The 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2010) | The 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2011) | The 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012) |
The 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 24, 2011, 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 Matt Lauer, Ann Curry, and Al Roker. The lineup featured 15 giant character balloons, 44 novelty and specialty inflatables, 27 floats, 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers, 800 clowns, 11 marching bands, a host of celebrity performers, and the one-and-only Santa Claus.
Parade Lineup[]
Listed below are the parade elements that appeared in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. They are categorized by unit type, with their respective sponsors in bold. Home locations of talent ensembles are featured in brackets, and guest star’s float appearances are indicated in bold.
Bold denotes a new parade element, an underline indicates a unit that was brought back after an absence, and an asterisk (*) signifies an element that was retired after the 2011 Parade.
Balloons[]
Giant Balloons[]
- Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA of America, Inc.) - 1st time
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (ABRAMS Books) - 2nd time
- Buzz Lightyear (Disney·Pixar) - 4th time
- Pillsbury Doughboy (Pillsbury) - 3rd time
- SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon) - 7th time
- Sailor Mickey (Disney Cruise Line) - 3rd time
- Kung Fu Panda (DreamWorks Animation) - 2nd time
- Julius (Paul Frank) - 1st time
- Snoopy as the Flying Ace* (Peanuts Worldwide) - 6th time
- Ronald McDonald (McDonald's) - 3rd time
- Spider-Man (Marvel Entertainment) - 3rd time
- Pikachu (The Pokémon Company International) - 6th time
- "Super Cute" Hello Kitty* (Sanrio) - 5th time
- Clumsy Smurf* (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) - 4th time
- Kermit the Frog (The Walt Disney Company) - 8th time
Novelty Balloons[]
- Yellow Stars (Macy's) - 6th time
- Pumpkins* (Macy's) - 9th time
- Harold the Policeman (Macy's) - 1st time
- Harold the Fireman (Macy's) - 16th time
- Geometrics (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Beach Ball Clusters* (Macy's) - 5th time
- Planet Earth (Power Rangers Samurai) - 5th time
- Ice Cream Cone* (Macy's) - 9th time
- Cloe the Holiday Clown* (Macy's) - 7th time
- Uncle Sam (Macy's) - 6th time
- Baseball (Macy's) - 5th time
- Basketball (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Football* (Macy's) - 6th time
- B.* (Tim Burton) - 1st time
- Red Candy Cane (Macy's) - 8th time
- Ice Crystals (Macy's) - 8th time
- Gazer the Elf* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Big Man Santa (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Virginia (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Charlie, Kit & C.J. Elves (Macy's) - 11th time (Charlie); 8th time (Kit and C.J.)
- Red "Believe" Stars (Macy's) - 3rd time
Balloonheads[]
- Pilgrim Man & Woman (Macy's) - 7th time
- Abraham Lincoln & George Washington (Macy's) - 8th time
- Mama, Papa & Baby* (Macy's) - 5th time
Balloonicles[]
- Aflac Duck (Aflac, Inc.) - 1st time
- Kool-Aid Man (Kraft Foods) - 2nd time
- Energizer Bunny* (Energizer Battery, Inc.) - 6th time
- Red & Gold Christmas Ornament (Macy's) - 2nd time
Trycaloons[]
- Tough Guy & Bulldog (Macy's) - 1st time
Floats[]
- Tom Turkey (Cooking Channel) - 19th time
- Woodland Family Gathering (Ocean Spray) - 4th time
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street (NAMM) - 8th time
- Local Heroes Helping Everyday* (Hamburger Helper) - 3rd time
- Frozen Fall Fun (Discover) - 1st time
- Zhu-niverse! (ZhuZhu Pets) - 1st time
- Home Baked Goodness (Morton Salt, Inc.) - 2nd time
- Jolly Polly Pirate Ship (Macy's) - 15th time
- Bridge to the Future (Hess Corporation) - 9th time
- On The Roll Again (Homewood Suites by Hilton) - 2nd time
- True Spirit of Thanksgiving (Oneida Indian Nation) - 4th time
- Snoopy's Doghouse (Peanuts Worldwide) - 6th time
- Mount Rushmore's American Pride (South Dakota Department of Tourism) - 2nd time
- Wild West Express (Macy's) - 23rd time
- Hats Off To Our Heritage* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Gift of Freedom (Macy's) - 1st time
- Big Apple (The New York Daily News) - 7th time
- Pep Rally (Spirit of America Productions) - 8th time
- Marion-Carole Showboat (Macy's) - 10th time
- International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower (Build-A-Bear Workshop) - 5th time
- Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure (Nickelodeon) - 2nd time
