Meet the 7 new character balloons joining Macy's 100th Thanksgiving Day Parade
From Bluey and Hello Kitty to the Minions and Mickey Mouse, seven new character balloons got their first outdoor test flights Saturday at MetLife Stadium ahead of the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
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The annual Macy’s Balloonfest gave balloon handlers a chance to practice maneuvering the new inflatables before they debut on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26.
This year’s new lineup features five giant balloons and two mid-sized balloons, including Billie Brightpaw, a new character created by Macy’s.
Billie Brightpaw’s balloon measures 37.7 feet long, 20.85 feet wide and 29.5 feet tall. That’s approximately 25 times the size of a Billie Brightpaw teddy bear plush. Macy’s says more than 26,000 of the stuffed toys could fit inside the balloon.
Other new additions include Bluey, whose balloon measures nearly 47 feet tall — about 31 times taller than a real-life Blue Heeler dog.
Minion fans will also see Buckaroo Bob the Minion, sporting a cowboy hat that holds an estimated 7,830 gallons. Hello Kitty will make an appearance with her Big Apple balloon, which Macy’s says is 107 apples tall.
The lineup also includes Joe Cool and Woodstock from Peanuts, Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey from Disney and Underdog from DreamWorks Animation.
Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey measures more than 62 feet long. This will mark the 21st appearance of a Disney Mickey Mouse character balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Disney’s first parade balloons were created in collaboration with puppeteer Tony Sarg ahead of the 1934 parade.
Underdog’s return is another notable addition. The superhero dog would need a 38-foot-tall telephone booth to transform from his typical, humble dog persona.
Behind each balloon is months of planning and production. Macy’s says the process typically takes about six months, starting with a concept and design before moving into production.
Getting the giant balloons down the parade route also requires a large team. Each large balloon needs approximately 90 people to maneuver it, with more than 2,000 volunteer balloon handlers participating in Macy’s balloon program.
As the parade marks its 100th year, Macy’s says viewers can also expect new floats and other surprises. The company says it has spent the last 18 months preparing for this year’s milestone celebration.
The 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place Thursday, Nov. 26, in New York City.
