Balsam Hill is a seasonal decor company headquartered in Redwood City, California, known for its lifelike artificial Christmas trees. The company was founded in 2006 when its founder, Mac Harman, found himself in search of a realistic artificial Christmas tree for a relative who was allergic to live trees; with no suitable options available, Harman began Balsam Hill with the goal of producing the most realistic and luxurious artificial trees on the market. The company’s designers craft the trees to mimic nature using site visits and cuttings from live trees as a guide.[1]
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Balsam Hill made its Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 2016, celebrating its tenth anniversary with a festive new float titled “Deck the Halls,” embodying the spirit of a traditional family Christmas.
Standing more than 30 feet tall, the Deck the Halls float is modeled after a traditional wooden pyramid, with each of the three tiers being hand-carved and hand-painted to encapsulate different aspects of the holiday season enjoyed around the world. At the base of the float, four Balsam Hill trees are adorned with stunning decorations in different styles to showcase a host of family traditions and are joined by larger-than-life ornaments, a rocking horse, a teddy bear, and a snowman. The float’s centerpiece is a stunning carousel featuring reindeer, a polar bear, and a sleigh that spins as it is ridden by children dressed in their festive best. Trimmed with more than 300 feet of garland, the float also features a giant Balsam Hill Vermont White Spruce, carefully crafted to replicate a real tree.[2] Float escorts dressed as Ornaments and Gift Packages wrap up the magical float.
The Deck the Halls float has appeared annually since its debut except for the reimagined 2020 Parade; the float was part of the initial lineup and was to feature R&B singer Patti LaBelle singing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” It was later cut from the lineup as participants were reduced in response to rising COVID-19 cases. The float returned in 2021 and continues to make annual appearances as of 2024.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared/performed on the Balsam Hill float alongside their respective 34th Street performances.
- 2016 - Sarah McLachlan and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, sang "Silver Bells"
- 2017 - Olivia Holt, sang "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
- 2018 - Martina McBride with the Young People's Chorus of New York City, sang "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
- 2019 - Idina Menzel with the Young People's Chorus of New York City, sang "Sleigh Ride"
- 2021 - Broadway Education Alliance Youth Choir[3]
- 2022 - Gloria, Sasha, and Emily Estefan, sang "Thankful"
- 2023 - Jessie James Decker, sang "Tangled In Tinsel"
- 2024 - The War and Treaty, sang "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"
Trivia[]
- The snowman figure on the Balsam Hill float was recycled from the Polar Express float.
- The highest ornament on the float's giant Vermont White Spruce is nicknamed "Pluto."[4]
- Balsam Hill has been an official sponsor of Santaland since 2016.
Notes and References[]
- ↑ About Us, BalsamHill.com.
- ↑ "Whimsical Floats of Fantasy," Macy's, Inc. press release. November 1, 2017.
- ↑ Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth was planned to appear on the float to perform a song from her Christmas album, HAPPINESS is...Christmas!. However, she did not attend the event for unknown reasons.
- ↑ Instagram post from Kate Mulhauser.