MARCHING.COM: 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup features new balloons, floats and new route

New parade route to bypass Broadway for the first time

NEW YORK, Nov. 2, 2009 — Enchantment returns this Thanksgiving as Macy's magical procession ushers in the holiday season at the 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. From the trumpeting of the time-honored phrase "Let's Have a Parade" to the first glimpse of one of Macy's signature giant helium balloons, the march will delight more than 3.5 million spectators lining the streets of Manhattan and more than 50 million viewers nationwide.

The Radio City Rockettes will perform during the NBC-TV telecast of the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The Radio City Rockettes will perform during the NBC-TV telecast of the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

From a small band of Macy's employees gathered in 1924 to commemorate the holiday season to a tradition that has delighted millions for generations, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an icon of American popular culture. The 2009 parade steps off at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 26, bringing with it 8,000 participants including the nation's best marching bands, performance groups, cheerleaders, clowns, giant balloons, floats and the biggest star of them all, Santa Claus.

New Route for 2009

Having marched down parts of Broadway for 82 years, the 2009 procession will be the first in the history of the parade to bypass Broadway. Over the years the Macy's Parade route has changed five times as it traveled through Manhattan. From the initial Harlem step-off site in the mid 1920s to its current 77th Street starting line, the parade route has evolved with the city.

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.

"This is a milestone year for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," said Robin Hall, Executive Producer of Macy's National Events. "Dramatic changes in the mid-town landscape will divert us for the first time from the fabled Broadway route we have followed since our first parade in 1924. However, our course will remain true and the parade will continue to entertain millions as Spider-Man returns to the sky and the first new Santa Float in almost half a century makes its debut."

Kermit the Frog will be among the 15 giant helium balloons appearing in the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Kermit the Frog will be among the 15 giant helium balloons appearing in the 2009 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Americans coast to coast can share in the magic of the parade through NBC-TV's national telecast hosted by TODAY's Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera and Al Roker. The telecast will include performances from the Radio City Rockettes and some of the hottest Broadway shows including Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie, Hair, and Shrek. The telecast will air from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon in each of the four time zones in the continental United States.

2009 Parade Lineup

The 83rd Annual Macy's Parade will be a crowd-pleasing spectacle that features 1,500 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers; 800 clowns; 15 giant character helium balloons; 35 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonheads and balloonicles; 10 marching bands; 24 floats; and a host of celebrity performers.

New arrivals to the balloon lineup are everyone's favorite neighborhood super-hero Spider-Man; the ever cute and cuddly Pillsbury Doughboy; America's favorite clown Ronald McDonald; and the top mouse on deck, Sailor Mickey Mouse. The new float lineup includes a salute to the heroes in our everyday lives on the Local Heroes Helping Everyday float; a magical land where friends come to life to play and dance on the There's A Party in My City float, and the first new Santa's Sleigh in more than 40 years.

Following is the list of 2009 entries (all talent, performances, line-up and information is subject to change).

15 GIANT BALLOONS
• Abby Cadabby
• Buzz Lightyear
• Dora the Explorer
• Flying Ace Snoopy
• Horton
• Kermit the Frog
• Pikachu
• Pillsbury Doughboy
• Ronald McDonald
• Sailor Mickey Mouse
• Shrek
• Smurf
• Spider-Man
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Supercute Hello Kitty
• The parade also boasts 35 novelty/ornament balloons and balloonicles, ranging in size from 12 to 25 feet tall.

10 MARCHING BANDS
• Adair County H.S., Columbia, KY
• Ballou Senior H.S., Washington, DC
• Choctawhatchee H.S., Fort Walton Beach, FL
• Franklin Regional H.S., Murrysville, PA
• Harrison H.S., Kennesaw, GA
• Morgantown H.S., Morgantown, WV
• Pickerington Central H.S., Pickerington, OH
• Pittsburg H.S., Pittsburg, CA
• Towson University, Towson, MD
• Macy's Great American Marching Band, USA

24 FLOATS
• 123 Sesame Street
• Big Apple
• Bridge To The Future
• Bountiful Harvest Cornucopia
• The Care Bears Winter Fun-derland
• Castle of Dreams
• Cele-bear-ate Hugs Worldwide
• Doodlebug
• Jolly Polly Pirate Ship
• Local Heroes Helping Everyday
• M&M's Chocolate Candies on Broadway
• Marion-Carol Showboat
• Musical Innovation Bigger Than Life
• Pep Squad
• Shine On
• The Smurfs
• Snoopy's Doghouse
• Speed Racer Mach 5
• Spirit of Liberty
• There's A Party in My City
• Tom Turkey
• The True Spirit of Thanksgiving
• Winter Wonderland in Central Park
• Woodland Family Gathering

PERFORMANCE GROUPS
• Big Apple Circus
• Chinese American Community Center Folk Dance Troupe
• Mike Miller Dance Team
• NETSational Seniors & NETS Kids Dance Team
• The Purple Peddlers
• Varsity Spirit
• Spirit of Long Island Mounted Drill Team
• Stagedoor Manor
• USA Jump Rope
• The parade also features 25 clown groups with a total of more than 800 clowns.

CELEBRITIES
• Bello
• Grandma and the cast of the Big Apple Circus
• Andrea Bocelli
• Boys Like Girls
• Alan Cumming
• Billy Currington
• DJ Lance Rock and the cast of Yo Gabba Gabba!
• Jimmy Fallon and The Roots
• Gloria Gaynor
• Emily Hughes
• Kermit the Frog and Tiffany Thornton
• Jane Krakowski
• Cyndi Lauper
• Ziggy Marley with Judah Marley
• Katharine McPhee
• Miss America 2009 Katie Stam
• The cast and Muppets of Sesame Street
• Mitchel Musso
• Keke Palmer
• The Pizzarelli Quartet
• Jay Sean
• Carly Simon

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 will wish 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 by visiting www.macysparade.com.

See more information on Marching.com about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and learn what music the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Marching Bands will be playing.

Text and images courtesy of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Copyright 2009 Marching.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published or redistributed without permission.

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83rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off holiday season with giant balloons, floats, marching bands and Santa Claus