The FOX Family Channel (now being known as Freeform) is a basic cable channel that was originally launched as the CBN Satellite Service on April 29, 1977, and has gone through several different owners (and six different name changes) during its history. In 2001, the channel was sold to The Walt Disney Company, and was changed to ABC Family. Since 2016, it has been known as Freeform.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The FOX Family Channel (then known as simply The Family Channel) debuted a brand-new float in the 1996 Parade under the name, "Snow Family Holiday", which mirrors the family-friendly nature of the cable network. At the rear of the float, a family of snowmen stood, including a father, a mother and a son, with a mailbox labeled "U.S. Mail" decorating the front side of the float. It was one of the few falloon-based floats to feature an animated part, namely the father's head moving left and right.
In 1997, the float would return to the parade, but unfortunately would reveal that the Giant balloons were not the only parade units affected by the 50+mph winds. At 52nd street, a wind gust blew the animated head off of the Father snowman, and eventually fully detached in Times Square. Marching Bands and Cheerleaders were also affected by the winds. This was the only time this float had suffered an accident.
Following Fox Kids Worldwide's purchase of the network, and the renaming of it from The Family Channel to FOX Family Channel, the float now promoted the newly named network in 1998, although the father's head was lopsided, although it is unknown if it was due to the prior year or the high winds from that year.
In 1999, the falloon was given a refreshed paint job, now baring more festive holiday colors such as green and red. Additionally, holly was added to the snowman father's broomstick, and the mailbox was also repainted. The falloon reappeared once more in the 2000 Parade, and retired afterwards.
Despite their retirement, they would appear from 2001 until 2009 as a decoration at Universal Orlando Resort to promote the Macy's Holiday Parade.
Guest Stars[]
Below, you will find a list of every performer/celebrity that has performed/appeared on the float, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC telecast.
- 1996 - Kenny Rogers; performed "Till the Season come Round Again"
- 1997 - John McDonough; performed "There's Nothing like a Holiday"
- 1998 - The Cast of The New Addams Family, performed "Ring-A-Ding-Ding"
- 1999 - Wild Orchid; performed "25 Days Of Christmas"
- 2000 - Mikaila; performed "So in Love with Two"