AN INSIDER’S LOOK
Since the first march in 1924, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® has delighted audiences & become synonymous with the start of the holiday season.
Each production is a testament to the unique artistry & quality craftsmanship of every Parade element that heads down the streets of NYC, making it one of the country’s most beloved traditions.
For our 95th Parade, meet some of the talented team that built & created this spectacular celebration in this heartwarming video.
STEP INSIDE
MACY’S PARADE STUDIO
The road to 34th street
Inside a 72,000-square-foot warehouse in Moonachie, NJ, a group of more than 30 skilled artists worked year-round to prep the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®.
Macy’s Parade Studio—headquarters for all the painters, carpenters, animators and many other experts that build the show’s larger-than-life elements—is where all the magic comes together.
Get a glimpse at how our balloon concepts go from sketch to 3D models, how our floats are engineered & more. Plus, there’s so much glitter. Check out our video series to see what goes on behind the scenes.
DESIGN
PRODUCTION
PARADE READY
300 POUNDS
This amount of glitter is sprinkled on costumes, floats & more.
50,000+ HOURS OF LABOR
The Parade Studio team works hard to make sure every detail is perfect.
4,200 COSTUMES
The team also designs
& maintains thousands of
looks for Parade participants.
NOW HEAR THIS!
Want even more info on how our historic Parade gets off the ground? Then check out this special episode of the Stuff You Should Know podcast.
Listen Now
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Macy's Parade Gives A Special Surprise for Staten Island Seniors
To spread even more holiday cheer in 2020, the Parade team partnered with Meals on Wheels to deliver healthy meals & big smiles to seniors in a one-of-a-kind, spectacular Parade-themed delivery truck, complete with clown volunteers.
MACY'S CLOWN U. FILLING HEARTS WITH JOY & LAUGHTER
A school that rewards students for being the class clown? That’s Macy’s Clown U! In the 2019 Parade, clown volunteers trained with pros from The Big Apple Circus and learned the fine art of clowning around as well as fun routines to entertain the spectators along the Parade route.
A YAYOI KUSAMA CREATION LOVE IS THE MESSAGE
After not being able to debut in our 2019 Parade, one of the world’s most renowned female contemporary artists took her iconic art to new heights as “Love Flies Up to the Sky” by Yayoi Kusama joined our 2020 Parade. Under Kusama’s exacting guidance, the piece was transformed into high-flying balloon art by Macy’s Parade Studio pros.
HOW TO MAKE A PARADE THE WORK WE PUT IN
Thanksgiving wouldn’t feel the same without the Parade. Take a look at how talented artisans and craftspeople pull together the floats, the balloons, the clowns and more for this epic event. To say it’s a major undertaking is a huge understatement.
MACY'S PARADE
GUIDELINES & SAFETY RULES
To safely produce this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade during this unprecedented time, Macy’s partnered with the City and State of New York to create an innovative plan that would continue this treasured tradition.
The safety of participants and spectators is Macy’s top priority.
In order to avoid gathering large crowds, the annual production will forgo marching down the traditional 2.5-mile route in Manhattan. Instead it will be reimagined over the course of several days as a television-only event leading up to the live Thanksgiving Day broadcast that will feature the breadth of Macy’s signature elements.
Reinvented to safely keep spectators in New York City at home and families nationwide glued to their televisions, the 94th edition of the iconic event ushers in the holiday season with a televised celebration featuring giant character balloons, animated floats, incredible street performances, musical acts and the one and only Santa Claus, broadcast from 34th Street on NBC and Telemundo.
In preparation for this one-of-a-kind celebration, the Macy’s team meticulously reviewed every area of the Parade playbook to put in place enhanced health and safety practices that align with CDC guidelines, as well as local and state government protocols. You can learn more about these safety enhancements here.
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STAY UP ON ALL THIS YEAR’S ACTION