91st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Highlights

Landon Rose McFee
Nov 25, 2017
2 min read

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the most iconic and largest parade across the world. For three hours on Thanksgiving morning families sit around the TV, ooh-ing and ah-ng over the floats and balloons. The parade has come and gone this year but for those who were too busy cooking turkey to watch it, here are this year's highlights!

The Performances

The parade opened with a fun performance of "Dancing In The Street" with favorites such as Harry Connick Jr., Gaten Matarazzo, Jane Krakowski and many more singing in front of a green screen with an NYC background.

Maybe I am bias since I danced in the parade in 2013 with them but Spirit of America Cheer and Dance always makes the parade for me. Seeing hundreds of teenagers doing what they love on national television makes my heart happy. This year's performances were cute and fun with the cheerleaders nailing their stunts and the dancers nailing their intricate steps. The high school bands and color guard are always a treat to watch as well.

The always iconic Pattri Labelle and Disney Channel star Sabrina Carpenter performed but the stand out performance came from Angelica Hale, runner up of America's Got Talent's latest season. The 10-year-old Hale sang Alicia Keys' "Girl On Fire" and outsang everyone else in the parade.

Other notable performances include Jimmy Fallon, who is too pure for this world, performing Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" with The Roots; Leslie Odom Jr. on the Sesame Street float; and Gwen Stefani singing "White Christmas" in a silver fringe dress.

On Broadway

The casts from musicals Dear Evan Hansen, Once On This Island, and Anastasia all performed. Dear Even Hansen gave the most memorable with a heartwarming performance of "You Will Be Found". I hadn't heard anything about Once On This Island before this performance but now I want to know all about it. The cast of the Spongebob Squarepants musical also performed but it did not resonate with me. Of course, The Rockettes also performed their iconic kickline that still makes me emotional after all these years.

Big, Bright Balloons

The gigantic character balloons that are handled by around 3,000 volunteers each year are a staple to the parade. This year new additions included a 57-foot-long Olaf, the Grinch, and Chase from Paw Patrol. Classics Ronald McDonald and the Pillsbury Dough Boy were included. A Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon was also added but I'm not so much a fan.

Other notable balloons included Elf on the Shelf (I mean, come on); Scrat from Ice Age, which can fit 15 million acorns inside; and Hello Kitty, the only female character this year.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

The parade is not over until Santa wishes you "happy holidays" and that is a known fact. There is something so magical about seeing Santa Claus float down the street that you can't help but smile. The sighting of Santa declares it is time to say your thanks, stuff your face, and decorate for Christmas!