Macy’s Signature Giant Character Balloons Take Flight For The 90th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Giant Character Balloon Line – Up
ANGRY BIRDS’ RED
ROVIO ENTERTAINMENT
Red, from “Angry Birds,” returns for his second Parade, clutching an egg containing one of the adorable baby Hatchlings made famous in this past summer’s hit blockbuster film, *The Angry Birds Movie*, which is returning to theaters for Thanksgiving.
Balloon Dimensions: 44-feet long, 29-feet wide, 45-feet tall
Fun Fact: Each of Red’s distinctive ‘Angry’ eyebrows measure 7-feet wide.
CHARLIE BROWN
PEANUTS WORLDWIDE
Good Grief, indeed! PEANUTS loveable blockhead Charlie Brown takes center stage during his debut flight this Thanksgiving. As he makes his way down the route hopelessly trying to fly his favorite kite, audiences are sure to hear that famous frustrating exclamation, as Charlie Brown battles to untangle himself from the kite’s string and tail.
Balloon Dimensions: 53-feet long, 31-feet wide, 46-feet tall
Fun Fact: Charlie Brown’s famous kite measures 26-feet wide and nearly 30-feet tall. Its tail is more than 80-feet long!
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID®
AMULET BOOKS, AN IMPRINT OF ABRAMS THE ART OF BOOKS
Greg Heffley, star of the “Diary of A Wimpy Kid” book series, returns to the Parade in colorful splendor. Ready for the winter and clumsily celebrating the release of the #1 bestseller “Double Down”, Greg clutches his “journal” as he catches air and trips down the Parade route.
Balloon Dimensions: 62-feet long, 32-feet wide, 62-feet tall
Fun Fact: 2016’s balloon marks Greg Heffley’s second Parade balloon and seventh appearance in the Parade.
DINO™
SINCLAIR OIL
Sinclair Oil’s classic DINO (pronounced die-no) balloon will return to the Parade in 2016 in honor of Sinclair’s centennial celebration. Dino first appeared as a 70-foot long giant balloon in the 1963 Macy’s Parade and flew until 1976. The original balloon became an Honorary Member of the Museum of Natural History in 1975.
Balloon Dimensions: 72-feet long, 24-feet wide, 36-feet tall
Fun Fact: This Apatosaurus will join the line of march as the only life-sized balloon in the Parade.
THE ELF ON THE SHELF®
The Elf on the Shelf is one of Santa’s North Pole scout elves. These special helpers fly to homes around the world every Christmas to serve as Santa’s eyes and ears. This year, The Elf on the Shelf will fly through New York for his fifth Parade appearance. A Parade staple since 2012, The Elf on the Shelf is the first self-published character to be celebrated as a balloon in the Parade since Peter Rabbit in 1996.
Balloon Dimensions: 46-feet long, 28-feet wide, 64-feet tall
Fun Fact: At 64-feet tall, The Elf on the Shelf is the tallest character balloon in the Parade.
HELLO KITTY®
SANRIO, INC.
Supercute superstar Hello Kitty returns to the Big Apple in her classic retro airplane, wishing all of her friends a Happy Thanksgiving. This year Hello Kitty celebrates her 10th Parade march bringing happiness to her millions of fans.
Balloon Dimensions: 50-feet long, 38-feet wide, 36-feet tall
Fun Fact: Hello Kitty’s signature red bow measures 6-feet tall.
ICE AGE’S SCRAT AND HIS ACORN
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX
ICE AGE’s superstar squirrel, Scrat, returns to chase his elusive acorn through New York City for his second Parade flight. An undoubtedly tasty treat for the prehistoric taste buds, will fate and Parade fans let him catch it this year?
Balloon Dimensions: 59-feet long, 24-feet wide, 41-feet tall
Fun Fact: More than 15 million standard-size acorns would fit inside Scrat’s helium version.
PADDINGTON™
THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY
Everyone’s favorite bear returns to New York for his third Parade flight down Manhattan. Wearing his trademark red hat and blue duffle coat, Paddington will once again grace the big screen next year in Paddington 2.
Balloon Dimensions: 54-feet long, 36-feet wide, 60-feet tall
Fun Fact: Paddington, who first appeared in the Parade as a Falloon (a cold air balloon, riding on a float) in 1990, carries a helium suitcase that is as big as a two car garage.
PIKACHU™
THE POKÉMON COMPANY INTERNATIONAL
Pikachu returns to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with an electrifying appearance as part of the Pokémon brand’s 20-year celebration in 2016. The globally adored yellow Pokémon is bundled up in a warm scarf for the chilly New York weather, a significant change in scenery from the tropical Alola region featured in the upcoming video games Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Pikachu also carries a “Snowman Pikachu” through the city to usher in the holiday season.
Balloon Dimensions: 36-feet long, 29-feet wide, 53-feet tall
Fun Fact: While the Pikachu balloon is larger than life, in reality, Pikachu is 1-foot, 4-inches tall.
