The Marion-Carole Showboat is a classic float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Marion-Carole Showboat made its debut in the 2002 Macy's Parade, paying homage to the Showboat float that appeared in the Parade's line of march for several decades. The float depicted a turn-of-the-century water vessel and was an engineering feat by the magicians at Macy's Parade Studio, featuring an authentic paddlewheel and bellowing twin smokestacks.
In total, the float measured 42-feet long, 16-feet wide and 33-feet tall. In the pilothouse, Captain R.H. Macy (and occasionally Mrs. Macy) sailed the ornate red-and-white showboat full steam ahead down the streets of New York City.
In 2005, the Walt Disney World Resort sponsored the float, celebrating the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" celebration, which itself celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Disneyland Resort. For this special occasion, the float was renamed the "Ship of Dreams", and was given a gold-and-blue color scheme coinciding with the park's golden anniversary. Various characters from Disney animated films appeared on the float waving colorful streamers, evoking a scene similar to the Disney nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!.
Following the 2005 Parade, Macy's regained the sponsorship of the float and would remain its sponsor for the remainder of its run (with the exception of 2008, when Good Housekeeping sponsored the float to celebrate its then-upcoming 100th anniversary). The Marion-Carole Showboat would go on to become a Parade staple and a perennial favorite, oftentimes giving a ride to Macy's original characters such as the Macy's Parade Bears.
The Marion-Carole Showboat was briefly retired after the 2014 Parade, however it would return four years later in 2018 to celebrate Macy's 160th anniversary. After this brief comeback appearance, the float was officially retired.
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
- 2002 - Joey Lawrence and Camp Broadway, sang "Accentuate the Positive"
- Appearance by cast members of NBC's American Dreams
- 2003 - Chicago, sang "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas"
- 2004 - Andrea Bocelli and World of Children, performed "When A Child Is Born"
- 2006 - Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner
- 2007 - Dolly Parton, sang "Better Get to Livin"
- 2008 - Charice, sang "Because You Love Me"
- 2009 - John Pizzarelli and The Swing 7, sang "I Want to Play Santa"
- 2010 - Band, Clown and Macy's Parade Bears
- 2011 - Shelby Lynn, sang "Ain't Nothing Like Christmas"
- 2012 - Megan and Liz, sang "Bad for Me"
- 2013 - The Cast of Duck Dynasty
- 2014 - Wiliam Blake and The Peaches, sang "Give Thanks"
- Appearance by Miss USA 2014 Nina Sanchez