Bluey, Hello Kitty, Super Mario and the Pillsbury Doughboy are among the familiar faces set to take to the streets of New York City for the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Billie Brightpaw, Macy’s new parade character, is among the featured balloons, alongside Joe Cool and Woodstock, Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, and Underdog. Other balloon characters include Felix the Cat, Buzz Lightyear, Dora, Goku, Spider-Man, SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary, and Pikachu and Eevee.
Macy’s says the centennial parade will feature a record 100 inflatable elements.
The parade’s larger-than-life lineup also includes balloonicles, which combine balloon characters with mobile platforms. The announced designs include a Levi’s balloonicle, a Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Cheese of a Wimpy Kid vehicle, Frost Pips, Happy Hippo Triple Stack and Sussie from KPop Demon Hunters.
Floats range from the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone–inspired “Hogwarts Holiday” and “Dora’s Fantastical Rainforest” to “Pasta Knight,” “Big Turkey Spectacular” and “Friends-giving in Popcity.”
Macy’s will honor Tony Sarg, the artist whose work helped shape the parade’s early years, with the Tony Sarg’s Amazing Marionettes float.
Marching bands scheduled to perform include the University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band, the University of Connecticut Marching Band, the Pride of Pearland Marching Band in Texas and the Na Koa Ali‘i Hawai‘i All-State Marching Band. The lineup also includes groups of clowns, from the Keystone Cops and Santa’s Helpers to the Nutty-Cracker Ballet Clowns, plus specialty units such as the Nutcracker and Wigglefoot.
Macy’s will reintroduce Blue Hippopotamus, which was last soaring beyond the Empire State Building following the 1931 parade.
The 100th parade will take place Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26. It is scheduled to air on NBC, Peacock and Telemundo beginning at 8:30 a.m. in all time zones.
