate

Returning for its 97th edition this year, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2023 included many celebrities that sang, danced and waved for the crows.

Cher was the big draw as she sang a song from her new Christmas album. The 77-year-old icon wore a crisp white shirt and black tight slacks with her jet-black hair down as the crowd went wild for her performance. Flavor Flav, 64, enthusiastically cheered the dynamo on as he clapped away.

Throughout the streets of New York City and on-board Macy's signature floating stages were performances from artists including Bell Biv DeVoe, Chicago, En Vogue, ENHYPEN, and David Foster and his wife Katharine McPhee.

There was also a set from Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors and a performance by Jon Batiste.

Pregnant Jessie James Decker showed up too with her husband Eric Decker and their three children in tow.

Brandy wore a smart Barbie pink power suit with a fuzzy coat and gloves as she sang while on a float with children. 

Ashley Park was seen in red with the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street. Rounding out the list was Pentatonix; Paul Russell; Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith; and Manuel Turizo.

Beyoncé also said happy Thanksgiving during a special appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as she shared a new look at her upcoming concert film Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé.

'Hey, it’s Beyoncé, wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving,' she said in a pre-recorded video message. 'I’m so honored to share with you first look at the new Renaissance film trailer.'

Showcasing an exciting lineup of featured character balloons, magical floats, the finest marching bands from across the country, dynamic performance groups, imaginative clowns, the nation's biggest musical talents and the

 Santa Claus was also seen at the Thanksgiving celebration.

'For nearly 100 years, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been synonymous with the beginning of the holiday season, celebration and togetherness,' said Will Coss, Executive Producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

'Our talented team of Macy's Studios artisans and production specialists work year-round to deliver the nation's most beloved holiday event, live on Thanksgiving morning. 

'We are proud to hold this responsibility and look forward to sharing our unbelievable designs, larger-than-life character balloons and first-class entertainment, all sure to create lifelong memories for Parade fans nationwide.'

The 97th Macy's Parade lineup included 5,000 volunteers, 16 featured character balloons, 26 fantastic floats, 32 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 12 marching bands and nine performance groups. 

Stars on 34th Street The Macy's Parade is an all-star celebration, hosting some of the nation's most talented performers.

Taking flight on Thanksgiving will be the Parade's signature character balloons. 

Since their introduction in 1927, these larger-than-life balloons showcase some of the world's most beloved and iconic characters.

This year, seven new featured balloons will debut, including Beagle Scout Snoopy by Peanuts Worldwide (though, sadly, at one point Snoopy deflated); and Blue Cat & Chugs by Cool Cats, a digitally native character. 

There was also Kung Fu Panda's Po by Universal Pictures' Dreamworks Animation; Leo by Netflix, Inc.; Monkey D. Luffy by Toei Animation Inc.; Pillsbury Doughboy by Pillsbury; and Uncle Dan by Illumination. 

The skilled artisans of Macy's Studios work year-round to create the whimsical designs that will float down the streets of New York City on Parade morning. 

Conceived, designed, engineered and built at the Macy's Parade Studio – a design and production facility that includes carpenters, engineers, electricians, painters, animators, balloon technicians, sculptors, metal fabricators, scenic and costume designers – these magical stages are created to transport Parade fans across the country to fantastical places.

This year four new floats will debut in the Macy's Parade celebration. 

The floating stages, along with their scheduled performers, include Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem by Nickelodeon & Paramount (Bell Biv DeVoe); Palace of Sweets by Brach's (Brandy); Igniting Memories by Solo Stove (Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors); and The Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Completing the float lineup will be a special appearance by the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree, featuring a holiday choir comprised of Macy's colleagues with Bigs and Littles from Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS).

The creation of this special ensemble furthers Macy's commitment to youth empowerment through its social purpose platform, Mission Every One, celebrating the power of mentorship and a multiyear partnership between Macy's and BBBS.

The Macy's Parade holds a cherished and longstanding tradition of showcasing the nation's finest marching bands. 

This November musicians joining the line of march include Alabama A&M University Marching Maroon and White (Huntsville, AL); The Band Directors Marching BandTM (United States); Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band (Fishers, IN); Greendale High School Marching Band (Greendale, WI); Jenison High School Marching Band (Jenison, MI).

There was also Macy's Great American Marching Band (United States); Mercer Island High School Marching Band (Mercer Island, WA); NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY); O'Fallon Township High School Marching Panthers (O'Fallon, IL); Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights (Piscataway, NJ); Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagle Regiment High School Marching Band (Parkland, FL); and Texas Tech University Goin' Band from Raiderland (Lubbock, TX).

Completing the entertainment lineup are dynamic performance groups, charged with entertaining the crowds along the streets of Manhattan and delivering a show-stopping performance on 34th Street. 

These groups include the Big Apple Circus; Cornell Bhangra from Ithaca, NY; Tiptoe's Winter Guard, accompanying Tiptoe; the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters; Maria Verdeja School of Arts (MVSA) dancers from Miami; St. John's Dance; and the Tap Dancing Christmas Trees from California.

Rounding out the performance lineup are the young dancers and cheerleaders of Spirit of America Dance and Spirit of America Cheer. These two groups together include more than 1,200 of the best dancers and cheerleader performers.

The 97th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade had its traditional starting line at 77th Street and Central Park West at 8:30 A.M. 

The procession marched down its signature 2.5-mile route taking it from Central Park West to Columbus Circle, turning onto Central Park South and then marching down 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west and end at 7th Avenue in front of Macy's iconic Herald Square flagship.

Last year's 'Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade' was the most-watched entertainment program of the 2022- 23 season as it brings the nation together like no other broadcast. 

Parade fans nationwide can watch the official telecast on NBC and simulcast on Peacock, from 8:30 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., in all time zones. 

The network will air an encore telecast at 2:00 P.M. ET/PT. New for 2023 will be several additional cameras along the route, giving viewers new Parade vantage points never seen before.

TODAY's Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will join as hosts of the Emmy-Award winning celebration. The Spanish language simulcast on Telemundo will be hosted by the network's daytime personalities, Carlos Adyan and Andrea Meza.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade broadcast is produced by the Emmy Award-winning Brad Lachman Productions. Brad Lachman and Bill Bracken serve as executive producers and Joe DeMaio directs.

Every year, Broadway is put on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stage for fans around the country to experience. The official national broadcast audience will enjoy performances from the best of Broadway, including '& Juliet,' 'Back to the Future: The Musical,' 'How To Dance In Ohio,' 'Shucked,' 'Spamalot,' as well as the iconic Radio City Rockettes®. Stars of Broadway's 'Gutenberg! The Musical!,' Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells will also appear, acting as special live correspondents along the Parade route