The beloved Today show anchor is gearing up for another year of holiday magic, and this time, he's bringing back the full dream team.
Al Roker is celebrating a major milestone this Thanksgiving season. After three decades of hosting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the veteran broadcaster is returning for the 2025 edition alongside Savannah Guthrie and the long-awaited return of Hoda Kotb, who sat out last year's festivities. For Roker, this marks his 30th consecutive year bringing the parade to millions of American households, while Guthrie is in her 14th year of coverage.
A Tradition That Spans Generations
What makes Roker's tenure particularly special is how the parade has become woven into the fabric of American family life. Over
30 million viewers tune in annually to watch the iconic floats, giant character balloons, and celebrity performances that have defined Thanksgiving morning for nearly a century. Roker reflected on how the parade has evolved alongside his own life and career.
"Our families have grown and aged," Roker explained in an exclusive interview. "When Hoda and Savannah first started this, they didn't have kids. And when I first started, mine were little bitty ones. But that's what's so great about the parade — families grow up watching this and we're part of folks' holiday tradition."
The scale of the 2025 parade is staggering. An estimated
3.5 million spectators are expected to line the streets of New York City, while
8,000 participants will march in the procession. The parade will feature
34 giant character balloons, including new additions like Mario and Shrek, alongside
28 elaborate floats showcasing everything from
Stranger Things to beloved fan favorites.
What to Expect This Year
One of the most anticipated elements is the
Stranger Things float, which marks the first time the hit Netflix series has been featured in the parade. Roker expressed particular excitement about this addition, noting that the parade's organizers have "their finger on the pulse of what's exciting and what's out there in the zeitgeist."
The parade kicks off at
8:30 a.m. ET on Thanksgiving Day and runs until noon on NBC, with an encore telecast airing at
2 p.m. ET. For context, Roker pointed out that last year's parade drew an audience second only to the Super Bowl, with approximately
40 million viewers tuning in simultaneously—a remarkable feat in today's fragmented media landscape.
The Magic Never Fades
Despite his three decades of experience, Roker insists the parade never loses its charm. "To watch the parade is to be transported back to your childhood," he said. "And especially once you have children and you're watching them and you're seeing it through their eyes, and then it brings you back to when you watched. And nothing has changed in those 99 years."
Guthrie echoed this sentiment, noting that the parade's most magical moment—when Santa Claus arrives—still gives her chills after all these years. "Just that it's always magical, you know, that it never gets old," she shared.
The parade's production team has also upped their game with enhanced visual effects. The confetti snow effects are so convincing that viewers might actually believe it's snowing, with the white flakes continuing to fall even after the broadcast ends at 11:57 a.m. ET.
A Viral Tradition
One thing Roker has learned over the years is that anything can happen on live television during the parade—and the entire nation will see it. He recalled a memorable moment when a butter stick character kept popping into his shots, creating an unexpected viral moment that even reached his daughter in Paris. "When something happens on the Thanksgiving Day Parade, it's immediately huge because so many people watch it," Guthrie noted. "So what happens at the parade does not stay at the parade!"
As Americans prepare to gather around their televisions this Thanksgiving morning, they can count on Roker, Guthrie, and Kotb to deliver the same warmth, humor, and holiday spirit that has made the Macy's parade an unmissable tradition for nearly a century.
1.
Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie Q&A2.
Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker Tease The 2025 Thanksgiving Day Parade3.
Al Roker Breaks Down Thanksgiving Day Parade by the Numbers**
Sources
1. Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie Q&A
2. Al Roker Shares Health Update After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis 5 ...
3. Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker Tease The 2025 Thanksgiving Day ...
4. Al Roker Breaks Down Thanksgiving Day Parade by the Numbers
