2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Parade of Wonder
The 81st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Kicks Off The Holiday Season With New Iconic Balloons and Floats
New York, NY – November 2007 – The magic of the season returns this November as the Parade of Wonder steps off and the nation gathers to celebrate the holiday with the 81st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ®.
On Thursday, November 22nd at 9:00 AM, over 3.5 million live spectators and over 50 million viewers nationwide will once again gather to have an experience like no other, full of joy and happiness, as the Parade continues to delight generations of Americans.
Over 10,000 participants including Macy's volunteers, America's best marching bands, celebrities, campy clowns, the Parade's signature giant character helium balloons, fantasy floats, and the one-and-only Santa Claus; will once again convene on the Upper West Side to bring the magic of the season to life for New York and the nation.
Those magical words of "Let's Have a Parade", will unveil the Parade's newest line-up of giant character balloons, floating stages and of course, returning favorites. From its inception in 1924, the Parade's mission has always been to entertain children everywhere and this year's pomp and pageantry is sure to live up to that grand tradition that has made the Macy's Parade a part of the fabric of the nation's holiday celebration.
"We are all approaching the 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with great anticipation," said Robin Hall, the Parade's executive producer. "With a sky-full of brand new helium balloons; blocks and blocks of imaginative new floats and one of our most exciting talent rosters in years, the 81st Annual Macy's Parade will be a keeper."
The sheer numbers tell the story that magic is in the air. The 81st trip down Broadway will feature over 1,900 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers; 800 clowns; 11 giant character helium balloons; 31 novelty/ornament balloons and balloonicles; 11 marching bands; 24 floats; and a host of celebrity performers.
Flying Pop Icons
Taking flight on Thanksgiving morning will be a new generation of pop culture icons who are sure to become Parade favorites. Joining the balloon team this year will be America's favorite fairy-in-training Sesame Street's Abby Cadabby; the world-famous Hello Kitty® "Supercute" and from Far Far Away, the big green ogre Shrek®.
Also making its debut in this year's Parade is a new 53-foot tall helium balloon "sculpture." "Rabbit" by Jeff Koons is Macy's newest acquisition from the world of the lively arts and continues the Parade's "Blue Sky Gallery" series. The "Rabbit" by Jeff Koons balloon is based on the iconic 1986 sculpture, Rabbit, a reflective stainless steel cast of an inflatable bunny. The Parade balloon was created using a shiny material specially fabricated to replicate the mirror like finish on the original sculpture. As inflatables have always been a part of Koons' repertoire he felt creating the Rabbit for the Macy’s Parade was a great opportunity to make his largest inflatable sculpture to date.
"I think one of the reasons why Rabbit is an iconic work, a popular piece, is because it's so reflective. It reflects the needs of culture and society and can represent so many different things to the viewer," said Jeff Koons.
The line-up of 11 giant balloons this year is rounded out by returning fan favorites who are stars of children's television, video games, comic strips and feature films. Filled with thousands of cubic feet of helium that make them float above the crowds, the balloon giants are sure to return to their starring role in the hearts of spectators this year. Joining the 3 new giant characters will be Dora the Explorer™, Flying Ace Snoopy, Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD™, Jojo's Circus, Kermit the Frog™, Pikachu™, Ronald McDonald®, and Scooby-Doo. The giant character balloons only fill one dimension in the balloon line-up.
The Parade also boasts 31 novelty/ornament balloons and balloonicles giving it a high definition balloon spectrum that fills the sky with giant, mid-size and small balloons/balloonheads for the watchful eyes of Parade balloonatics. Fans should not be fooled by the diminutive balloon designation, Macy's doesn't do anything small; the "small" Parade balloons can range in size from 12 to 25 feet tall.
Floating Beauty
Worlds of wonder come to life on the floating stages riding down the Great White Way. From a magical cloud covered pond to a giant land of musical instruments, the floats in the Macy's Parade capture childhood imagination and transport spectators into fantasy filled worlds. This year's inaugural fleet includes the caring world of The Care Bears™ Winter Fun-derland; the global gathering of the International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower; the theatrical tribute of the famed M&M's® Chocolate Candies on Broadway; and the over-the-top glimpse into the world of rock of Music Bigger Than Life.
