Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025 To Feature ATL's Ciara, Lil' Jon: See Full Lineup

NEW YORK, NY — The energy at the 99th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is sure to be unmatched with live performances from Atlanta legends Ciara and Lil' Jon.

The two dynamic hometown Grammy artists will join songstresses Teyana Taylor and Meg Donnelly as the parade marches Thursday through Herald Square in New York City.

“Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the official kickoff to the holiday season and has been part of the nation’s stories and traditions for generations,” Will Coss, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade executive producer, said in a news release. “The most wonderful stories start at the parade. On Thanksgiving morning, larger-than-life character balloons, awe-inspiring floats and show-stopping performances will create unforgettable moments and lasting holiday memories for millions of spectators in New York City and across the country.”

Lil' Jon, whose real name is Jonathan Smith, boasts a musical portfolio that includes a range of artists from Ludacris to Pitbull and Damian Marley. He is widely known for pioneering the "crunk" era in the early 2000s with high-energy hits "Bia Bia" and "Put Yo Hood Up."

The BET Award-winning mega producer has released three meditation albums and multiple studio hip-hop albums, including "Crunk Juice" and "Kings of Crunk" with his group, The East Side Boyz.

He has had one No. 1 hit, nine top 10 hits and 23 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These include "Yeah!," "Lovers and Friends," "Get Low" and "Turn Down For What."

Smith's catalogue also consists of producing the singles, "Goodies" in 2004 and "That's Right" in 2006, for fellow parade performer Ciara Wilson - who came on the scene with sultry vocals and lively dance moves. Wilson's debut album was also titled, "Goodies."

Her songs, "1 2 Step" and "Oh" are among several which have garnered her a No. 1 hit and eight top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. While she has had 21 songs total to grace the chart, it was her debut single, "Goodies," that rested at No. 1 for seven weeks and had a 38-week total chart run.

She is also known for "Can't Leave 'em Alone," "Get Up," "Promise," "Body Party" and "Level Up."

In showing the world "how she rolls," the World Music Award-winning singer and businesswoman has released eight studio albums, including this year's release of "CiCi."

At the Macy's parade, viewers can catch Smith performing on the Geoffrey’s Dazzling Dance Party by Toys“R”Us float. Wilson will glide through 34th Street with the Colossal Wave of Wonder by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions float.

The parade will be held at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and will air on NBC and Peacock.

Here is the full lineup of performers and marching bands:

Performers

• Busta Rhymes
• Calum Scott
• Christopher Jackson
• Ciara
• Colbie Caillat
• Cynthia Erivo
• Darlene Love
• Debbie Gibson
• Drew Baldridge
• EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, the singing voices of HUNTR/X from "K-Pop: Demon Hunters"
• Matteo Bocelli
• Gavin DeGraw
• Meg Donnelly
• Mr. Fantasy
• Foreigner
• Mickey Guyton
• Jewel
• Lil' Jon
• Kool & the Gang
• Roman Mejia
• Taylor Momsen
• Tiler Peck
• Shaggy
• Lauren Spencer Smith
• Luísa Sonza
• Teyana Taylor

Marching Bands

• Banda de Musica La Primavera (Santiago, Panama)
• Catawba Ridge High School Marching Band (Fort Mill, South Carolina)
• Damien Spartan Regiment (La Verne, California)
• L.D. Bell Blue Raider Band (Hurst, Texas)
• Macy’s Great American Marching Band (United States)
• Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Marching Band (Flagstaff, Arizona)
• Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite from Alcorn State University (Lorman, Mississippi)
• Spartans Jr Drum and Bugle Corps (Nashua, New Hampshire)
• The Marching Pride of North Alabama (Florence, Alabama)
• The Temple University Diamond Band (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
• The NYPD Marching Band (New York, New York)