Let’s just say: There’s a lot of confetti and glitter.
Theannual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Paradeattracts viewers from all over the world. Between the larger-than-life balloons and the iconic floats withshow-stopping performances, there’s much to be accounted forbehind the scenesthat bring the magic to life each year.
Did you ever want to know how many hours are put into creating the spectacular sight, or how many people take part in the parade? What about the height of the tallest balloon, or how many gallons of paint are used in all the designs? (BTW, the answer to that last one is 240 gallons, along with 375 paintbrushes, in case you were wondering!)
Courtesy Rizzoli.
One Parade
We have to start with the most important number because the balloons, floats, performances and magic couldn’t unfold if it weren’t for the one and only Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This annual celebration is the kick-off to the holiday season and has been around for quite some time. The first parade occurred in 1924 and has been held every year except 1942, 1943 and 1944, when it was canceled due to World War II.
Courtesy Macy’s
2.5 Mile Route
The parade route twists and turns down the streets of Manhattan, starting on West 77th Street and Central Park West and ending in front of the iconic Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street in Herald’s Square. The parade also passes through Columbus Circle, Central Park South and 6th Avenue.
Fun Fact: Two to three million people line the streets to get a glimpse of the action, according toNPR.
Three-Hour Broadcast
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is broadcast on NBC and Telemundo starting at 9 a.m. and lasts until noon in all time zones. It can be streamed on the network’s streaming platform, Peacock, as well.
Eric Liebowitz/NBC
80 to 100 Balloon Handlers
Anthony Behar/Sipa USA
Fun Fact: One of the tallest balloons in recent years includes the 62-foot high Diary of A Wimpy Kid. One of the longest balloons in recent years is the 72-foot wide Sinclair’s DINO, and one of the widest balloons in recent years is 37-feet thick (Tie: Funko’s Grogu and Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog).
28 Floats
93rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2019.Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Want to know the biggest float in the parade? The answer is Santa’s Sleigh, standing 3.5 stories tall and 60 feet long.
Fun Fact: More than a ½ mile of hand-sewn skirt and fringe wrap each float in the parade!
240 Gallons of Paint
Fun Fact: There are 75 fine art brushes and 300 additional types of brushes used in the design process.
200 Pounds of Confetti
Is a paradereallyconsidered a parade without confetti? The answer is no — which is why Macy’s uses 200 pounds worth of shimmery, papery, metallic material. Whether you’ve lined up along the street, and it covers your hair, or you’re watching from home as it flies through the air, it’s a celebration staple that’s sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.
Fun Fact: Macy’s claims to only use “commercially manufactured, multi-color confetti, not shredded paper,” according toThe Atlantic.
Mark Lennihan/AP/Shutterstock
300 Pounds of Glitter
When it comes to parade necessities, glitter is definitely up there with confetti, where 300 pounds of it is sprinkled onto costumes, floats and more so they sparkle and shine down the streets of New York.
4,500 Volunteers
The Thanksgiving Day Parade marks Macy’s single biggest volunteer event of the year. More than 4,500 volunteers are credited for keeping the parade alive, from the handlers that guide the balloons along the route to the variety of themed clowns that bring the energy early in the morning.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images
50,000+ Hours of Labor
There’s a tight deadline that must be met since the annual parade falls onThanksgiving— which means that the Parade Studio team works around the clock, 365 days a year. The team consists of approximately 27 painters, carpenters, animators, sculptors, welders, scenic/costume designers, electricians and engineers.
Macy’s shared that a parade float takes approximately four months to construct — with added time for ideation and design.
Across streaming and broadcast, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade annually draws in over 50 million viewers — making it one of the nation’s largest-viewed televised events annually.
Fun Fact: NBC has been the official national broadcast partner of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1952.
source: people.com
