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The 55th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1981) | The 56th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1982) | The 57th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1983) | 
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The 56th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 25, 1982 in New York City, and shown to viewers live on NBC that same day from 9 a.m. to noon EST. It was hosted by Bryant Gumbel and Sarah Purcell. The lineup featured nine giant character balloons, 18 floats, 12 bands, and more than 5,000 participants.
Parade Lineup[]
Listed below are the Parade elements that appeared in the 1982 line of march. Each element is listed in their respective categories/sub-categories, with sponsors in bold.
Bold indicates a new Parade element, strikethrough indicates an element that was removed from the lineup and an * indicates a Parade element that was retired following the 1982 procession.
Balloons[]
Bullwinkle Moose(Macy's) - 22nd time- Kermit the Frog (Henson Associates) - 6th time
- Linus the Lionhearted (Macy's) - 19th time
- Mickey Mouse (Walt Disney Productions) - 12th time
- Snoopy* (United Media) - 15th time
- Olive Oyl (King Features) - 1st time
- Superman (DC Comics) - 3rd time
- Underdog (Macy's) - 18th time
- Woody Woodpecker (Walter Lantz Productions) - 1st time
Floats[]
- Turkey (Macy's) - 10th time
- Sesame Street* (Children's Television Workshop) - 4th time
- Stetson is America (John B. Stetson Company) - 2nd time
- Doodlebug (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Heidi's Song* (Hanna-Barbera Productions) - 1st time
- Showboat (York Peppermint Pattie) - 13th time
- Strawberry Shortcake (American Greetings) - 2nd time
- Pirate Ship (Macy's) - 15th time
- The Big Apple (The New York Daily News) - 1st time
- Circus Wagon (Macy's) - 14th time
- Cinderella* (Bulova) - 3rd time
- Magic Carousel (Revlon) - 1st time
- Shirt Tales (Hallmark Cards) - 1st time
- The Old Country (Anheuser-Busch, Inc.) - 1st time
- Frozen Woodland (Sergio Valente) - 2nd time
- Santa's Sleigh (Macy's) - 5th time
Specialty Units[]
- NYPD Mounted Unit - 56th time
- "Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere" Banner (Macy's) - 2nd time
- GMC Banner* (GMC Trucks) - 1st time
- Antique Car* (Macy's) - 1st time
- The Flintmobile (Hanna-Barbera Productions) - 1st time
- Antique Car* (Macy's) - 1st time
- "If You Haven't Seen Macy*s, You Haven't Seen New York" Banner (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Mounted Urban Park Rangers - 4th time
- Antique Car* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Macy's REO Truck* (Macy's) - 5th time
Push Floats[]
- Pilgrim Man & Woman (Macy's) - 8th time
- Bear Bee (Macy's) - 10th time
- Rocking Lion (Macy's) - 4th time
- George Washington & Ben Franklin (Macy's) - 8th time
- Airplane (Macy's) - 15th time
- Rocking Lobster (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Snail (Macy's) - 7th time
- Rocking Tortoise (Macy's) - 4th time
- Rocking Kangaroo (Macy's) - 4th time
- Rocking Horse (Macy's) - 9th time
Marching Bands[]
- Centerville High School Marching Band and Coed Drill Team (Centerville, OH), performed "Take the "A" Train"
- New Castle Chrysler High Trojan Marching Band (New Castle, IN)
- Beaverton High School Marching Band (Beaverton, OR)
- Kickapoo High School Golden Arrow Marching Band (Springfield, MI)
- McDonald's All-American High School Band (Nationwide), performed "Eye of the Tiger" and "Chariots of Fire"
