The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is returning for its 97th version this yr, and can function 4 new floats!
TODAY’s Dylan Dreyer bought an unique first take a look at the floats within the Macy’s parade studio in Moonachie, New Jersey, on Nov. 14 with Will Coss, the chief producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“All of the floats right here on the parade are about 12 months of labor, from early design sketches all through our engineering phases,” Coss stated on TODAY. “Then we head into our inside structural developments, our carpentry, our paint, our sculpt. Every part you will see right here in the present day is hand-painted, hand-sculpted, hand-fabricated by the gifted artists right here at Macy’s studios.”
Main as much as the primary occasion, NBC will air an hourlong reside particular hosted, “Countdown to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” hosted by Amber Ruffin on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. ET.
The present will give viewers an all-access take a look at what goes into creating one of many greatest Thanksgiving Day occasions from the Macy’s Parade Studio, the manufacturing facility the place the floats, balloons and costumes are saved.
TODAY co-anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker will even be a part of the particular, sharing their favourite parade recollections from over time.
Forward of the Thanksgiving Day festivities, Macy’s introduced on Nov. 1 pop icon Cher will carry out to usher within the vacation season and that the Nov. 23 parade shall be prolonged by half-hour for extra leisure and spectacle.
Learn on to seek out out extra concerning the lineup, which is ready to function 5,000 volunteers, 16 character balloons, 26 floats, 32 heritage and novelty balloons, greater than 700 clowns, 12 marching bands, 9 efficiency teams, plus the most important stars in music — and Santa Claus himself.
What are the 4 new floats?
Dylan first took a take a look at The Deliciously Delectable World of Wonka by Warner Bros. Photos float, which is impressed by Willy Wonka’s first sweet store and options 500,000 items of prop sweet, from an enormous cherry tree to tiny sweets all through the float.
Subsequent she was surrounded by the 4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem by Nickelodeon & Paramount float, a two-story construction that stands about 28 toes tall.
Through the parade, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo will scale the float, however earlier than it arrives in Manhattan, it should be transported via the Lincoln Tunnel. The float has 11 hinges put in to have the ability to fold down and match via the tunnel.
“At its prime top it is 28 toes, however this can pack right down to about 12 toes by 8.5 toes — concerning the dimension of a metropolis bus. So we’ll take this, we’ll pack it down, we’ll get it via the Lincoln Tunnel after which rebuild it on parade morning,” Coss stated.
Dylan additionally bought to see the Palace of Sweets by Brach’s float, an enormous gingerbread home that stands about 30 toes tall that incorporates a 25-foot rotating Christmas tree, a conveyor belt that brings candies from the underside of the float to the highest and home windows for teenagers to wave to the parade’s spectators.
“We love this pop of shade — (it) brings somewhat little bit of pleasure and pleasure to the parade route,” Coss stated.
Final however not least, Dylan took a take a look at the fourth new float for 2023: Igniting Reminiscences by Solo Range, which brings a tenting setting to New York Metropolis with a pure rock formation and seating space.
Macy’s has used 2,000 gallons of paint, 300 kilos of glitter and 200 kilos of confetti to create the entire floats.
What else is new to the 2023 parade?
Along with the 4 new floats, Cher is ready to carry out a brand new vacation hit to kick off the season on thirty fourth Avenue, in keeping with the parade. The singer just lately introduced she recorded her first Christmas album.
Along with Cher’s iconic efficiency, seven new character balloons will take flight within the parade; Beagle Scout Snoopy by Peanuts Worldwide, Blue Cat & Chugs by Cool Cats, “Kung Fu Panda’s” Po by Common Photos’ Dreamworks Animation, “Leo” by Netflix, Inc., Monkey D. Luffy by Toei Animation Inc., Pillsbury Doughboy by Pillsbury; and Uncle Dan by Illumination.
A brand new automobile can also be set to roll down the streets of New York Metropolis: the “Good Burger” Cellular!
“(It is) not daily there is a large burger automobile making its means down the parade route however we’re excited to welcome our buddies at ‘Good Burger’ celebrating ‘Good Burger 2,'” Coss stated. “It is the biggest burger that is ever been part of the parade — 5,000 kilos in its true type, which is about 1,500 precise little Good Burgers.”
“Good Burger 2” stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell will be a part of the automobile on parade day, Coss stated, and TODAY’s Al Roker chimed in that he has pushed the automobile himself.
What time does the parade begin?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is scheduled to start on 77th Avenue and Central Park West at 8:30 a.m., half-hour sooner than ever earlier than in New York and on the printed.
Hosted by TODAY’s personal Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker, the procession will march down its signature 2 1/2-mile route, heading down Central Park West to Columbus Circle, earlier than turning onto Central Park South after which marching down sixth Avenue.
At thirty fourth Avenue, the parade will make its last flip west and finish at seventh Avenue in entrance of Macy’s iconic Herald Sq. flagship location, and the festivities will wrap up by 12 p.m.
Who’s performing?
Jon Batiste is ready to kick off the festivities, and Cher will even carry out in the course of the parade.
Different artists embody Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Chicago, En Vogue, ENHYPEN, David Foster and Katharine McPhee, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Jessie James Decker, Ashley Park with the forged and Muppets of Sesame Avenue, Pentatonix, Paul Russell, Amanda Shaw and Alex Smith and Manuel Turizo.
The Large Apple Circus, Cornell Bhangra, Tiptoe’s Winter Guard, the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, Maria Verdeja College of Arts dancers, St. John’s Dance, the Faucet Dancing Christmas Bushes, Spirit of America Dance and Spirit of America Cheer are additionally on the efficiency lineup.
Greater than a dozen floats will transport the performers down the streets of Manhattan, and 12 marching bands are set to hit the streets as effectively.
Which balloons shall be there?
Along with the seven new balloons, fan favorites like SpongeBob SquarePants and Pikachu will even be making return appearances.
“Diary Of A Wimpy Child,” DINO and Child DINO, Goku, a Funko Pop!-inspired Grogu, Chase from “Paw Patrol,” Eevee, Purple Titan from “Ryan’s World,” Ronald McDonald, SpongeBob’s Gary and Stuart The Minion are additionally among the many balloons set to return to the skies above NYC.
The way to watch the parade?
Parade followers can watch the telecast on NBC, or stream it reside on Peacock from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in all time zones on Nov. 23. NBC will re-air an encore telecast at 2 p.m. ET.
(Peacock is a part of TODAY’s father or mother firm, NBCUniversal.)