PILLSBURY™ DOUGHBOY™
PILLSBURY™
Back this year to inspire bakers across the country, the classic Pillsbury Doughboy celebrates the holiday at Macy’s with millions of Americans as they enjoy his giggle and home baked holiday treats.
Balloon Dimensions: 54-feet long, 34-feet wide, 46-feet tall
Fun Fact: It would take more than four million crescent rolls to create a dough-sized version of the balloon.
RED MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGER
SABAN BRANDS
In advance of the highly anticipated feature film, Saban’s Power Rangers, hitting theaters this spring, the Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger will once again dominate the skies of New York inspiring millions to reimagine what it means to be an epic superhero.
Balloon Dimensions: 77-feet long, 26-feet wide, 56-feet tall
Fun Fact: The larger than life Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger is the longest balloon in the Parade. Just one of his arms is the size of a standard school bus!
RONALD McDONALD®
McDONALD’S®
The world’s most famous clown will once again celebrate the season of thanks as he soars through New York City. Marching down the Parade route, Ronald McDonald spreads holiday cheer to audiences across the country with a larger than life thumbs up!
Balloon Dimensions: 61-feet long, 29-feet wide, 67-feet tall
Fun Fact: Ronald’s iconic shoes are 6-feet long.
SKYLANDERS® ERUPTOR
ACTIVISION PUBLISHING, INC.
Eruptor returns to the Parade for his third New York City flight in 2016. While controlling his natural instinct to erupt and spew lava over the streets of New York City, Skylanders Eruptor will fly high, delighting fans of all ages with his 25-foot smile.
Balloon Dimensions: 50-feet long, 36-feet wide, 36-feet tall
Fun Fact: Eruptor’s flame was created from more than 40 gallons of florescent paint and 5 barrels of glitter!
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
NICKELODEON
The one and only pineapple-dwelling sea sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants joins the celebration for his 11th Parade appearance. Dressed in festive holiday gear, SpongeBob is ready to ring in the holidays with millions of fans from Bikini Bottom to New York City.
Balloon Dimensions: 41-feet long, 34-feet wide, 44-feet tall
Fun Fact: SpongeBob SquarePants was the first-ever square balloon in the Parade and is pulled into his signature shape by more than 800 internal tie-lines.
THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE®
MATTEL, INC.
Thomas, the adorable blue engine from the Thomas & Friends™ animated series, is once again making a special holiday trip from the island of Sodor to chug through the New York City route of his 3rd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Balloon Dimensions: 51-feet long, 23-feet wide, 47-feet tall
Fun Fact: Thomas is the Parade’s largest balloon by helium volume and the high flying creation that contains the most balloon fabric ever used to design one character.
TROLLS
DREAMWORKS ANIMATION
Making their Parade debut, Poppy, Branch and Guy Diamond hitch a ride down the streets of Manhattan on Caterbus. Fresh off their blockbuster hit film, DreamWorks’ Trolls, the entire hair-raising crew will travel the route, spreading color, joy and cheer for a nationwide audience.
Balloon Dimensions: 57-feet long, 38-feet wide, 38-feet tall
Fun Fact: Each Troll’s iconic hair is more than 12-feet tall.
HERITAGE AND BALLOONICLES CAST
THE AFLAC DUCK
AFLAC
Cue the duck! The most affable spokesduck in history, the Aflac Duck returns to the Parade route to create another holiday frenzy of laughter. While he skates through New York City, audiences are sure to hear his signature call, “Afflaaac”.
Balloon Dimensions: 20-feet wide, 33-feet tall
Fun Fact: 2016 marks the Aflac Duck’s 6th trip down the Parade route.
FELIX THE CAT
DREAMWORKS ANIMATION
Our number 1 guy! Felix the Cat, the first-ever character balloon in the Macy’s Parade returns to help celebrate the 90th march this year. Modeled after the original 1927 design, he has also been constructed using the same techniques used in the 1920’s. Sure to make a dapper return to form, Felix will be carried on poles in the same fashion as the first balloons featured in the third edition of the Macy’s Parade in the roaring 20s.
Balloon Dimensions: 15-feet long, 20-feet wide, 21-feet tall
Fun Fact: While the new balloon will be mostly inflated with air to mimic the original form, Felix ever the gentleman, will also be inflated with just a touch of helium to help make the trip down to Macy’s a bit lighter for the his flight team.
HAPPY HIPPO
HAROLD THE FIREMAN
HAROLD THE POLICEMAN
KIT, CHARLIE & C.J. ELF
MACY’S STARS
MACY’S ORNAMENT BALLOONS/TRYCALOONS (Candy Cane, Nutcracker & Mouse King, Pilgrims, Pumpkins, Tough Guy & Bulldog, and more)
TRIXIE THE BOUNCING DOG
REX THE HAPPY DRAGON
WIGGLEWORM