- Smurf Mushroom House (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) - 4th time
- P.B. Polar Bear* (Universal Orlando Resort) - 1st time
- Winter Wonderland in Central Park (Delta Air Lines) - 3rd time
- Elves Raise the Roof (OfficeMax Incorporated) - 2nd time
- Santa's Sleigh (Macy's) - 3rd time
Specialty Units[]
- NYPD Motorcycles - 27th time
- "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" Banner* (Macy's) - 1st time
- E&J Productions Caribbean Costumes* - 2nd time
- Big Red Shoe Car (McDonald's) - 12th time
- 1902 "U.S. Tableau" Circus Wagon (Big Apple Circus) - 5th time
- "Happy 85th Macy's Parade!" Banner* (Macy's) - 1st time
- America's Veterans United* - 1st time
- NYPD Mounted Unit - 85th time
- Star Sound Unit #1 (Macy's) - 5th time
- Planters NUTmobile (Planters) - 1st time
- Star Sound Unit #2 (Macy's) - 5th time
- NYC Parks Mounted Unit - 24th time
Toy Floats[]
- Rocking Lobster (Macy's) - 25th time
- Rocking Giraffe (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Rocking Lion (Macy's) - 15th time
- Rocking Horse (Macy's) - 54th time
Marching Bands[]
- Macy's Great American Marching Band (Nationwide), performed "Imagine Fanfare"
- Homestead High School "Mighty Mustang" Marching Band and Color Guard (Cupertino, CA), performed "Fantasia on Ode to Joy"
- Dobyns-Bennett High School Marching Indian Band (Kingsport, TN), performed "Dynamite"
- Na Koa Ali'l Hawaii All-State Marching Band (Kaneohe, Hawaii), performed "Hawaiian War Chant/Mele Kalikimaka"
- Carmel High School Marching Greyhounds (Carmel, IN), performed "Back Home Again/NY Medley"
- Homewood High School "Patriot" Marching Band (Homewood, AL), performed "Swanee/Alexander’s Rag Time Band"
- NYPD Marching Band (New York City, NY), performed "New York, New York"
- Nation Ford High School Band (Fort Mill, SC), performed "Carolina Medley"
- Plymouth-Canton Educational Park Marching Band (Canton, MI), performed "The Grinch"
- Legacy High School Lightning Marching Band (Broomfield, CO), performed "Winter Wonderland"
- Miami University Marching Band (Oxford, OH), performed "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"
Guest Stars[]
- Parade Official Amy Kule
- Tuesday's Children
- Avril Lavinge, sang "Wish You Were Here" (Tom Turkey)
- Gabriele Corcos and Debi Mazar (Tom Turkey)
- Rodney Atkins, sang "Take a Back Road" (Woodland Family Gathering)
- The Cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, sang "Meet Me on Sesame Street" (1-2-3 Sesame Street)
- Ingrid Michaelson, sang "Blood Brothers" (Local Heroes Helping Everyday)
- Cee Lo Green, sang "Fool for You" (Frozen Fall Fun)
- NHL Greats Cam Neely and Larry Murphy (Frozen Fall Fun)
- Savannah Outen and Camp Broadway, performed "No Place Like Here" (Zhu-niverse!)
- Scotty McCreery, sang "The Trouble with Girls" (Home Baked Goodness)
- Michael Feinstein with The Pi-rettes Puppets, sang "Jolly Dream Pirates" (Jolly Polly Pirate Ship)
- Cobra Starship, sang "You Make Feel So..." (Bridge to the Future)
- China Anne McClain, sang "Unstoppable" (On The Roll Again)
- Iroquois Dancers and Joba Chamberlain (True Spirit of Thanksgiving)
- Neil Diamond, sang "America" (Mount Rushmore's American Pride)
- Ronald McDonald and McKids (Big Red Shoe Car)
- Big Apple Circus (1902 "U.S. Tableau" Circus Wagon)
- Jean McFaddin and Robin Hall (Hats Off To Our Heritage)
- United We Sing and CAP21 Dancers, performed "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (Macy's Parade Drum)
- U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, sang “God Bless America" (Gift of Freedom)
- Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan (Gift of Freedom)
- Mary J. Blige, sang "25/8" (Big Apple)
- Shelby Lynne, sang "Ain't Nothing Like Christmas" (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Mr. Peanut (Planters Nutmobile)
- Zendaya, sang "Dig Down Deeper" (International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower)
- The Fresh Beat Band, sang "Here We Go!" (Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure)
- Straight No Chaser, sang "This Christmas" (Winter Wonderland in Central Park)
- Mannheim Steamroller and David Demaire Dance Studio, performed "Deck the Halls" (Elves Raise the Roof)
- Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (Santa's Sleigh)
Special Characters[]
- Henry and Justin (Woodland Family Gathering)
- Mermaid (Rocking Lobster)
- Lewis the Duck (On The Roll Again)
- Mother Nature (Rocking Giraffe)
- Wompkee
- Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Linus (Snoopy's Doghouse)
- Buffalo Bill (Wild West Express)
- The 85th Anniversary Celebratory Characters (Hats Off To Our Heritage!)
