Hallmark Channel is a cable and satellite television channel owned by Hallmark Media, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The channel airs family-oriented programming and is known for its lineup of original holiday films that air annually throughout November, December, and January as part of its “Countdown to Christmas” programming event. In addition to its original films, Hallmark Channel also broadcasts scripted primetime series, specials, and acquired sitcoms, including The Golden Girls, Fraiser, and Reba.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Hallmark Channel made its Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in 2015 with an all-new float entitled “Heartwarming Holiday Countdown.” The float’s debut concurred with the channel’s inaugural Thanksgiving Weekend Event, which featured five consecutive nights of original movie premieres.[1] Inspired by the channel’s signature Countdown to Christmas event, the float depicts a multi-tiered, life-size advent calendar that evokes the anticipation of the holiday season.
The advent calendar begins on Thanksgiving Day, represented on the front of the float by an autumnal horn of plenty display. Compartments and pull-out drawers filled with festive goodies, including packages, candy canes, and toys, represent each day leading to Christmas. The drawers, decorated with red and green numbers from 1-24, lead to Christmas Day, depicted at the peak of the float by an oversized calendar reading “December 25”—doubling as the backdrop for the float’s talent stage. Both sides of the float feature living room tableaus complete with stocking-hung fireplaces and richly decorated Christmas trees.
Coinciding with the float’s announcement, Hallmark Channel aired a segment on their daytime talk show, Home & Family, in which beauty guru Kim Douglas visited the Macy’s Parade Studio to get a behind-the-scenes look at the float’s development and construction.[2]
The Heartwarming Holiday Countdown float has appeared annually since its debut and made its ninth consecutive appearance in the 2023 Parade.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared on the Heartwarming Holiday Countdown float, alongside their respective musical numbers performed for the NBC broadcast.
- 2015 - Mariah Carey, sang "All I Want for Christmas Is You"[3]
- 2016 - Tony Bennett and Miss Piggy, sang "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
- 2017 - 98 Degrees, sang "Season of Love"
- 2018 - Diana Ross and Family, sang "Wonderful Christmastime"
- 2019 - Chicago, performed "Here We Come a Caroling"
- 2020 - Pentatonix, sang "My Favorite Things"
- 2021 - Rob Thomas, sang "Small Town Christmas"[4]
- 2022 - Joss Stone, sang "What Christmas Means to Me"[5]
- 2023 - David Foster and Katharine McPhee, sang “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”
- 2024 - Dan + Shay
- Appearance by Jonathan Bennett and Gina Claire Mason
Trivia[]
- Hallmark Channel has been an official partner of Santaland since 2015.
- The ribbon detail on the float could wrap a 12x12-foot Christmas present.
- If the candy canes on the float were actual candies, they would have a calorie count of more than 32,000.
Notes and References[]
- ↑ Robbins, Caryn. "Hallmark Channel to Debut 'Heartwarming Holiday Countdown' Float at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade." BroadwayWorld.com. October 6, 2015.
- ↑ Hallmark Channel. "Hallmark Channel’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Float." YouTube.com. October 6, 2015.
- ↑ Appeared on the float to promote A Christmas Melody, an original Hallmark film that featured Carey as director and star.
- ↑ Appeared on the float to promote his song, "A New York Christmas" being featured in A Royal Queens Christmas, a Hallmark original movie.
- ↑ Performed "What Christmas Means to Me" to promote its use in the original Hallmark film, Haul Out the Holly.