The purpose of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is to provide quality entertainment while bringing children and families together on this most cherished national holiday. This objective has remained consistent since the first Parade in 1924.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, a privately-sponsored, privately-funded event, is regarded by Macy's as its annual gift to the nation. Parade participants are primarily employees or associates of Macy's or its affiliated companies, their families and friends, or others who have business relationships with the Parade, its broadcast partners and its Parade sponsors.

In line with the goal and historical traditions of the Parade, Macy's invites entertainers and others to participate based exclusively on their ability to provide appropriate family entertainment suitable to the occasion. These participants consist of a variety of celebrities, who may include athletes, musicians, singers and performers from the worlds of television, film and theater, as well as various talent-based performance organizations, such as high school and college bands, cheerleaders, dancers and choral groups.

While the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade respects and embraces America's diversity, our policy dictates that the Parade will not be used to represent any specific cause or special interest, no matter how worthy. Therefore, without judgment as to the merits, Macy's does not grant requests from any charitable, civic, political or cultural organization seeking to participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The company and Macy's Parade organizers reserve the right to make all determinations relating to participation in the Parade on the basis of entertainment value and preserving the long-standing traditions of this unique national holiday event.