Popular cartoon characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants take to the skies over New York City in the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
November 23, 2023, 12:07 AM ET
2 minutes read
NEW YORK – Popular characters like Snoopy and SpongeBob SquarePants will take to the skies over New York City on Thursday as bands march through the streets below as the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ushers in the holiday season.
The parade begins on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and moves along Central Park in front of large crowds and a national television audience before ending in front of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street.
Among the big names performing is Cher, who has just released her first Christmas album. The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy winner makes a first-class appearance – appearing just before Santa Claus arrives, which marks the end of the parade.
Other celebrities and music groups participating include Jon Batiste, Bell Biv DeVoe, Brandy, Jessie James Decker, Pentatonix and Miss America 2023 Grace Stanke. The parade also includes performances by the cast of some Broadway shows.
New balloons launching this year include Leo the Lizard, a character from a Netflix film who stands more than 40 feet tall, as well as balloons that have existed before – like SpongeBob the 13th .4 meters tall).
Some characters, like Snoopy, have participated in the parade for many years, but this year’s balloon is a new version of Beagle Scout Snoopy – celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first appearance in the Peanuts comics.
It will be “a magical experience, an experience full of spectacle, full of entertainment, full of joy, full of celebration,” said Will Coss, executive producer of the parade.
However, the parade isn’t just about what’s happening in the sky. At street level, the procession includes more than two dozen floats, interspersed with marching bands from around the country and a number of clown troupes among the 8,000 people in attendance, organizers said.
This is the 97th time the parade has taken place since 1924.
The show is hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of “Today” and airs on NBC.
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