The 69th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1995) | The 70th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1996) | The 71st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (1997) |
The 70th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 28, 1996 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 Katie Couric, Willard Scott and Al Roker. The lineup featured 15 giant character balloons, 26 novelty balloons, 31 floats and falloons, 33 clown units, 13 marching bands, and a host of celebrity appearances.
Overview[]
Macy's presented yet another show-stopping procession for the Parade's 70th anniversary celebrations. In honor of the special milestone, several Parade classics were recreated for a new generation to experience. Bullwinkle J. Moose returned to the lineup after more than a decade in retirement as an all-new balloon, now joined by his best pal Rocky, wearing a beanie and a Wossa Motta U sweatshirt. Two vintage balloons were brought back as novelty balloons - Harold the Fireman and Flying Fish, and newcomer Peter Rabbit hopped from Mr. McGregor's garden to the streets of NYC.
The Tom Turkey float carried rock-and-roll legend Bo Diddley, who led the way with beautiful plumage. Parade veterans Shari Lewis and Shirley Jones returned to the lineup, waving from the Santaland Express and the Salute to Movie Musicals floats, respectively. The bright lights of Broadway lit up Herald Square with performances by Bring In 'da Noise, Bring In 'da Funk, Chicago and Rent.
Per usual, Santa Claus rode into Herald Square on his 100-foot long float, decorated with twelve-foot tall reindeer and a snow goose sleigh, signaling the start of the 1996 holiday season.
Parade Lineup[]
Listed below are the Parade elements that appeared in the 1996 line of march. Each element is listed in their respective categories/sub-categories, with sponsors in bold.
Bold indicates a new Parade element, and * indicates an element that was retired following the 1996 procession.
Balloons[]
Giant Balloons[]
- Jay Ward's Rocky & Bullwinkle* (Universal Studios Consumer Products Group) - 1st time
- Garfield (PAWS, Inc.) - 11th time
- Big Bird (Jim Henson Productions) - 9th time
- Quik Bunny (Nestlé Beverage Company) - 9th time
- Clifford the Big Red Dog* (Scholastic, Inc.) - 7th time
- Sky Dancer* (Abrams Gentile Entertainment, Inc.) - 2nd time
- Pink Panther (Metro-Goldywn-Mayer Inc.) - 9th time
- Betty Boop* (King Features) - 7th time
- Spider-Man (Marvel Entertainment Group Inc.) - 10th time
- Barney (Lyrick Studios) - 3rd time
- Woody Woodpecker* (Universal Studios Consumer Products Group) - 15th time
- Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega of America Inc.) - 4th time
- Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit (Frederick Ward & Co.) - 1st time
- The Cat in the Hat (Esprit de Corp) - 3rd time
- Eben Bear (Macy's) - 2nd time
Novelty Balloons[]
- Cloe the Holiday Clown (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 11th time
- Pumpkins (Macy's) - 5th time
- Ice Cream Cone (Macy's) - 10th time
- Wiggle Worm* (Macy's) - 4th time
- Fuji Blimp (Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.) - 2nd time
- Flying Fish (Macy's) - 1st time
- Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 11th time
- Harold the Fireman (Macy's) - 1st time
- Americana Balloons* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Baseball, Basketball, and Football (Macy's) - 6th time
- Planet Earth* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Flower Ornaments (Macy's) - 12th time
- Ice Stars (Macy's) - 9th time
Floats[]
- Tom Turkey (Macy's) - 4th time
- Soaring Spirit Canoe (Macy's) - 11th time
- Chocolate Colorworks (M&M's Chocolate Candies) - 2nd time
- Sesame Street (Children's Television Workshop) - 3rd time
- Magical World of Mother Goose (Macy's) - 6th time
- Alice in Wonderland (Macy's) - 1st time
- Toby the Parade Dog (Macy's) - 1st time
- Pure Imagination! The World of Willy Wonka* (Fuji Photo Film USA, Inc.) - 1st time
