Macy's Studios

The current Macy's Parade Studio

Macy's Parade Studio is a Studio located in Moonatchie, New Jersey, where the Macy's Parade balloons, balloonicles, novelty balloons, and floats are designed, crafted and painted.

History

The first parade studio was used in 1968, originally occupying an old Tootsie-Roll factory. This area contained 44-foot tall ceilings and occupied 16,000 square feet. The parade team moved out of this studio in 2010. Since 2011, a new 71,000-square-foot-facility has been used. This building was custom-built for the parade, making it possible to now inflate entire balloons inside and display fully-constructed floats.

Areas

Below, you will find a list of areas that the parade studio contains.

Lobby

The lobby is the first room in the Macy's Parade Studio. Inside the front door, there are various parade-related trinkets mixed in with average office decor. In one corner, under glass, is an Emmy statuette. It contains models of Gorgeous Gobbler, Weebles and the Energizer Bunny, among others. Two chairs and a coffee table are sat on the right side of the room, with an office behind it. Pictures of parade floats past and present also decorate the room. A doorway on the back side leads into the next room.

Design Room

The design room contains balloons models of characters past and present hanging from the ceiling. On the left side, a shelf contains models of past parade floats, alongside several concept drawings for floats rolled into long tubes, and organised into years. Four office tidies are spread around the room as well. Several work tables are spread throughout the room, holding concept art and current balloons models, On the right, bookshelves hold various children's books, which the artists use a reference for floats and balloons. Next to these bookshelves is a door, which lead into the main part of the building.

Production Room

The production room is the main part of the studio. Inside this room, floats and balloons are constructed. This room is always the place for Press Day, and is arguably the most famous part of the studio. In one of the corners, a paint booth contains many different types of paint for the different types of float. John Piper likes to refer to the parade studio having "every color of the rainbow plus two".

Balloons that now reside at Macy's Parade Studio

• Garfield (1st Version, 1984-1999)
• Rageddy Ann (1984-1986)
• Betty Boop (1985-1987, 1991-1992, 1995-1996)
• Humpty Dumpty (1st Version, 1986)
• Baby Shamu (1986-1988)
• Olive Oyl & Swee' Pea (2nd Version, 1986)
• Spider-Man (1st Version, 1987-1998)
• Ronald McDonald (1st Version, 1987-1990, 1993-1994)
• Snoopy (6th Version, 1987)
• Snuggle Bear (1987-1994)
• Big Bird (1st Version, 1988-2000)
• Quik Bunny (1988-1999)
• The Pink Panther (1988-1997)
• Snoopy and Woodstock (7th Version, 1988-1995)
• Bugs Bunny (1989-1992)
• Bart Simpson (1990-1995)
• Clifford the Big Red Dog (1990-1996, 2000-2004)
• Babar the Elephant (1991-1992)
• Santa Goofy (1992)
• Beethoven the Dog (1993-1995, 2008)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (1st Version, 1993-1997)
• Rex the Dinosaur (1993)
• Izzy (1993-1995)
• Barney the Dinosaur (1st Version, 1994-2002)
• Cat in the Hat (1994-1997)
• Dudley the Dragon (1995)
• Skydancer (1995-1996)
• Eben Bear (1995-1998)
• Rocky and Bullwinkle (1996, 1999-2000)
• Peter Rabbit (1996-1998)
• Arthur (1997-2001, 2003)
• Rugrats (1997-2001)
• Bumpé (1997)
• Ms. Petulia Pig (1997, 1999)
• Babe the Pig (1998)
• Wild Thing (1998, 2002-2003)
• Dexter (1998-2000)
• Millennium Snoopy (1999-2001)
• Honey Nut Cheerios Bee (1999-2001)
• Blue the Dog (1999-2002)
• Bandleader Mickey Mouse (2000)
• Jeeves the Butler (2000-2002, 2004)
• Ronald McDonald (2nd Version, 2000-2008)
• Cassie from DragonTales (2000-2001)
• Curious George (2001)
• Pikachu (1st Version, 2001-2005)
• Big Bird (2nd Version, 2001-2006)
• Jimmy Neutron (2001-2003)
• Cheesasurus Rex (2001-2003)
• Charlie Brown and the Alusive Football (1st Version, 2002-2005)
• Little Bill (2002-2004)
• Mr. Monopoly (2002-2004)
• Kermit the Frog (2002-2004, 2007-2012)
• Strike up the Band Barney (2003-2005)
• Super Grover (2003-2006)
• Garfield and Pookie (2nd Version, 2003-2006)
• M&M's Brighten the Holidays (2004-2006)
• Chicken Little (2004-2005)
• SpongeBob SquarePants (2004-2006, 2008-2012)
• Scooby-Doo (2005-2007)
• Dora the Explorer (2005-2009)
• Healthy Mr. Potato Head (2005-2007)
• Jojo's Circus (2005-2007)
• 80th Anniversary Hot-Air Balloon (2006)
• Flying Ace Snoopy (2006-2011)
• Pikachu and his Pokéball (2nd Version, 2006-2013)
• Abby Cadabby (2007-2009)
• "Supercute" Hello Kitty (1st Version, 2007-2011)
• Shrek (2007-2010)
• Smurf (2008-2011)
• Buzz Lightyear (2008-2013)
• Horton the Elephant (2008-2010)
• Keith Haring's Figure with Heart (2008)
• Spider-Man (2nd Version, 2009-2014)
• Ronald McDonald (3rd Version, 2009-2014)
• Sailor Mickey Mouse (4th Version, 2009-2012)
• Pillsbury Doughboy (1st Version, 2009-2013)
• Diary Of A Wimpy Kid (1st Version, 2010-2015)
• Po from Kung Fu Panda (2010-2012)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2nd Version, 2011-2013)
• Julius the Sock Monkey (2011-2013)
• Papa Smurf (2012-2014)
• Snoopy & Woodstock (2013-2015)
• Adventure Time with Finn and Jake (2013-2015)
• Wizard of Oz Hot-Air Balloon (2013)
• Thomas the Tank Engine (2014-2016)
• Paddington Bear (2014-2016)
• Skylanders' Eruptor (2014-2016)
• Ice Age's Scrat & His Acorn (2015-2017)
• Hello Kitty (2nd Verison, 2012-2017)
• Angry Birds' Red (2015-2017)

Novelty Balloons that now reside at Macy's Parade Studio

• Lollipops (1985-1988)
• Ice Cream Cone (1st Version, 1985-1986)
• Macy's Circus Balls (1985-1997)
• Macy's Flower Balls (1985-1997)
• Macy's American Star Balls (1985-1991)
• Macy's White Stars (1st Version, Red Text, Pointy, 1985)
• Macy's White Stars (1st Version, Green Text, Pointy, 1985)

Gallery

Hoboken Studio (1968-2010)