The 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® is Set to Feature New Balloons, Amazing Floats and a Star-Studded Line-Up of Celebrity Performers

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's most cherished procession returns to the Big Apple once more for a dazzling dose of spectacle, enchantment and tradition as the 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® kicks off the holiday season. On Thursday, November 25, 2010 at 9:00 AM at the sound of Let's Have a Parade™, America's favorite holiday spectacular will step off to entertain more than 3.5 million spectators lining the streets of Manhattan and more than 50 million viewers nationwide 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://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101101/NY91813)

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"The 84th Macy's Parade will dazzle and entertain the entire nation with a fantastic pageant filled with the most popular giant character helium balloons, awe-inspiring floats, the nation's best marching bands, and an amazing line-up of performers that will enchant millions of Parade fans everywhere," said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Ready to entertain millions in the Parade of magic are superstars from music, stage, and screen who will make special appearances and perform for the nation at Macy's famed red star mark on 34th Street. Stars joining the festivities this year include India Arie, Big Time Rush, Betty Buckley, Ann Hampton Callaway, the casts of Broadway's American Idiot, Elf, Memphis, Million Dollar Quartet, the Big Apple Circus, the cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, Miranda Cosgrove, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, Gloriana, Michael Grimm, Arlo Guthrie, Keri Hilson, Eric Hutchinson, Juanes, Victoria Justice, Gladys Knight, Mannheim Steamroller, Miss USA 2010 Rima Fakih, Power Rangers Samurai, Joan and Melissa Rivers, Crystal Shawanda, Jessica Simpson, and Kanye West.

For 2010, the Macy's Parade will once again follow a route first taken last year as the procession winds down to Macy's Herald Square. Beginning at 77th Street and Central Park West, the Parade will travel south to Columbus Circle, turn onto Central Park South before making a right turn to march down 7th Avenue to 42nd Street. The Parade will then turn east towards 6th Avenue where it will march down the Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the Parade will make its final turn west marching in front of Macy's Herald Square. The Parade will step off promptly at 9:00 AM and end at noon.

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 the streets of New York City.

A Ballooning Spectacle

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID

ABRAMS BOOKS

It's not a diary, it's a journal! So proclaims middle-schooler Greg Heffley about the book he's clutching to his chest for security. Millions of kids along the route and in homes across the nation are bound to rejoice as they see the new Diary of A Wimpy Kid balloon take flight this Thanksgiving. At 60-feet long, 25-feet wide, and 56-feet tall, "wimpy" is not the right word to describe this balloon behemoth. From the look on his face, we have a feeling Greg will be writing about this holiday experience just as soon as he makes it to the Parade finish line.

KUNG FU PANDA™

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION

At more than 16,000 cubic feet of helium, Po from Kung Fu Panda™ is truly a larger-than-life master of the ancient Chinese art of Kung Fu. Designed by the magicians at Macy's Parade Studio, Po is created with the help of more than half a mile of fabric and is covered in 17 gallons of paint. For his Parade debut, Po the Panda measures 42-feet tall, 46-feet long, and 34-feet wide, giving him the scale to take giant leaps down the route, poised to deliver his signature martial arts moves along the way.

TAKASHI MURAKAMI'S KAIKAI & KIKI

KAIKAI KIKI CO., LTD.

Inspired by traditional Japanese paintings and kawaii (cute) culture, Takashi Murakami's Kaikai and Kiki will take new form in this year's Parade moving from the Superflat artistic style to helium character balloons. Like their past sculptural incarnations, Kaikai (the character in white) possesses long ears and a round, adorable face, while Kiki (the character in pink) has a more fantastical appearance, complete with three eyes and protruding fangs.  As they fly down the Parade route they are posed with heads high and arms and legs thrust out in a joyful expression. At 3-stories tall and 40-feet long, the Parade's newest art balloons will be the largest renditions of Kaikai and Kiki to date.  

KOOL-AID® MAN

KRAFT FOODS

Taking a skateboard ride down the Macy's Parade route this year is none other than Kool-Aid Man! Debuting as a Parade balloonicle, the always smiling, super cool, Kool-Aid Man stands at 33-feet tall and 24-feet wide and is wearing size 130 sneakers. Enjoying the holiday with millions of fans, Kool-Aid Man can be heard shouting "Oh Yeah" as he waves his 6-foot tall hand down the route.

