NEW YORK (AP) – The holiday season truly begins when massive helium balloons begin to float above New York City. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — two years to the a centesimal birthday — this yr there will be 17 giant balloons with characters, 22 floats, 15 progressive and historic inflatables, 11 marching bands, 700 clowns, 10 performance groups and more stars than will fit around the table.

The parade begins rain or shine on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and ends at Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on thirty fourth Street, which serves as the stage and backdrop for the performances.

Here’s the most significant details about the parade and how to watch it.

What time does the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade start?

For the second yr in a row, the Thursday parade begins at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones.

What channel is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on?

It will air on NBC, available over-the-air or through cable and satellite providers.

What if I would like to stream it?

For the Cord Cutters, the parade is broadcast on Peacock, with an encore broadcast starting at 2:00 PM ET/PST. A simulcast in Spanish will even be available on Telemundo.

What will the weather be like?

It could also be a wet day – the forecast predicts rain with temperatures above 40 degrees, clouds and winds of around 16 km/h. New York law prohibits Macy’s from flying full-size balloons if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or gusts exceed 35 mph.

Who are a few of the stars performing?

This yr there are more stars than ever. Grammy, Oscar, Emmy and Tony winner Jennifer Hudson will perform, in addition to global pop icon and Grammy winner Kylie Minogue and Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner Billy Porter.

Someone else?

Reality TV shows Ariana Madix, Broadway fan Idina Menzel, hip-hop lover T-Pain, members of WNBA champion New York Liberty and country duo Dan + Shay. Other musical artists include: War and Treaty, Lea Salonga, Loud Luxury, The Temptations, Chlöe, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots and Coco Jones. It will begin with a performance by the “Glow” actor. Alison Brie ribbon cutting.

Who hosts the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?

For those watching on TV or in your computer, a trio of stalwart hosts — Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb AND Al Roker from “Today”. But this yr could also be more emotional because it could be Kotb’s last – for her last official day on “Today” it will be January tenth.

What are the recent balloons?

There will be six recent character balloons, including Minnie Mouse, “Noorah the Amazing” with Elf on the Shelf, Gabby from “Gabby’s Dollhouse”, Goku from “Dragon Ball”, Marshall from “Paw Patrol” and the recent “Spider Man” “

What about recent floats?

New platforms include Disney Cruise Line, Haribo, “Wednesday” from Netflix, Universal Orlando Resorts and “The Grannies Car” from BBC Studios’ “Bluey.” Nickelodeon and Paramount’s “Dora the Explorer” will have each a float and a balloon. One recent swimmer will attract attention Rao food brand, depicting a knight and a dragon in battle, fabricated from real pasta elements. Another will have a good time the one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary of the Bronx Zoo with performances of a tiger, a giraffe, a zebra and a gorilla.

Is your state represented by any of the teams?

Marching bands will come from Massachusetts, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Arkansas, South Dakota, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia and, in fact, New York.

Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are showcasing their friendship and style with Black-owned fashion line Telfar.

The dynamic duo looked fabulous in bubble coats produced from the brand’s signature shopping bags, which accomplished the look. The handbag also earned a spot on Oprah’s favorite things, making the media mogul’s debut in the most recent winter collection a well-deserved one. Winfrey and King showed off their matching ensembles in an Instagram post.

“We like @telfarglobal — the Queens-born designer whose handbag is also available on #OprahsFavoriteThings — and this trendy, oversized, unisex quilted nylon puffer with a hood will keep your body warm on cold days,” Oprah Daily captioned the post.

While Winfrey showed off a beige coat and bag, King showed off a brilliant yellow nylon puffer jacket. The puffers represent Telfar’s expansion beyond its signature shopping bags into outerwear and other apparel.

The coats, specially decorated by Winfrey and King, will cost $525 and will likely be available in nine different colours. However, those that go for the smaller and cheaper option can buy a down sweatshirt for $400. The accompanying tote bags retail for $260.

However, the puff collection also includes sweatpants and headbands that take the look even further and seek advice from the style selections of the famous duo. Telfar, founded by Telfar Clemens, continues to succeed in a wider audience through its expansion to incorporate its first flagship store.

The 10,000-square-foot location in New York’s SoHo neighborhood attracted tons of of Telfar fanatics for its grand opening on November 23. There, the brand unveiled its recent secret bag while shoppers viewedited his entire range of purses and other clothing items. Fans, from on a regular basis fashionistas to public figures like Winfrey and King, now consider in the madness.

As the Black-owned brand grows in popularity, Telfar is paving the best way for diverse designers to take over the style industry.

Sportscaster Stephen A. Smith, 57, is coping with the Internet’s ire after making his TV debut along with his new, unrecognizable look “Monday Night Countdown” segment before the Baltimore Ravens’ 30-23 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles

Smith appeared on the pregame episode of “Monday Night Football” on ESPN wearing a black leather jacket, a black baseball cap with a backwards cap and dark sunglasses.

Internet pranksters took notice of the “First Take” commentator’s outfit, and social media users, including former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, took aim at Smith.

The ESPN host has been very critical of Brown’s behavior for years. For example, Smith called up the then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers player after he got it suspended by the NFL for misrepresenting his Covid-19 vaccine status to be able to avoid league protocols.

“You lied! He may get vaccinated now, but the truth is you wouldn’t have been suspended if you had been vaccinated while the NFL was investigating the matter.” – Smith he exclaimed during the “First Take” segment in December 2021.

Brown shared a screenshot of Smith on X, whom he described as “a broke Thanksgiving uncle who makes parlay bets every day.”

One response to Brown’s tweet To read“This is what happens when Uncle dates someone younger than them.” Moreover, woman X sent“Is he having a mid-life crisis?”

Third person he was joking“He looks like that dad who reminds everyone he played D1 football at your kid’s practice for one season.” Elsewhere on X, someone he asked“Why did Stephen A. Smith dress like an undercover cop?”

Smith has also been in comparison with a dancer from a legendary Nineties R&B group, a famous black director and an iconic character from the “Matrix” film series.

Fan he tweeted“That nigga…Stephen A. Smith dressed like a Jodeci backup dancer.” Another X user offered“Stephen A. dressed as Spike Lee playing Morpheus.”

While the Internet clowned the sports media’s chattering opinion, Smith, who said on Monday’s episode that he had a seat “in the owners’ suite” to observe the game, showed off his mocked outfit on his social media accounts. His Instagram page featured a photo of him wearing all black while standing next to Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the Major League Baseball commissioner’s trophy.

He shared the same photo on the website Facebook AND X. Many of the responses focused on the self-proclaimed New York sports fan posing with the leader of the team that defeated the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series.

The Dodgers won the a hundred and twentieth World Series on October 30, defeating the Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to finish their best-of-three playoff series. Los Angeles gave the baseball team its eighth victory in the annual Fall Classic.

“I thought you were a Yankees fan? And they beat your team to win a trophy that makes you smile” – User X I wondered.

On Instagram, a upset New York fan “revoked” Smith’s “Yankee fan card.” Additionally, one person suggested that the multimillionaire podcaster “needs to wear a Dodgers jersey.”

Smith also recently faced backlash for his opinions on Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

Critics accused the Winston-Salem State University graduate of switching support from Harris to Trump after election night results were announced. The response on site X was, “It’s crazy how quickly people change.”