Hitting the streets as 360-degree masterpieces, the Macy's Parade floats begin their Thanksgiving journey as a one-dimensional sketch. From there, the Macy's Parade Studio’s team of designers, carpenters, painters, animators, metal fabricators and electricians work to bring each to larger-than-life form. Factors including creative inspiration, performance considerations, safety, and most importantly, assembly and disassembly guide the creation process. From weather to final dimensions, the team transforms the creative vision into a work of art and of engineering.

Dimensions are key for any new Macy’s Parade float. While many can be several stories tall and several lanes of traffic wide, everything imagined, designed and built must fit through New York’s Lincoln Tunnel. With Macy’s Parade Studio located in New Jersey, miles and a river away from the Parade route, the floats must all travel through the tunnel conforming to no more than 12.5-feet tall and 8-feet wide in size. While that is the first hurdle on Parade eve, the next is the overnight assembly of the entire fleet. With the help of several cranes and extra manpower, one-by-one the floats come to life and are prepared for their Thanksgiving Day duties.