VIRGINIA

Making her debut in the Macy's Parade this year is a little girl who taught everybody to believe! Modeled after the animated version of 8-year old Virginia O'Hanlon, who famously wrote to the editor of the New York Sun about the existence of Santa Claus, Virginia is ready to kick off the holidays for her inaugural flight. And although, she saw "it in the Sun, so it must be so," Virginia will have a special treat when she escorts Santa Claus himself down the Parade route.

Floating Scenes of Magic

DORA'S CHRISTMAS CAROL ADVENTURE™

NICKELODEON'S DORA THE EXPLORER

Feliz Navidad Amigos!  On the 10th Anniversary of the hit Nickelodeon series, Latina heroine Dora the Explorer is returning to the Parade on a brand new float.  The colorful float features Dora, one of the most iconic preschool characters in the world, and a 12-foot tall Christmas tree decorated with dazzling ornaments and some very special gifts.  Dora and her friends will showcase their most recent adventure, where they teach their friend Swiper the true spirit of the holidays. As with every Dora adventure, there are lessons to be learned and the new float features elements of Swiper's future if he doesn't learn the true spirit of the season.

ELVES RAISE THE ROOF

OFFICEMAX® ELFYOURSELF®

It's time get the party started and raise the roof! A little known secret about Santa's elves is that they really know how to bust a move. When the last toy is finished and all the presents are wrapped, the elves take to rooftops, cupolas, chimneys and balconies to celebrate. Just like the merry fun millions have each year elfing themselves on OfficeMax's popular website, these elves will dance the night away to the delight of millions. Whether ballroom dancing or having a disco blowout, the magical elfin boogie, bop and sway will be on full display for the debut of this fun-frolicking float.

HOME BAKED GOODNESS

MORTON SALT, INC.

The holidays are about family and special gatherings and no celebration is complete without some delicious home baked goodies. Cooking up yummy treats, this brand new float features a giant cast iron stove top overflowing with scrumptious cupcakes, gingerbread men and cookies. This towering celebration of home baked goodness could not be created without special recipes baked with love and flavored with a pinch of Morton® Salt.

MOUNT RUSHMORE'S AMERICAN PRIDE

SOUTH DAKOTA OFFICE OF TOURISM

From the Badlands to the Black Hills, and of course the iconic faces etched on Mount Rushmore National Memorial, the great state of South Dakota's heritage, attractions and natural beauty will be seen in all their glory on the new Mount Rushmore's American Pride float. The float depicts South Dakota's variety of landscapes with incredible detail including majestic rivers, beautiful pine forests, ancient dinosaur fossils and various Great Plains animals that share the landscape with a wonderfully rendered depiction of Mount Rushmore. From a footbridge set over a rolling stream, a sightseer observation point leads the way to the magnificent depiction of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln.

ON THE ROLL AGAIN

HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON®

Based on the wonder of wooden pull toys, the new On The Roll Again float features a colorful family of ducks (literally) in a Parade.  The father duck, Lewis, is wearing his most dapper hat and carrying a backpack. The Homewood Suites by Hilton mascot takes the lead on this family getaway. Letting his feet do the "cranking," Lewis will pull the mother, Lois and the kids down the line of march. As Lois gets her camera ready to capture the memories of their trip, the kids flap their wings with glee sitting on a wagon with their luggage piled high.  

SNOW QUEEN

From her Northern realm home where ice and stars shine comes the legendary Snow Queen. A shimmering delight of frost and icicles, the Snow Queen along with her Princess and Jack Frost will welcome wintertime splendor to the Big Apple. In a special role that truly fits her stature the legendary comedienne Joan Rivers will assume the role of Snow Queen, while her daughter Melissa Rivers and her son Cooper respectively play the Snow Princess and Jack Frost.

TOP HAT!

APOLLO THEATER

Macy's celebrates the world-famous Apollo Theater's 75th Anniversary in style with the debut of the Parade's most dapper float - a 12-foot tall Top Hat, complete with a classic bow.  The float's stage is rendered as an art deco masterpiece that would be right at home on the famous Harlem stage. Known as "the Soul of American Culture," the Apollo has hosted Amateur Night, its signature talent contest nearly every Wednesday night since 1934.

Public information on the 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is available by logging on to www.macys.com/parade or by calling the Macy's Parade Hotline at (212) 494-4495.

SOURCE Macy's