Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade

Briana Bowers, Writer

With the third week of November underway and Thanksgiving practically around the corner, Macy’s has announced the lineup of their annual nationwide Thanksgiving Day Parade. The parade, which first started in 1924, has since become a beloved tradition across the nation and will be celebrating its 89th annual year.

Mariah Carey will be headlining the parade. The lineup also includes Shawn Mendes, Trey Songz, Prince Royce, Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Nettles, Rachel Platten, Train, Daughtry, Panic! At the Disco, Plain White T’s, Andy Grammer, Jake Owen, Andra Day, and MercyMe, amongst other various artists. Cirque du Soleil will also be performing one of their renowned theatrical acts.

Along with these musical performances, stars such as Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will make an appearance. Television stars like Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, and Sandra Lee will also appear. Even Miss America 2016, Betty Cantrell, and NHL legends Mark and Marty Howe will be a part of the show. In addition to all of these stars, Questlove will appear with the cast of “Sesame Street,” and the cast of Broadway’s School of Rock will be featured in the parade.

There will be 12 performance ensembles by high school marching bands from across the country. Special performance groups including the 610 Stompers, Brooklyn Jumbies, J.U.M.P, and the Kruti Dance Academy will be performing, along with The Spirit of America Cheer and the Spirit of America Dance Stars.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is known for its massive whimsical balloon characters. Four new ones will be introduced this year, including Angry Birds’ Red by Rovio Entertainment, DINO by Sinclair Oil, Scrat and his acorn from Ice Age by Twentieth Century Fox, and Ronald McDonald featured in his fourth balloon.

There will also be six new floats featured in the parade, Big City Cheer! by Spirit of America Productions, The Colonel’s Road Trip to NYC by Kentucky Fried Chicken, The Cranberry Cooperative by Ocean Spray, Discover Adventure! by Build-A-Bear, Heartwarming Holiday Countdown by Hallmark Channel, Snoopy’s Doghouse by Peanuts Worldwide in celebration of the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

For 89 years, the parade has been welcomed into the homes of millions across America as a way to celebrate the holiday season. SJV senior Jamie Galyas says, “Every year I always watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade with my family. It is definitely a tradition for us but also for a lot of families around America. It is always fun to watch the performances and the giant balloons on TV. My favorite balloon is Snoopy.”

“It has become a tradition in my family to get up, make breakfast and sit in front of the TV to watch the parade. We love seeing our favorite characters while eating our eggs!” Brendan Squitieri, also a senior, adds.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is a spectacle for people of all ages and a beloved family tradition for many. It has become a cultural symbol throughout America that Thanksgiving is here and Christmas is on its way.