The magical procession returns to the Big Apple this November as the 83rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off the holiday season. On Thursday, November 26, 2009 at 9:00am at the sound of Let’s Have a Parade, America’s favorite holiday spectacular will step off with its signature giant helium balloons, floats of fantasy, marching bands, clowns, celebrity and large performance groups, and the one-and-only Santa Claus.

Making their Turkey Day debuts this year are four of America’s best loved characters and three spectacular moving stages that will transport audiences to world’s of fantasy. These new giant balloons and floats are sure to become Parade favorites for the more than 3.5 million spectators lining the streets of New York City and for 50 million viewers watching the pageantry on television nationwide.

The 83rd edition of the Macy’s Parade will not only feature fantastic new elements and fan favorites, it will also mark a milestone moment in Parade history. Having marched down parts of Broadway for 82 years, the 2009 procession will be the first to bypass Broadway in the long running march. Over the years the Macy’s Parade route has changed five times traveling through several different paths, from having initially stepped off in Harlem to its current 77th Street launch, the route has changed with the times.

The 2009 Macy’s Parade will begin at 77th Street and Central Park West, travel down to Columbus Circle where it will turn onto Central Park South. Once the Parade reaches 7th Avenue it will turn once more and march down 7th Avenue through Times Square to 42nd Street. At the famed intersection it will turn east to 6th Avenue and begin its final march down the Avenue of the Americas to 34th Street where it will turn towards Macy’s famed flagship and end at 7th Avenue marking a 2.65-mile march.

Joining returning favorites, the following new stars of the Macy’s Parade line-up will delight millions of spectators in their first proud procession through New York City to Macy’s Herald Square.

Soaring Balloon Giants

• PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY
• RONALD McDONALD
• SAILOR MICKEY
• SPIDER-MAN
• LOCAL HEROES HELPING EVERYDAY – HAMBURGER HELPER
• SANTA’S SLEIGH
• THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY – YO GABBA GABBA LIVE!