Santa's Elfen Helpers (also known as Santa's Toy Box Clowns) are a clown unit from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy’s Parade[]
Santa's Toy Box Clowns made their debut in the 2005 Parade, depicting a gaggle of elf toys that had sprung to life from Santa Claus' toy chest, dressed in seasonal attire. The clown unit was the final in the line of march that year, leading way for the procession's grand finale of Santa Claus riding in on his snow goose sleigh.
Beginning in 2006, the clown unit would generally appear alongside the Rocking Horse Toy Float and another group of toy-inspired jesters, the Rag Doll Clowns.
The Santa's Toy Box Clown unit would remain unchanged until 2018, when the group was given new outfits that included work aprons to evoke the look of a hard-working team of elves.
The clown group was planned to don masks and appear in the 2020 Parade, however rising cases of COVID-19 in the New York area caused several clown units to be removed from the lineup, including Santa's Toy Box Clowns.
Despite their failed 2020 appearance, the group of clowns returned for the 2021 Parade, now carrying signs reading "Sleigh-ing It," in addition to a costumed moose character from the former Macy's Puppet Theater show, Moose Crossing.
Trivia[]
- The costumes for Santa's Toy Box Clowns have been used several times outside of the Parade, including for the employees at Macy's Santaland and as float escort costumes for Santa's Sleigh.