Get ready for a brand new parade when the 96th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade hits the streets this Thursday.
New York City has experienced several years of pandemic-related entertainment decline, and the parade has shrunk with the city.
However, floats and balloons started coming back last year, and now, according to Will Coss, executive producer of the parade, “America’s Parade” is back strong with something that amazes and delights all who are watching from home. or along the streets of the Big Apple.
This year’s parade features over 5,000 volunteers, 700 clowns, 16 giant character balloons, 40 smaller balloons, 28 floats, 12 marching bands, and 10 performance groups — not to mention the music stars, Broadway shows and, of course, Santa Claus. 2 1/2 mile route.
TPG previewed the latest floats joining this year’s route. If the parade is part of your turkey day celebration, we’re here to tell you that you won’t be disappointed.
Expect lots of kid-friendly fun from five new floats including a dance party Toys “R” Us, Baby Sharks, Wonder’s “The Wondership” (bread), a travel bed from the set Netflix’s “Slumberland” and two Macy’s originals, First Light’s Man and Winter Dragon.
Do you also want to peek? Continue reading.
Baby Shark by Pinkfong and Nickelodeon
Yes we know. That song. That song. (If you don’t already know, it’s easy to learn; start singing “Baby shark do do do do do do, Mommy shark do do do do do do, Daddy shark do do do do do do,” add Grandpa and Grandma and then iterate in an endless loop.)
The song is currently an animated show on Nickelodeon, and brightly colored members of the shark family will swim along the parade route.
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There are two ways to spot giant, finned swimmers. First, there’s a float with an underwater sea view with Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa Shark.
The Baby Shark will then hover overhead, which Christine Nealon, Macy’s communications representative, explains is a “small” balloon managed by “just” two dozen operators (for comparison, those The largest balloons can have up to 100 volunteers guiding them along the parade route).
Monitor the “seabed” to try to spot eight starfish and three different species of anemones. More conspicuous will be Ziggy Marley, who will perform on the float.
Geoffrey’s Brilliant Dance Party by Toys “R” Us
Another floating game that is sure to get a big hit from kids is this toy-filled DJ dance party. Geoffrey the Giraffe will DJ from the top of the float (if you’re watching on television, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the “Saturday Night Fever”-style glowing floor in the DJ booth).
This is interesting from every angle. Look for toys that have turned into full-sized musicians and dancers, such as a dinosaur playing a guitar.
The vintage toy store, once a Times Square attraction, can now be found in Macy’s Herald Square. In terms of performance, Jordin Sparks will go with Geoffrey.
Netflix’s Super Big Sleep
This float needs some explanation as it is based on an unreleased Netflix movie. It’s about a girl who has to navigate through a fantasy world with, among other elements, a bed coming to life, a stuffed pig coming to life as well—oh, and Jason Momoa.
However, you don’t have to know the plot of the movie to appreciate this technical wonder of a float. Massive — legs with a 35-foot stride — on the move, making 3D a real presenter. Bed legs march as if they’re about to jump out onto the street and the towering lighthouse has a rotating zoetrope inside.
The float also features a performance by Ballet Hispanico.
Man of the first light
A float with a true mission to educate and entertain, this center was created by Macy’s in association with the Wampanoag tribe. The elders of the tribe will sit on the seats of honor.
The float features an oriental pine decorated with seashells. Along the outer edges you can spot vines with strawberries, as well as sweetgrass and sassafras.
winter dragon
Is it a bicycle? A float? Or a dragon? This original Macy’s creation is a little bit of each, but more than the sum of its parts.
This metal marvel is entirely hand-painted and is a technical trick aided by a team of cyclists. Their power alone moved the dragon across the street and brought its various parts to life, including its wings that moved up and down and its undulating and undulating body.
Wonder Bread’s miracle
This is another one that reminds us of our childhood. The idea is that the Wonder Bread is “lighter than air,” and this colorful ship has lots of light-as-air balloons rising from its center.
We’ve seen a lot of confetti to go with the balloons, and we’ve been told that as the float goes down the parade route, over 900 Styrofoam Wonder Bread slices will fly into the sky. In addition, American country singer Cam will perform on the boat.
Talk about balloons
While we didn’t get a chance to see any of Macy’s giant balloons inflated, we did get a close look at the detailed replicas the studio created as part of the production process. export.
New giant balloons coming in 2022 are the BBC’s Bluey, Abrams Books’ Diary of A Wimpy Kid, Sinclair Oil’s Dino and Baby Dino and Illumination’s Stuart the Minion.
We don’t want to spoil all the surprises, but you’ll want to keep an eye out for some extra-large bananas as Stuart passes.