- Jolly Polly Pirate Ship (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Sea Venture (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Party Time! (Hanes Hosiery) - 1st time
- Disney's 101 Dalmatians* (Walt Disney Pictures) 1st time
- Statue of Liberty (GMC) - 13th time
- Westward Ho! (Macy's) - 1st time
- Western Toy Float* (Lyrick Studios) - 1st time
- Salute to Movie Musicals* (American Movie Classics) - 3rd time
- Pep Rally (Macy's) - 1st time
- Big Apple (New York Daily News) - 15th time
- A United World (United Airlines) - 2nd time
- Holiday Sweets* (Dunkin' Donuts) - 3rd time
- Santaland Express & Coal Car (Macy's) - 12th time
- Snow Family Holiday (The Family Channel) - 1st time
- Santa's Sleigh (Macy's) - 9th time
Specialty Units[]
- New York Police Department Motorcycle Brigade - 12th time
- "Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere" Banner (Macy's) - 16th time
- "If You Haven't Seen Macy*s, You Haven't Seen New York" Banner (Macy's) - 16th time
- New York Police Department Mounted Unit - 70th time
- Belgian Western Hitch Wagon* (Macy's) - 1st time
- The Federation of Black Cowboys - 1st time
- Euclid Beach Rocket Car* (Macy's) - 13th time
- New York City Parks Enforcement Mounted Unit - 13th time
Toy Floats[]
- Pilgrim Man & Woman (Macy's) - 22nd time
- Rocking Tortoise (Macy's) - 18th time
- Racing Hare (Macy's) - 10th time
- Rocking Kangaroo (Macy's) - 17th time
- Rocking Lobster (Macy's) - 18th time
- George Washington & Ben Franklin (Macy's) - 22nd time
- The Clown Heads Train* (Macy's) - 6th time
- Mother Duck & Ducklings (Macy's) - 4th time
- Garden Snail (Macy's) - 21st time
- Rocking Horse (Macy's) - 37th time
Marching Bands[]
- Southwest Missouri State University Pride Marching Band (Springfield, MI)
- Science Hill High School Topper Band (Johnson City, TN), performed "New York, New York"
- Cypress High School Centurion Marching Band (Cypress, CA), performed "Medley of Cartoon Classics"
- Riverview High School Kiltie Marching Band (Sarasota, FL)
- Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners (Jacksonville, AL), performed "Don't Rain on My Parade"
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania Marching Band (Indiana, PA), performed "Strike Up the Band"
- Bellbrook High School Marching Eagles (Bellbrook, OH), performed "Stars and Stripes Forever"
- Cisco Junior College Wrangler Band and Wagner Belles (Cisco, TX), performed "All-Star Medley"
- Owen Valley Patriot Band and Guard (Spencer, IN), performed "There's No Business Like Show Business"
- New York City Police Department Marching Band (New York, NY), performed "On Broadway"
- Harverettes All Girls Marching Band (Hornchurch, Essex, England), performed "The Lambeth Walk"
- James F. Byrnes High School Rebel Regiment (Duncan, SC), performed "On Broadway"
- Boston University Terrier Marching Band (Boston, MA), performed "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
Guest Stars[]
- Parade Official Jean McFaddin
- Bo Diddley, sang "Bo Diddley Is Crazy" (Tom Turkey)
- Deidre Hall with the Onondaga Youth Singing Society (Soaring Spirit Canoe)
- Joey, Matthew and Andy Lawrence, sang "Soulmates" (Chocolate Colorworks)
- The Stars of Sesame Street, sang "A Little Bit" (Sesame Street)
- Oksana Baiul with La Danse School of Ballet (Magical World of Mother Goose)
- Elayne Boosler (Alice in Wonderland)
- Liz Torres, sang "Pure Imagination" (Pure Imagination! The World of Willy Wonka)
- The Cast of Cats (Jolly Polly Pirate Ship)
- Lea Thompson (Sea Venture)
- Miss America 1997 Tara Dawn Holland with Valley Stream Central High School Valley Streamers, performed "The Best of Times" (Party Time!)
- Cruella De Vil, Horace, Jasper, Pongo and Perdy, performed "Cruella De Vil" (101 Dalmatians)
- Dominique Dawes (Statue of Liberty)
- Cast of Cowgirls, sang "Cowgirls" (Belgian Western Hitch Wagon)
- Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, sang "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" accompanied by The Red River Rocky Top Cloggers (Westward Ho!)
