Jeff Gennette and Al Roker cut the ribbon to kick off the 2021 Parade.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is a tradition featured in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It had become a staple for every NBC telecast since 1994. The ceremony generally consists of a Parade host and Macy's official making a small speech before cutting the ribbon and kicking off the Parade. In most years, it is followed by the opening credits.
History[]
The first televised Ribbon Cutting Ceremony kicked off the NBC broadcast of the 1994 Parade. Weatherman and host Willard Scott joined Parade director Jean McFaddin as she cut a red ribbon with an electronic carving knife, officiating the official start of the event. The following year, Al Roker participated in the ribbon cutting with McFaddin, and would do so until her retirement in 2000. To commemorate her departure, she was gifted a framed pair of golden scissors, similar to the ones used to cut the ribbon.
Robin Hall then held the honors of cutting the ribbon when he took over as Parade director in 2001. This also began the tradition of a special guest or group appearing at the ceremony. Hall later passed the scissors to Amy Kule in 2011.
Following Kule's retirement from Macy's, Macy's CEO Jeff Genette began participating in the ribbon cutting ceremony instead of at-the-time Parade director Susan Tercero. He continued to do so when Will Coss was named executive producer of the Parade in 2021.
For the reimagined 2020 Parade, the ribbon cutting took place at the 34th Street "Ready Line" due to the shortened route. This marked the first time in Parade history that the ribbon cutting ceremony was not held uptown.
In 2022, two separate ribbon cutting ceremonies were held due to the earlier start time of the event. One was held uptown at 77th Street and Central Park West at 8:45 a.m. with Will Coss and TODAY weather anchor Dylan Dreyer (who filled in for Roker due to illness). This ribbon cutting was not televised, but was recorded by media outlets. The second ceremony was held when the Parade arrived at 34th Street nearly an hour later. Here, Hoda Kotb and Jeff Genette cut the ribbon.
In 2023, the ribbon cutting ceremony was held in a very unique way. For that year's parade, Jon Batiste just runs through the ribbon in pure marathon style after performing his opening number, "Worship".
In 2024, the ribbon cutting ceremony will be officiated by Alison Brie (playing the role of Macy's Gift Guide) and her Mentee (portrayed by Matt Bush).