Lego (stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that consists of various interlocking bricks, accompanied by mini-figures and a variety of other parts. Lego pieces can be used to build a range of structures, such as buildings, vehicles, robots, and animals. The Lego Group, a Denmark-based company, has manufactured the toy line since 1949, and has since produced a wide breadth of original and licensed themes including City, Classic, Technic, Creator, Star Wars, Friends, Harry Potter, and Ninjago.
In addition to the toy line, Lego has been the feature of six Legoland amusement parks, three feature films, several television series, video games, and competitions.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
LEGO Tivoli Train (1967)[]
Lego made its first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance in 1967, celebrating the opening of the first-ever Legoland park located in Billund, Denmark the following year. The float, known as the LEGO Tivoli Train, was borrowed from Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen where it took visitors on a tour of the park’s lush gardens.[1] A sign on the float proclaimed “glædelig jul!” (“Merry Christmas” in Danish). Along for the ride was Denmark’s Father Christmas and 27 small helpers.
The float later appeared in the White Plains Christmas Parade in December of that year, with a banner that read “The Children of Denmark Wish the Children of West Chester a Merry Christmas.”[2]
Carousel of Imagination (2002-2004)[]
In 2002, the Lego Company sponsored an all-new float to celebrate the creativity, imagination, and possibilities that the Lego brand brought to children around the world for 70 years. Titled “Carousel of Imagination,” the whimsical float featured a revolving carousel with not horses, but creative Lego elements including a monkey, helicopter, butterfly, robot, camel, fish, seahorse, crab, biplane, and construction vehicle. Above the carousel, Pepper Roni of the Lego Island video game series skateboarded on a half-pipe. Eight young Lego fans accompanied the float as it traveled down Broadway.
The float was created after Macy’s representatives visited Lego’s showroom at the American International Toy Show, at which point they were invited to join the lineup. Katherine Lee, director of public relations for Lego America, said the float “was a great chance to show the exuberance of the Lego brand in a parade that is the most time-honored American tradition.”[3]
To promote the float’s debut appearance in the Parade, a team of Lego MasterBuilders spent two weeks constructing Lego busts of Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, and Al Roker–the three hosts of the Parade’s official NBC broadcast. The busts were presented to the trio on an episode of Today the Monday before Thanksgiving.[4]
The 32-foot long, 22-foot wide, 24-foot tall float made three appearances, and was retired after the 2004 Parade. The float was later broken down and disposed of, though the figure of Pepper Roni continues to be used as a decoration at the Macy’s Parade Studio.
The Brick-Changer (2019-Present)[]
The Lego Group returned to the Parade lineup in 2019, now promoting the “Rebuild the World” initiative, a reminder of the importance of creative play in helping children learn how to innovate, solve problems and think critically throughout their lives. The float, known as The Brick-Changer, is constructed with more than 2,000 super-sized Lego bricks[5] and features the titular Brick-Changer, a magical creature of giant proportions.
Born from the mind of the child, she is part-turkey, part-dragon, and all Lego creativity. Carving a path through a drab monochromatic cityscape, the Brick-Changer uses her creativity to help imagine a better world, rebuilding the brick-based landscape with the Free Build Team into a vibrant, bustling metropolis full of endless possibilities. With the use of her imagination and advanced knowledge of brickcraft, the Brick-Changer is able to breathe new life into the monochrome bricks, infusing them with color. The Brick-Changer's tail serves as a crane to help imaginations – and bricks – reach new heights and complete the colorful city skyline.[6]
Jordan Dabby, producer of the Macy’s Parade, welcomed Lego back to the lineup after nearly 20 years in a statement, commending the float’s design and calling it a “conceptual marvel, marrying the creative and design talents of the artists of Macy's Parade Studio with that of LEGO MasterBuilders to bring to life a magical creature that will inspire a new generation of Parade spectators.”[6]
The Brick-Changer float has been featured in the lineup since its debut, celebrating the Lego Group’s 90th anniversary celebrations with an appearance in the 2022 Parade.[7] The float appeared again in the 2023 parade, and the 2024 parade.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared/performed on the Lego floats, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC Parade telecast.
Carousel of Imagination[]
- 2002 - Michael Feinstein, sang "Pure Imagination"
- 2003 - Peter Cincotti, sang "My Favorite Things"
- 2004 - Ryan Cabrera, sang "True"
The Brick-Changer[]
- 2019 - NCT 127, sang "Highway to Heaven"
- 2020 - Goo Goo Dolls, sang "This Is Christmas"[8]
- 2021 - Zoe Wees, sang "Girls Like Us"
- 2022 - Fitz and the Tantrums, sang "Moneymaker"
- 2023 - Manuel Turizo, sang "La Bachata"
- 2024 - Kylie Cantrall, sang “Red Christmas”
Notes and References[]
- ↑ Dagny Holm | LEGO History
- ↑ Santa Due In White Plains Christmas Parade
- ↑ In Macys Parade, They've Got a Lego Up on the Competition
- ↑ LEGO Maniacs
- ↑ Official LEGO float set to return at this year’s 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rebuild Your World press release
- ↑ 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Float Lineup media release
- ↑ Latin pop artist Sebastián Yatra was originally planned to appear on the Lego float in the 2020 Parade, however he would be replaced by the Goo Goo Dolls prior to the filming of the event.