NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The nation’s most beloved spectacle returns for another year of magic as the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® kicks off the holiday season. On Thursday, Nov. 28 at 9 a.m., more than 8,000 participants will set down the streets of Manhattan at the sound of the time honored words Let’s Have a Parade™! Against a backdrop of more than 3.5 million spectators and more than 50 million viewers nationwide, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s signature elements including its giant balloons, floats of fantasy, performers and the one-and-only Santa Claus, will ring in the holiday season with an unrivaled celebration.
From its modest beginnings in 1924 with only about a dozen elements to the grand spectacular we know today, the Macy’s Parade line up unfolds each year with breathtaking pageantry. The 2013 line-up of wonder features 15 giant character balloons; 37 large scale, novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons; 30 floats; 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers; 900 clowns; 11 marching bands; and a host of celebrity performers.
“I’m pretty sure the magicians at Macy’s Parade Studio have once again made it onto Santa’s nice list,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “As America’s best high school and college marching bands, hundreds of dancers, cheerleaders, clowns, and balloon handlers make their way down the streets of New York for our 87th march, they will be joined by four brand-new giant character balloons, five new intricately designed floats and one spinning dreidel. These new entries join the already stellar grouping of balloons, floats, performers and adorable kids that will once again make Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade the perfect way for everyone to begin their Thanksgiving holiday.”
No Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade would be complete without star power coming from all sectors of the entertainment arena. Joining the festivities this year are the Big Apple Circus; Kristin Chenoweth; Cherokee National Youth Choir; Chica and the gang from Sprout; Cirque du Soleil®; Gavin DeGraw; Brett Eldredge; Fall Out Boy; Jimmy Fallon and The Roots with the cast of “Sesame Street”; Fifth Harmony; Florida Georgia Line; Goo Goo Dolls; Ariana Grande; Jack Hannah; Megan Hilty; Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings; Sandra Lee; Cher Lloyd; Austin Mahone; Mannheim Steamroller; Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri; NFL legends Joe Namath, Bart Oates, Amani Toomer and Hines Ward; NHL legends Cam Neely and Mike Richter; Kellie Pickler; The Robertson family from A&E®’s hit series “Duck Dynasty®”; Debby Ryan; Richard Simmons; and The Summer Set.
Enhancing the Parade’s signature entertainment will be the world-famous Radio City Rockettes® helping to kick-off the holidays, along with performances from Broadway’s best musicals including “Matilda,” “Motown,” and more. In addition, the first hour of the national broadcast will feature a special appearance by Carrie Underwood and members of the cast of NBC’s “The Sound of Music Live!”
The Parade’s signature giant character balloons are one of the procession’s most famous elements, each year drawing millions of cheers from spectators young and old. Joining the line-up this year are two returning favorites with brand new designs, and two never-before-seen characters set for their maiden flights. Making their Thanksgiving Day debuts are pop culture sensations Adventure Time with Finn and Jake; the world-famous beagle Snoopy with his pal Woodstock; the eternal undersea optimist SpongeBob SquarePants; and the loveable night fury dragon Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.”
Set to mark the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of OZ™, a 47-foot tall, giant hot air balloon emblazoned with the portraits of the characters from the classic film, will also glide down the route carrying the Wizard of Oz™ himself! Along for the ride below will be Dorothy™ and special balloonhead characters of the Scarecrow™, Tin Man™, Cowardly Lion™ and the Wicked Witch of the West™. In addition, to celebrate the first time in the Parade’s history that Thanksgiving falls on the first night of Hanukkah, a special spinning dreidel balloonicle will delight spectators as it spins its way down the route.
Macy’s Parade’s signature floating stages will set the scene for worlds of fantasy and delight that take spectators on magical journeys. New additions include the scrumptious madness of Universal Home Entertainment’s “Despicable Me 2” float, Despicably Delicious!; the fantastic flying ship and acrobatic wonder of DREAMSEEKER by Cirque du Soleil®; the delectable puppetry aboard the Enchanting World of Lindt Chocolate; the undersea beauty of marine life on SeaWorld®’s A Sea of Surprises; and the adventurous activities aboard the cruising vessel of Royal Caribbean International®’s A World at Sea.
ROUTE, APP AND MORE…
The 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NYSE:M) will step-off at 77th Street and Central Park West. The procession will travel down to Columbus Circle, turn onto Central Park South and march down via 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas to 34th Street. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west and end at 7th Avenue in front of Macy’s Herald Square. Fans nationwide can kick-off their own Parade experiences early by downloading the free Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade App. The App will give fans the chance to interact with the famed march, learn more about the elements and share content with their friends. From behind-the-scenes previews to the exclusive Elf-o-matic feature, which allows fans to transform themselves into an Elf balloon and share their high-flying debut with friends, the App is a one-stop destination for all things Macy’s Parade. Free, the App can be downloaded from the iTunes App Store or from Google Play. In addition to the interactive app experience, this year Macy’s iconic characters will take center stage in a series of animated spots featuring Tom Turkey, Artie the Pirate, Happy Hippo, the rambunctious Elf trio and more. Catch the action on macys.com/parade and watch how Macy’s star characters prep for the big day.
A Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere is the guiding motto of this national tradition, which continues to this day. For more information on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, please visit www.macys.com/parade or call the Parade hotline at 212-494-4495. Follow @macys and join the conversation at #MacysParade on various social networks.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Macy’s Parade Multimedia News Materials including images, B-roll, press releases and more can be found at: http://mustacheagency.com/MNR/MacysParade/
