The leaves are changing and pumpkin spice is on the shelves, which can only mean one thing: It’s almost Thanksgiving!

Around this time of year, it’s hard to ignore one of the longest ongoing Thanksgiving traditions—the world-renowned annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The iconic New York parade dates back to 1924 and is always a highlight of the year.

This tradition began as a Christmas parade. It has evolved to be more than a parade. Did you know that New York City’s resilient firefighters marched the streets of Manhattan after September 11, 2001? Oder what about Ariana GrandeThis is an uplifting version of Wham!What was 2013’s “Last Christmas?”

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade provides a lighthouse of joy for Americans and unites them with one message: “What can we be thankful for today?”