- Barney, Baby Bop and B.J. (Western Toy Float)
- The Coconauts Cast (Euclid Beach Rocket Car)
- Shirley Jones, sang "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin" (Salute to Movie Musicals)
- Bob Dorian and Nick Clooney (Salute to Movie Musicals)
- 1996 World Champion New York Yankees (Big Apple)
- Vanessa Williams with Children Around the World, singed "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (Flights of Fancy)
- Captain & Tennille, sang "Love Will Keep Us Together" (Holiday Sweets)
- Fred the Baker and the Macy's Be-A-Star Winners (Holiday Sweets)
- Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop with the Junior Guilders Chorus, sang "Bells in Your Heart" (Santaland Express & Coal Car)
- Kenny Rogers, sang "'Til the Season Comes 'Round Again" (Snow Family Holiday)
- Santa Claus (Santa's Sleigh)
Costumed Characters[]
- Bullwinkle
- Pocahontas and Davy Crockett (Soaring Spirit Canoe)
- M&M's (Chocolate Colorworks)
- Mother Goose and Friends (Magical World of Mother Goose)
- Muffy VanderBear
- Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit and Dormouse (Alice in Wonderland)
- Wompkee
- Fremont and Purrsilla
- Emily Elizabeth
- Willy Wonka
- Popeye and Olive Oyl (Rocking Lobster)
- Darren
- Spider-Man and Wolverine
- Gumby
- Toxie
- Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
- Captain Drug-Free
- Peppermint Pig
- Honey Bear (Rocking Horse)
- Sleepy Bear
- Kente Claus
Performance Groups[]
- Albert & Friends Instant Circus (London, UK)
- America Sings! (Nationwide), performed "Every Time the Music Starts"
- Jazz Doll Twirlers (Canton, OH)
- Universal Cheer & Dance Association (Nationwide), performed "Salute to Football"
- Mobile Azalea Trail Maids (Mobile, Al)
Pre-Parade Acts[]
- Macy's Parade Dance Team, performed "Brand New Day"
- Chicago, performed "All That Jazz"
- Bring In 'da Noise, Bring In 'da Funk, performed "Bring In 'da Noise, Bring In 'da Funk"
- The King and I, performed "Getting to Know You"
- Rent, performed "Seasons of Love"
- The Radio City Rockettes, performed "Jingle Bells"
Clowns[]
- Skating Clowns - 28th time
- Countdown Clowns - 3rd time
- Open Jogging Wheel Clowns - 3rd time
- Banana Split Clowns - 1st time
- Macy's Hollyday Band Clowns* - 1st time
- Baby Clowns - 15th time
- Bells Jogging Wheel Clowns - 3rd time
- Alphabet Block Clowns - 4th time
- Birthday Party Cake Clowns - 4th time
- Dog Catcher Clowns - 7th time
- Uptown Doggie Walkers - 3rd time
- Dancing Clowns - 1st time
- Caribbean Fiesta Clowns - 1st time
- Tropical Fruit Clowns - 3rd time
- Rain Ballet Clowns - 3rd time
- Holiday Millinery Clowns* - 1st time
- Easter Parade Clowns* - 1st time
- Mighty Elephant Clowns - 3rd time
- Funny Firefighter Brigade - 10th time
- Patriotic Clowns - 1st time
- Cactus & Cowboy Clowns - 3rd time
- Keystone Kops - 1st time
- Macy's Klassical Clowns - 1st time
- Glitz Jogging Wheel Clowns - 3rd time
- Holiday Lanes Bowling League - 4th time
- Funny Bone Medical Team - 3rd time
- Cloudy Weather Clowns* - 1st time
- Funny Farm Clowns - 3rd time
- American Gothic Clowns - 3rd time
- Stocking Stuffer Clowns* - 1st time
Stilt Walkers[]
- Uncle Sam* - 1st time
Clown Vehicles[]
- Banana Split Vehicle - 1st time
- Dog Catcher - 3rd time
- Fire Truck - 13th time
- Fire Engine - 17th time
- Fire Pumper - 20th time
- Smoking Outhouse - 17th time
- Paddy Wagon - 17th time
- Clown Ambulance - 14th time
- Funny Farm Truck - 3rd time
Incidents and Defects[]
Incident[]
- Unexpected "wind demons" caused Woody Woodpecker's left hand to get torn by a tree.
Defects[]
- Sonic the Hedgehogs's left sock was deflated.