WHERE FANTASY LIVES

THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® FILLS THE STREETS WITH MAGICAL FLOATING STAGES

New York City, New York – A wondrous flotilla of fantasy will roll down the streets of Manhattan as the out-of-this world landscapes of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s signature floats transport spectators to lands of fantasy.

Thanks to the imagination, creative and skilled hands of the artists at Macy’s Parade Studio, these whimsical floating marvels set the scene for magical destinations. Using foam, wood, metal and paint as their tools of the trade, the Studio team designs and constructs every inch of the creations that will dazzle spectators on Parade Day.

Ready to debut this year are five new feats of imagination and engineering. Joining the lineup are floats depicting the scrumptious madness of Despicably Delicious!; the fantastic flying ship and acrobatic wonder of the Dreamseeker; the delectable puppetry aboard the Enchanting World of Lindt Chocolate; the undersea beauty of marine life on A Sea of Surprises; and the adventurous activities aboard the cruising vessel on A World at Sea.

Hitting the streets as 360-degree masterpieces, the floats begin their Thanksgiving journey as a one-dimensional sketch. From there, the Studio’s team of designers, carpenters, painters, animators, metal fabricators and electricians, work to bring it to larger-than-life form. Factors including creative inspiration, performance considerations, safety and most importantly assembly and disassembly guide the creation process. From weather to final dimensions, the team transforms the creative vision into a work of art and of engineering.

Dimensions are key for any new Macy’s Parade float. While many can be several stories tall and several lanes of traffic wide, everything imagined, designed and built must fit through New York’s Lincoln Tunnel. With Macy’s Parade Studio located in New Jersey, miles and a river away from the Parade route, the floats must all travel through the tunnel conforming to no more than 12 ½-feet tall and 8-feet wide in size. While that is the first hurdle on Parade eve, the next is the overnight assembly of the entire fleet. With the help of several cranes and extra man power, one by one the floats come to life and are prepared for their Thanksgiving Day duties.

Following is the complete listing of floats in the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

NOTE: ALL TALENT, PERFORMANCES, ELEMENTS AND INFORMATION INCLUDED ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

1-2-3 SESAME STREET

SESAME WORKSHOP

The stoop of 1-2-3 Sesame Street is a magical place where friends gather to celebrate the joy of the season. Along with Big Bird, Abby Cadabby, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and their friends, the most famous street in the world celebrates its 44th season as it comes to life for a Thanksgiving Day celebration. At 32-feet long, 20-feet wide, and 2-stories tall, Sesame Street will rock when Jimmy Fallon and The Roots along with the gang from Sesame Street perform the classic “Somebody Come and Play.”

BIG APPLE

THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

TIS THE SEASON FOR MACY’S SHOW STOPPERS

FROM DRILL TEAMS TO DRUMMERS, THE NATION’S TOP BANDS AND PERFORMANCE GROUPS WILL GET THE CROWD EXCITED AS THE 

87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® BRINGS IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON 

New York City, New York – Get ready to dance to the rockin’ Thanksgiving beat as the nation’s top bands and performance groups show the audience how to put on a show Macy’s Parade style. More than 3.5 million live spectators and more than 50 million TV viewers will be serenaded to the tunes of their favorite songs ranging from current hits to holiday classics during the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®
.
From jump ropers to drill teams, talented performance groups from all 50 states will show off their diverse skill sets, ranging from athletics to funky and fun dance moves. Parade veterans, the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, Spirit of America Dance and Varsity Spirit Cheer will be joined by rookie performance groups like the South Shore Drill Team and All That! to bring a diverse selection of dance and dramatics to this year’s festivities.

Since 1924, no Macy’s Parade would be complete without the nation’s best marching bands. For this elite group of talented marchers, their journey to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began 18 months ago when the Macy’s Parade Band Selection Committee chose them from a list of hundreds of applicants. The rigorous selection process was based on certain key factors such as the band’s national recognition, awards, past performances and reputation in their community. From there, band members were surprised with the news of their selection at their school during Macy’s cross country Band Announcement Tour. Confetti, claps, cheers and praise filled the air as bands were presented with their official Macy’s Parade drumhead.

