The Pirate Plankster Clowns are a unit of clowns of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Pirate Plankster Clowns made their first appearance in the 2007 Parade, setting sail down Broadway with the classic Jolly Polly Pirate Ship float. The pirate crew row-row-rowed their boats from 77th Street of Herald Square under the watchful eye of Arrtie the Pirate. The unit featured clowns dressed as high-spirited pirates taking to the high seas with plastic hooks and parrots on their shoulders.
The clown unit appeared with the Jolly Polly Pirate Ship every year until its retirement in 2012, and retired after their appearance in the 2013 Parade. The clowns returned in 2017 as the Arrrrsome Pirates with the Pirate King and Pirate Queen captaining the group along the streets of New York City. Costumes from the Pirate's Booty float were added that same year including sharks and buried treasure.
In 2020, the Pirate Clowns were planned to make an appearance in that year's reimagined event alongside Arrtie the Pirate. However, a reduction of participants in the weeks leading up to the Parade meant most clown units were cut from the lineup, including the Pirate Clowns.