Sea Venture is an original float created by the Macy's department store chain for the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Sea Venture float made its Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut in the 1994 Parade, coming to life as a "falloon" a Macy's original creation which is a portmanteau of "float" and "balloon," denotes a cold-air balloon tethered to a parade float.
Concepts of the Sea Venture falloon was first brought up in a Macy's Parade Studio production meeting in mid-1994. Parade executive producer Jean McFaddin remarked to the creative team: "We haven't made a sea statement in recent years". Noted designer Manfred Bass went to work on the fantastical float, drawing inspiration from his imagination and children's story books. The end product was a falloon filled to the brim with fantasy ocean life.
Danny, a fifty-foot red octopus balloon, hovers at the back of the float with his massive tentacles outstretched, which feature simulated suction pads. Mr. Bass referred to it as "a child's version of an octopus". The underwater spectacle, recycled from the SeaWorld float, featured a submarine escaping from the red sea creature, fabricated fish swayed as if caught in the water's current with colorful coral and real shimmering clam shells decorate the ocean floor.
The Sea Venture float paraded through the streets of Manhattan throughout the 1990's, and was briefly retired after the 1997 Parade. The sea-on-wheels returned to the line of march for the 1999 Parade, now titled the "Caribbean Fiesta". Following this reprise appearance, the float was permanently retired. Though the float base was disposed of shortly thereafter, the octopus balloon still exists in the Macy's Float Warehouse as of 2014.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have performed/appeared on the float, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC annual telecast.
- 1994 - The Lawrence Brothers; sang "Under the Sea"
- 1995 - Brandy; sang "Best Friend"
- 1996 - Lea Thompson
- 1997 - Kristian Alfonso & Joe Mascolo, Linda Dano, Joseph Barbara, Clive Robertson, & Susan Ward
- 1999 - John McDonough, Lou Bega; sang "Mambo No. 5"