The inspired stages take to the streets after a team of skilled artisans at the Macy's Parade Studio design and build each float from the ground up. From wood, foam and other materials, this fleet of fantasy is born. In addition to the 4 new stages, 20 floats will make a return appearance on Broadway this Thanksgiving.
The returning float line-up includes 123 Sesame Street, The American Classic Malt Shop, Animal Wonders, Barbie™ as the Island Princess, Big Apple, Bridge To The Future, "Bountiful Harvest" Cornucopia, Expedition to the Top of Rhino Mountain, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Holiday Lovin' Oven, Jolly Polly Pirate Ship, Marion-Carol Showboat, New York Tin Toy, Pep Squad, Santa's Sleigh, Snoppy's Doghouse, Spirit of America, Spirit of Liberty, Starship Discovery, and Tom Turkey.
The Beat Goes On
Strike up the band! The beat returns to Thanksgiving as the best of America's marching bands take to the streets of the Big Apple. The heartbeat of the Parade, 11 bands will represent their home states and the nation in this year's holiday spectacular. The musical line-up includes Albertville High School from Albertville, Alabama; American Fork High School from American Fork, Utah; Baltimore's Marching Ravens from Owings Mills, Maryland; Concord High School from Elkhart, Indiana; Macy's Great American Marching Band with representatives from every State and the District of Columbia; Marian Catholic High School from Chicago Heights, Illinois; Ooltewah High School from Ooltewah, Tennessee; Paul Laurence Dunbar High School from Lexington, Kentucky; Stephenson High School from Stone Mountain, Georgia; and the University of Oklahoma from Norman, Oklahoma celebrating the state's Centennial.
Also set to perform this year will one of the nations best collegiate bands, the Virginia Tech Regimental Band- The Highty Tighties. In tribute to the memory of those lost in the recent tragedy and in support of one of the Parade's own, the band will perform this year in honor of the lives lost this past spring. Having appeared four previous times, Macy's welcomes back the Highty Tighties, a member of the Parade band family and joins the band in commemoration.
Ready, Set… Dance and Sing!
Holiday cheer will be in full force on Thanksgiving Day as thousands of cheerleaders, dancers and special performance groups take to streets to spread joy. The Big Apple will come to life with the force of these spirited performers including Camp Broadway performing the opening number "Making Magic" by Macy's creative director Bill Schermerhorn and Michael Feinstein; The Cherokee National Youth Choir; The Jewel of the Caribbean performers; The Mike Miller Dance Team; the National Dance Institute; The Tap Dancing Christmas Trees; Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association; and Up With People.
Star Turns
Celebrating the start of the holiday season will be performers from stage, screen and music riding down Broadway atop one of the Parade's moving stages. Ashley Tisdale, Bindi and Terri Irwin, Corbin Bleu, Dolly Parton, Good Charlotte, Grandma from the Big Apple Circus, Jonas Brothers, Jordin Sparks, Kay Hanley, Lifehouse, Menudo, Michael Feinstein, Miss U.S.A. 2007- Rachel Smith, Ne-Yo, Nikki Blonsky, Sarah Brightman, and Wynonna will celebrate the holidays with the Macy's Parade.
Nationwide Viewing
From coast to coast, Americans will gather around the television to share in the magic of the Parade via the national broadcasts on NBC-TV and Telemundo. One of the nation's most viewed events, the NBC telecast of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will be hosted by TODAY's Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera and Al Roker. The telecast will air from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon in each of the four time zones in the continental United States. Telemundo will also present the telecast in Spanish. Star power on Thanksgiving morning will include performances from some of the hottest Broadway shows including Legally Blonde and Mary Poppins, in addition to the world-famous Radio City Rockettes®.
A Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's finale features the biggest star of all, the one-and-only Santa Claus. As his sleigh comes into view, Macy's wishes everyone "Happy Holidays" and a "Merry Christmas."
Further information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade can be obtained by calling the Parade Hotline at (212) 494-4495 or via www.macysparade.com.
Delta, New York's most international carrier is proud to be the official airline of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Timberland is the official outerwear provider.
Remo is the drumhead provider.
Please note all talent, performances, line-up and information included are subject to change. macys.com
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