Move over, turkey — a cool new canine is taking center stage this Thanksgiving.
Joe Cool, Snoopy’s effortlessly stylish alter ego, took to the skies Saturday during a test flight in New Jersey, giving parade fans an early look at one of seven new character balloons set to debut in the 100th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Peanuts favorite will make his way through New York City alongside his longtime companion, Woodstock.
Joe Cool was among the new balloons featured at Balloonfest near MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The additions will join more than 100 inflatables in this year’s landmark parade, which will celebrate its centennial on Thanksgiving morning.
Designed with black sunglasses nearly 40 times larger than a real pair and a bright red sweater, the oversized Joe Cool balloon measures 41.6 feet high, 57 feet long and 24.3 feet wide.
“Every year, we have the wonderful challenge — and the incredible opportunity — of introducing brand-new characters to the parade,” Will Coss, executive producer of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, said. “The most important part of that process is making sure that, the moment a balloon takes flight, it is instantly recognizable.”
“It has to make an impact. It has to be a heartwarming, familiar character — whether it’s someone you grew up with or someone you love today. We want every character to create that special connection with our audience.”
Bluey, the beloved Blue Heeler from the BBC animated preschool series, is also joining the Thanksgiving parade lineup. The balloon stands 47.2 feet tall, stretches 47 feet long and measures 27.8 feet wide.
Inspired by the “Christmas Swim” episode, Bluey is wearing a gold crown based on the tradition of Christmas crackers. According to the show’s website, the balloon is 31 times taller than a real Blue Heeler.
Buckaroo Bob the Minion, from Illumination’s “Despicable Me” franchise, will make his parade debut as a cowboy in a red bandana and denim outfit, riding a giant banana like a bronco.
The enormous Minion measures 39.2 feet tall, 46.4 feet long and 24.8 feet wide — nearly the height of a four-story building. The Manhattan parade route begins at West 77th Street and Central Park West before ending at Macy’s Herald Square on West 34th Street.
Hello Kitty Big Apple is another new addition to this year’s holiday spectacle.
The iconic Sanrio character will carry a red apple as a tribute to New York City. The balloon measures approximately 33.6 feet tall, 33.5 feet long and 28.4 feet wide.
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Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey will add a touch of Disney magic to the celebration, wearing the blue wizard hat decorated with white stars and a crescent moon, along with the red robe featured in “Fantasia.”
“This new balloon will mark the 21st appearance of a Mickey Mouse balloon in the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade,” the Disney Cruise Line Blog reported. Mickey first appeared in the parade in 1934, with a balloon designed with assistance from Walt Disney.
Billie Brightpaw, a bear created specifically for Macy’s, will also take flight. The original character will wear a red hat and scarf and measure 29.5 feet tall, 32.7 feet long and 20.85 feet wide.
The seventh new balloon is Underdog, the classic canine superhero returning to the parade for the first time since 1984. He previously appeared every year from 1965 through 1984 and will return at 28.8 feet tall, 41.5 feet long and 20.7 feet wide.
Character balloons first appeared in the famed 2.5-mile parade in 1927, three years after the event was established.
Coss also explained the extensive coordination required to guide the massive inflatables through New York City, involving flight managers, vehicle crews and teams of balloon handlers.
“The number of balloon handlers depends on the size of the balloon and how it needs to travel through the city,” he said. “But there can be as many as 100 people handling a single balloon.”
The new characters will join a colorful lineup of floats, including Pasta Knight and his trusty Rigatoni Pony, sponsored by Rao’s; Lindt’s Master Chocolatier Ballroom; and DoorDash’s “Dashing All the Way.”
This year’s parade will also feature marching bands from the University of Connecticut and the University of Alabama.
The centennial Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air live on NBC and stream live on Peacock.
“This is the 100th time people will be watching this parade, and that is a very big deal,” Coss said. “In 1924, a group of Macy’s colleagues came together to create a new tradition celebrating the holiday season.”
“More than 100 parades later, a different but similar group of Macy’s colleagues is still coming together to bring that great tradition to life.”