Since their selection, the marching bands and performance groups have been busy perfecting their skills and helping to raise funds for their once in a lifetime trip to New York City. Showing their creative side, groups have developed interesting and exciting fundraising initiatives in their community. Corporations and philanthropic members of the community have been willing to help their hometown school but students have also thought outside the box to raise the funding. From selling candles and mattresses to homemade salsa sales, students have taken a variety of routes to make their dreams a reality.

 Following is the list of bands appearing in the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: 

CONCORD COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL 

MARCHING MINUTEMEN

BALLOON GIANTS SOAR

MACY’S FAMED GIANT CHARACTER HELIUM BALLOONS TAKE FLIGHT FOR THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE®

New York City, New York – Let them take flight! On Thanksgiving Day, a new cast of balloon characters and some returning favorites will soar in the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. From a beloved beagle to a fearsome dragon, the Parade’s signature line-up of balloons are set to thrill millions of spectators.

Since their first appearance in the 1927 Macy’s Parade, the line-up of balloons has featured a who’s who of the world’s most beloved characters. This year’s cast is no different with two returning favorites taking a new form and two never before seen characters taking flight, the Parade’s storied history of character balloons continues to grow. This year, making their debuts and taking flight in the 87th edition will be 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.”

Starting out as a work of imagination put to paper by the skilled hands of a Macy’s Parade Studio artist, the new balloons each begin an almost year-long transformation. Every Macy’s Parade balloon combines artistic design with aerodynamics and engineering. Under the direction of John Piper, vice-president and lead designer of Macy’s Parade Studio, the Studio’s design team and resident group of “Balloonatics” transform the drawing into a larger-than-life flying wonder. Ballooning experts, the Macy’s team in collaboration with
consultants, Raven Aerostar, together calculate and perfect the balloon’s aerodynamic design. Once a flight-worthy balloon concept has been approved, it moves on to the clay and painted model construction phase. This step helps the team create a physical blueprint from which the balloon will be built. From there, giant reams of polyurethane fabric will be patterned, cut and sealed together, to create multiple chambers which ultimately produce the character’s head, body and limbs. Once the balloon has been created and painted to the exact specifications required of the character, it will undergo many tests including indoor and outdoor flights, inflation and deflation tests, and final touch-ups before its inaugural flight in the Macy’s Parade.

Following is the complete listing of balloons in the

87th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

GIANT CHARACTER BALLOONS…

ADVENTURE TIME WITH FINN AND JAKE

CARTOON NETWORK

Pop culture sensations Finn and Jake of the hit series Adventure Time take to the sky for the first time. Finn has his sword at the ready and Jake is set to roll against any wizards or evil creatures they may encounter on their journey. Measuring 57-feet long, 26-feet wide and 40-feet tall, Finn and Jake are turbo psyched for an awesome adventure as millions of fans celebrate their maiden voyage.

BUZZ LIGHTYEAR

DISNEY PIXAR

DisneyHPixar’s superhero Buzz Lightyear, returns for his sixth trip down the streets of New York. Toy Story’s fearless Inter-galactic Space Ranger measures 67.7-feet long, 39.9-feet wide and 34.3-feet tall. Taking a break from starring in “Toy Story OF TERROR!” with his pals, Buzz will fly from Central Park West to Herald Square…and beyond this Thanksgiving.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID®

AMULET BOOKS, AN IMPRINT OF ABRAMS

A MAGNIFICENT CELEBRATION

THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE® MARKS THE START OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH THE NATION’S MOST BELOVED SPECTACLE, FEATURING GIANT HELIUM BALLOONS, FLOATS OF WONDER, PULSE POUNDING MARCHING BANDS, ENGAGING PERFORMANCE GROUPS, CELEBRITY APPEARANCES AND THE ONE-AND-ONLY SANTA CLAUS

New York, New York – 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, November 28th at 9:00 AM, 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, the Macy’s 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. This year the 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.”

