The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Tradition

I’ve been watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade every year since I was a child. I love checking out all the floats, and the big balloons floating down the street. It’s definitely a tradition at our house while we’re getting ready to head out to make our family rounds for the day.

This year we will be watching the 83rd edition of the Macy’s Parade. This year’s parade will be setting another new milestone, it’s marched down parts of Broadway for 82 years, the 2009 procession will be the first to bypass Broadway during the route.

Joining Macy’s parade favorites this year will be several new high flying giant balloons, including:

The Pillsbury Doughboy~ The Doughboy marches in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with his arms outstretched, with his bright blue eyes shining ready to ring in the holidays. At more than 63 times his traditional 8 3/4-inch size, the Doughboy balloon will measure 53.7 feet in length, 34.4 feet in width and will be 46.4 feet tall. This Doughboy will rise to the occasion filled with 12,280 cubic feet of helium.

Ronald McDonald~ This year, there’s a new Ronald McDonald. He’s in a playful mood and has strapped on the world’s largest pair of ice skates for some fun-filled holiday activity. This giant balloon is 76.4 feet long, 28.8 feet wide and 48.6 feet tall, Ronald will be inflated with 13,650 cubic feet of helium on Parade day. Wow!

Sailor Mickey~ Sporting his nautically inspired red, white and blue sailor gear, Mickey will salute the crowds as he rides down the Macy’s Parade route. Mickey measures 48.1-feet long, 33.6-feet wide and 60.9-feet tall. Sailor Mickey will be filled with 14,750 cubic feet of helium on his maiden voyage on Thanksgiving Day.

Spiderman~ After a decade, the legendary crime-fighting web-slinger returns to the Macy’s Parade line-up in celebration of Marvel’s 70th Anniversary. Spider-Man made his Macy’s Parade debut in 1987, becoming an instant classic. The new, more modern and muscular Spidey is in full crawling mode with one hand set to release his web. On Parade day, the Spider-Man balloon will measure 78-feet long, 37.8-feet wide and 29.1-feet tall and will be filled with 11,800 cubic feet of helium.

Other Macy’s parades highlights include Santa in his new sleigh, after 40 years, and the magical world of Yo Gabba Gabba Live! comes to life on the brand new There’s A Party in My City float.

Is the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade a tradition at your house?
Image: Newscom