- Spider-Man
- Turkey Tech Gobbler
- Band, Clown and Macy*s Parade Bears (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Nursery Rhyme Characters
- Bearemy, Pawlette Coufur, Holly and Hal Moose (International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower)
- Dora the Explorer and Boots (Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure)
- Skating Jack Frosts
- Papa Smurf, Smurfette, and Smurf (Smurf Mushroom House)
- Sleigh Driver Elf (Santa's Sleigh)
Performance Groups[]
- Spirit of America Dance Team (Nationwide), performed "Join the Circus"
- 610 Stompers (New Orleans, LA), performed "Holding Out for a Hero"
- Varsity Spirit Cheer (Nationwide), performed "Pigskin"
- Mobile Azalea Trail Maids (Mobile, AL)
- Alma Boliviana (Washington, D.C.), performed "Caporales"
Pre-Parade Acts[]
- Stagedoor Manor, performed "(Won't You) Join Our Parade"
- Newsies, performed "King of New York"
- Sister Act, performed "Spread the Love"
- How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, performed "Brotherhood of Man"
- Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, performed "I Love the Nightlife" and "I Will Survive"
- Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, performed "Bouncing Off the Walls," "Spider-Man" and "A Freak Like Me Needs Company"
- The Radio City Rockettes, performed "New York at Christmas"
Clowns[]
- Hi! Roller Skating Clowns - 7th time
- 85th Anniversary Celebration Clowns - 1st time
- Funny Farm Clowns- 18th time
- Corny-Copia Clowns - 7th time
- Pre-K Clowns - 6th time
- Nutty Professor Einsteins & Wacky Graduates - 12th time
- Keystone Cops & Robbers - 3rd time
- Funny Fire Brigade Clowns - 13th time
- Funny Bone Medical Team - 18th time
- Studio Art Clowns - 8th time
- Breakfast Clowns - 1st time
- Half-Baked Holiday Sweet Clowns - 4th time
- Malt Shop Clowns - 5th time
- Pirate Plankster Clowns - 5th time
- Silly Seaside Clowns & Bathing Beauty - 13th time
- Bananas & Palm Tree Clowns - 1st time
- Safari Clowns with Butterfly Kites & Nets* - 6th time
- Springtime Clowns - 9th time
- Pool Hall Clowns - 3rd time
- Western Clowns* - 16th time
- Circus Clowns - 2nd time
- Holiday Clowns - 7th time
- Birthday Party Clowns - 17th time
- Baseball All-Stars - 10th time
- Turkey Tech Football Gobblers - 1st time
- Jester Clowns* - 6th time
- Sleepy Clowns - 12th time
- Rag Doll Clowns - 6th time
- Santa's Toy Box Clowns - 7th time
- Nutty Cracker Ballet Clowns & Sugarplump Fairies - 1st time
Stilt Walkers[]
- 85th Anniversary Celebration - 1st time
- Roosters - 8th time
- Pencils - 1st time
- Toucan - 4th time
- Butterflies* - 2nd time
- Ringmaster* - 2nd time
- Uncle Sam* - 4th time
- Jack and the Beanstalk - 2nd time
- Toy Soldiers* - 1st time
- Snowflakes - 1st time
- Toy Soldiers - 4th time
Clown Vehicle[]
- Farm Truck - 18th time
- School Bus - 6th time
- Fire Truck - 20th time
- Clown Ambulance - 27th time
- Egg Trike - 4th time
Trivia[]
- 2011 was the only time that Ann Curry hosted the parade on NBC. The following year, Savannah Guthrie, one of the current hosts, took over.
Incidents and Defects[]
Incidents[]
- The Ice Cream Cone was punctured by a tree at 77th Street but was only slightly deflated.
- One of Ronald McDonald's ice skates was pierced by a tree at 77th Street and was deflated.
Defects[]
- The paint on Snoopy's left paw started flaking.
- Due to the balloon fabric wearing out, Charlie's legs were missing a small amount of helium.