Each Thanksgiving morning, as part of the ribbon cutting ceremony, a special group is invited to join Amy Kule to lead the Parade down the streets of Manhattan. Often these groups feature exceptional individuals who are making a contribution to the city or nation. This year, students from FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), along with specially created robots designed by the selected students will help kick-off the march. FIRST is a nationwide organization the aims to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by building skills through a mentor-based program.

BALLOON GIANTS SOAR

OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL…CLOWN SCHOOL!

MACY’S VOLUNTEERS GET SCHOOLED IN THEIR FAVORITE SUBJECT: HOW TO BE A CLOWN 101, BEFORE THEIR LIVELY DEBUT AT THE 87TH ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE®

 Macy’s Clown U. hosted by professional clowns at the Big Apply Circus will take place on 

Saturday, November 16th

New York City, New York - Bring out the red noses and colorful hair! It’s that time of year again for 900 Macy’s volunteers to pave the streets of New York City with confetti and swap smiles with those young and old at the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®

. 

Since its inception in 1924, clowns haven been an intricate part of the festivities as the only 

Parade element that interacts directly with adoring fans on Thanksgiving Day. 

Being the class clown might sound like funny business, but cracking jokes and throwing 

confetti is no laughing matter. Before these jesters head to Herald Square, they must first 

learn a thing or two at Macy’s Clown U. on Saturday, November 16th. Teaching these clown 

newbies are New York’s favorite jester’s from the Big Apple Circus. The Circus crew will 

teach a few tricks of the trade ranging from Entry Level Confetti Creations to Clown Car 

Driving 101. Unlike most classrooms, Clown U. takes place right under the big top allowing for 

wacky antics of all sorts. Volunteers will get a full understanding of what it takes to bring 

happiness to millions as they walk…or prank fall down the Parade route on Thanksgiving Day. 

After completing their rigorous courses in fun and frenzy, the students finally graduate into 

their role as Macy’s Parade clowns. On Thanksgiving Day at 6 AM, these new clowns will meet 

with their assigned troupe and start getting prepared for their big walk. This includes their 

hilarious makeovers, applying rosy cheeks and red noses and of course swapping a few jokes 

or two. This year, two new clown groups will join in on the fun. Viking Clowns will escort a 

larger-than-life confetti-pult, while Racing Rabbits will get riled up by the one-and-only 

Richard Simmons. 

Early Parade morning, the kings and queens of laughter will meet at the designated funny 

spot called Clown Corner. Once the all familiar phrase, “3,2,1… Let’s Have a Parade™

 rings through the streets of New York City, the clowns do what they have been taught at Clown U. – 

share a laugh or two with adoring fans in the audience and bring smiles to all during their 

Turkey Day fun. 

Following is a list of clown troupes featured in the 

87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: 

Arrrsome Pirates 

Birthday Party Clowns 

Breakfast Clowns with Egg Trike 

Celebration Clowns 

Circus Clowns 

Clown U. Kazoo Band 

Corny-Copia Clowns 

Funny Farm and Hoedown Clowns 

Funny Fire Brigade Clowns with Fire Truck 

Half-Baked holiday Clowns 

Hi-Roller Skating Clowns 

Holiday Clowns 

Keystone Cops and Robbers 

Malt Shop Clowns 

Nutty Crackers Ballet and Sugar Plump Fairies 

Nutty Professor Einstein and Wacky Graduates 

Patriotic Clowns 

Pool Hall Clowns 

Pre-K Clowns 

Racing Rabbits 

Rag Doll Clowns 

Santa’s Toy Box Clowns 

Silly Seaside Clowns and Bathing Beauty 

Sleep Clowns 

Springtime Clowns and Gnomes 

Turkey Tech Football Gobblers 

Viking Clowns 

Wild West Cowboys and Engineers