The Silly Sailors are a unit of clowns from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Silly Sailors took their first high-sea voyage down the streets of Manhattan in the 2012 Macy's Parade, dressed in their aquatic best. The merry marauders sported blue-trimmed white sailor suits with hats and collars featuring the iconic Macy's star.
During their debut appearance, Robert Blasetti, a 67-year-old man who was one of the members of this clown group, tragically suffered a fatal collapse in front of spectators while making balloon animals in the corner of West 39th Street and Sixth Avenue. He was later hospitalized and pronounced dead shortly after the Parade.
The Silly Sailors would be temporarily retired from the line of march following their appearance in 2012, however they would later be reintroduced for the 2016 Macy's Parade, continuing to delight spectators as they marched down the Parade route. The clown unit was once again temporarily retired for a second time after the 2018 Parade.
The Silly Sailors have since returned to the lineup, setting sail down the streets of NYC in 2021 and 2022.