- Wilkes Central High School Eagle Band (Wilkesboro, NC)
- Clinton High School Dragon Band (Clinton, TN)
- Fort Walton Beach High School Viking Band (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
- Hanover Senior High School Marching Band (Hanover, PA)
- Morris Brown College Marching Wolverines (Atlanta, GA)
- United States Military Academy Band (West Point, NY), performed "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"
- Wauwatosa East High School Red Raider Marching Band (Wauwatosa, WI)
Guest Stars[]
- Parade Official Jean McFaddin
- Keith Carradine, sang "Sweet Talker" (Turkey)
- The Cast of Sesame Street, sang "Keep Christmas With You" (Sesame Street)
- Oak Ridge Boys, sang "Santa's Song" (Stetson is America)
- Deniece Williams, sang "I Believe in Miracles" (Rocking Lion)
- Jim Henson and Muppets Statler, Waldorf, and Gonzo (Antique Car)
- Shelley Bruce, sang "A Wonderful Day Like Today" (Doodlebug)
- The National Dance Institute, performed "A Nightmare Ballet" (Heidi's Song)
- Benji (Antique Car)
- Show of Hands, performed "Get Happy/My Country 'Tis of Thee" (Showboat)
- Strawberry Shortcake and Friends, sang "Kid's Best Friend" (Strawberry Shortcake)
- Paul Williams, sang "You and Me Against the World" (Rocking Lobster)
- Andy Gibb and the Cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, sang "Any Dream Can Do" (Pirate Ship)
- Sammy Davis, Jr., sang "The Candy Man" (The Big Apple)
- Wayland Flowers and Madame (Excalibur Car)
- Nickelodeon Puppets and Jake, sang "It's Your Day" (Circus Wagon)
- Milton Berle and Ricky Schroder, sang "Someday My Prince Will Come" (Cinderella)
- The New York City Opera, sang "Papageno-Papagena Duet" from The Magic Flute (Magic Carousel)
- Tina Yothers, Herb Vigran, and The Shirt Tales, performed "What Does It Mean to Be So Small?" (Shirt Tales)
- Laura Branigan, sang "Gloria" (Rocking Horse)
- The Joffrey Ballet, performed "Ice Skating Party" (The Old Country)
- United States Coast Guard Academy Chorale, sang "Sleigh Ride" (Frozen Woodland)
- Dean Butler, sang "I'm Giving Thanks" (Macy's REO Truck)
- Santa Claus (Santa's Sleigh)
- Peter Nero, conducted the Grand Band Finale
Costumed Characters[]
- Spider-Man, Iceman, and Firestar
- Mr. and Mrs. Pac-Man
- The Flintstones (The Flintmobile)
- Alvin and the Chipmunks and Tubby Baxter (Showboat)
- Frankenstein's Monster (Airplane)
- Dog Characters
- Popeye, Brutus, and Wimpy
- Felix the Cat
- Ranger Rick
- Smurf and Smurfette
- McGruff the Crime Dog
- The Wombles
- Kangaroo
- Richie Rich and Casper
- Macy Mouse, Honey Bear, and The Tin Soldier (Macy's REO Truck)
Performance Groups[]
Pre-Parade Acts[]
- Betty Thomas and Ed Marinaro, sang "Side by Side"
- Purple Pieman and Sour Grapes, performed "I Am Lower Than You Are"
- Paul Binder and Michael Christensen of Big Apple Circus
- Dreamgirls, performed "Dreamgirls"
- Debbie Allen, Gene Anthony Ray and Fame Dancers, performed "Sing, Sing, Sing"
Clowns[]
- Skating Clowns - 15th time
- Baby Clowns - 2nd time
- Rain Rag Ballet Clowns - 2nd time
Clown Props[]
- Outhouse - 3rd time
- Fire Engine - 3rd time
- Fire Pumper - 6th time
- Glitz Jogging Wheel - 2nd time
- Dog Catcher - 2nd time
- Open Jogging Wheel - 3rd time
- TV Props - 2nd time
- Bells Jogging Wheel - 2nd time
- Paddy Wagon - 5th time
Several dozen non-themed clown units also made an appearance in the 1982 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Trivia[]
- 1982 marked the return of Bryant Gumbel as Parade's commentator, after last hosting in 1980. He was joined by an all-new co-host, Sarah Purcell.