The 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade(R) Is Set to Debut New Giant Character Balloons, Amazing Floats and New Parade Route This November

The 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade(R) Is Set to Debut New Giant Character Balloons, Amazing Floats and New Parade Route This November

New Giant Character Balloons Include Pillsbury Doughboy(R), Ronald McDonald(R), Sailor Mickey and Spider-Man(R) New Floats Include Local Heroes Helping Everyday, There's A Party In My City and Santa's Sleigh 2009 Parade Route to Bypass Broadway for the First time and Travel Down 7th and 6th Avenues to Macy's Herald Square

NEW YORK, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The magical procession returns to the Big Apple this November as the 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the holiday season. On Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 9:00am at the sound of Let's Have a Parade, America's favorite holiday spectacular will step off with its signature giant helium balloons, floats of fantasy, marching bands, clowns, celebrity and large performance groups, and the one-and-only Santa Claus.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091102/NY02553)

Making their Turkey Day debuts this year are four of America's best loved characters and three spectacular moving stages that will transport audiences to world's of fantasy. These new giant balloons and floats are sure to become Parade favorites for the more than 3.5 million spectators lining the streets of New York City and for 50 million viewers watching the pageantry on television nationwide.

The 83rd edition of the Macy's Parade will not only feature fantastic new elements and fan favorites, it will also mark a milestone moment in Parade history. Having marched down parts of Broadway for 82 years, the 2009 procession will be the first to bypass Broadway in the long running march. Over the years the Macy's Parade route has changed five times traveling through several different paths, from having initially stepped off in Harlem to its current 77th Street launch, the route has changed with the times.

The 2009 Macy's Parade will begin at 77th Street and Central Park West, travel down to Columbus Circle where it will turn onto Central Park South. Once the Parade reaches 7th Avenue it will turn once more and march down 7th Avenue through Times Square to 42nd Street. At the famed intersection it will turn east to 6th Avenue and begin its final march down the Avenue of the Americas to 34th Street where it will turn towards Macy's famed flagship and end at 7th Avenue marking a 2.65-mile march.

Joining returning favorites, the following new stars of the Macy's Parade line-up will delight millions of spectators in their first proud procession through New York City to Macy's Herald Square.

   Soaring Balloon Giants   PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY   PILLSBURY  

The new Pillsbury Doughboy balloon makes its Macy's Parade debut in larger-than-life form, far outgrowing his normal 8 3/4-inch frame. On Thanksgiving Day, the Doughboy will march down the route with his arms outstretched, his bright blue eyes shining ready to ring in the holidays. At more than 63 times his traditional 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®   McDONALD'S®  

Ronald McDonald® first made his Macy's Parade debut in 1966, holding a bouquet of party balloons that had taken him on a Thanksgiving joy ride. In 2001, a second Ronald McDonald balloon made its Parade debut flying down the streets of Manhattan bringing joy and laughter to millions. This year, Ronald is in a playful mood and has strapped on the world's largest pair of ice skates for a fun-filled holiday activity. Measuring 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.

   SAILOR MICKEY   DISNEY CRUISE LINE  

Ahoy matey! Get on board the ultimate family cruise with Sailor Mickey at the helm. Sporting his nautically inspired red, white and blue sailor gear, Mickey will salute the crowds as he rides down the Parade route. Sailing aboard an anchor that is approximately four times the size of an actual cruise ship anchor, 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.

   SPIDER-MAN   MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT  

Millions of New Yorkers will feel their Spider-senses tingling on Thanksgiving morning when New York's own neighborhood Super Hero(TM), Marvel's Spider-Man, makes a triumphant return to the skies over Manhattan to ensnare a new generation of fans. After a decade, the legendary crime-fighting web-slinger returns to the 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.

   Floating Scenes of Magic   LOCAL HEROES HELPING EVERYDAY   HAMBURGER HELPER  

This Thanksgiving, we give thanks and recognize our neighborhood firefighters, doctors, nurses, crossing guards and police officers on the "Local Heroes Helping Every Day" float. Just like Hamburger Helper®, which each day helps families across America with dinner, these important people lend a helping hand every day and should be celebrated. Taking center stage on the float is a very special fire truck, complete with a hydraulic ladder, that will bring about a happy ending this Thanksgiving as all of our local heroes come together to save a distressed cat caught up in a tree.

SANTA'S SLEIGH

Straight from the North Pole is the one-and-only Santa Claus. For the first time in more than 40 years, Santa will be making his grand entrance on a new Sleigh. Depicting Santa's travel on Christmas Eve, we see good old St. Nick as he leaves the North Pole on his magical journey. The North Pole is showcased by Santa's Toyshop home and by a giant ice and granite obelisk that is supported by ice sculptures of a Walrus and a Polar Bear. Santa's Sleigh is a colossal float that measures 60-feet long, 22-feet wide and is 3 1/2 Stories tall. As Santa leaves the North Pole he flies over his home and begins his worldwide voyage sure to make children of all ages, BELIEVE!

   THERE'S A PARTY IN MY CITY   YO GABBA GABBA LIVE!  

The magical world of Yo Gabba Gabba Live! comes to life on the brand new There's A Party in My City float. Designed by the magicians at the Macy's Parade Studio to mirror the show's theme of teaching kids simple lessons through music, DJ Lance Rock and the cast of colorful characters, including Brobee, Foofa, Muno, Plex and Toodee, will ride on board the float. Together, they will debut a special "dancey dance" number that has never been seen before.

Public information on the 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is available by logging on to www.macysparade.com or calling the Macy's Parade Hotline at (212) 494-4495.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade press materials are available at www.macys.com/pressroom.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091102/NY02553
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN5
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Macy's

CONTACT: Orlando Veras, +1-646-429-7450, Orlando.Veras@macys.com, or
Holly Thomas, +1-646-429-5250, Holly.Thomas@macys.com, both of Macy's

Web Site: http://www.macysparade.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment