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The 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2011) | The 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012) | The 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2013) | 
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The 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 22, 2012, 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, Savannah Guthrie, and Al Roker. The lineup featured 16 giant helium balloons, 40 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons, 28 floats, 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers, 900 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 2012 line of march. Each element is listed in their respective categories/sub-categories, with sponsors in bold.
Bold indicates a new Parade element, underline indicates an element that was brought back after an absence, and * indicates a Parade element that was retired after the 2012 procession.
Balloons[]
Giant Balloons[]
- Hello Kitty (Sanrio) - 1st time
- Kermit the Frog* (The Walt Disney Company) - 9th time
- Charlie Brown and the Elusive Football* (PEANUTS Worldwide) - 5th time
- Kung Fu Panda* (DreamWorks Animation) - 3rd time
- Julius (Paul Frank) - 2nd time
- Spider-Man (Marvel Entertainment) - 4th time
- Pikachu (The Pokémon Company International) - 7th time
- SpongeBob SquarePants* (Nickelodeon) - 8th time
- Papa Smurf (Sony Pictures Animation) - 1st time
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (ABRAMS Publishers) - 3rd time
- Sailor Mickey* (Disney Cruise Line) - 4th time
- Sonic the Hedgehog (SEGA) - 2nd time
- Ronald McDonald (McDonald's) - 4th time
- Pillsbury Doughboy (Pillsbury) - 4th time
- The Elf on the Shelf (CCA and B, LLC) - 1st time
- Buzz Lightyear (Disney•Pixar) - 5th time
Novelty Balloons[]
- Yellow Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 7th time
- Pumpkins (Macy's) - 1st time
- Harold the Policeman (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Cloe the Holiday Clown* (Macy's) - 7th time
Uncle Sam(Macy's) - 5th time- Planet Earth (Saban Brands) - 6th time
- Harold the Fireman (Macy's) - 17th time
- Soccer Ball* (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Rex the Happy Dragon* (Macy's) - 1st time
- White Macy's Star (Macy's) - 10th time
- Geometrics* (Macy's) - 4th time
- Companion* (KAWS) - 1st time
- Wiggleworm* (Macy's) - 4th time
- Basketball* (Macy's) - 4th time
- Baseball (Macy's) - 6th time
- Red Candy Cane (Macy's) - 8th time
- Snowflakes* (Macy's) - 6th time
- Big Man Santa* (Macy's) - 4th time
- Virginia (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Charlie, Kit & C.J. Elves* (Macy's) - 12th time (Charlie); 9th time (Kit & C.J.)
- Red "Believe" Stars (Macy's) - 4th time
Balloonheads[]
- Pilgrim Man & Woman (Macy's) - 8th time
- Ben Franklin, George Washington & Abraham Lincoln (Macy's) - 7th time (George Washington) 5th time (Abraham Lincoln); 7th time (Ben Franklin)
Balloonicles[]
- Kool-Aid Man (Kraft Foods) - 3rd time
- Red Christmas Ornament* (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Aflac Duck (AFLAC Incorporated) - 2nd time
Trycaloons[]
- Tough Guy & Bulldog (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Nutcracker & Mouse King (Universal Orlando Resort) - 1st time
Floats[]
- Woodland Family Gathering (Ocean Spray) - 5th time
- Tom Turkey (Food Network)- 19th time
- Frozen Fall Fun (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Snoopy's Doghouse* (PEANUTS Worldwide) - 7th time
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street (Cardstore) - 9th time
- Music is Our Life (Gibson Corporation) - 1st time
- On The Roll Again (Homewood Suites by Hilton) - 3rd time
- True Spirit of Thanksgiving (Oneida Indian Nation) - 5th time
- Uncle Sam's Top Hat (Macy's) - 1st time
- Mount Rushmore's American Pride (South Dakota Department of Tourism) - 3rd time
- Gift of Freedom* (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Bridge to the Future (Hess Corporation) - 10th time
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Nickelodeon) - 1st time
- Zhu-niverse! (ZhuZhu Pets) - 2nd time
- Jolly Polly Pirate Ship* (Macy's) - 16th time
- Smurf Mushroom House (Sony Pictures Animation) - 5th time
- Big Apple (The New York Daily News) - 8th time
- Day Time, Play Time, Night Time Too... (Sprout) - 1st time
- Marion-Carole Showboat (Macy's) - 11th time
- 75 Years of March Madness* (NCAA) - 1st time
- Pep Rally (Spirit of America Productions) - 9th time
- Home Baked Goodness* (Morton Salt) - 3rd time
- Elves Raise the Roof* (OfficeMax Incorporated) - 3rd time
- Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure (Nickelodeon) - 3rd time
- Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations (Domino Sugar) - 1st time
- International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower (Build-A-Bear Workshop) - 6th time
- Goldfish on Parade (Pepperidge Farms Goldfish) - 1st time
- Winter Wonderland in Central Park (Delta Air Lines) - 4th time
- Santa's Sleigh (Macy's) - 4th time
Specialty Units[]
- NYPD Motorcycles - 28th time
- "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" Banner (Macy's) - 1st time
- GMC Banner (GMC) - 3rd time
- Star Sound Unit #1 (Macy's) - 6th time
- NYPD Mounted Unit - 86th time
- NY Parks Department Mounted Unit - 25th time
- 1903 "United States" Circus Wagon with 4 horses (Big Apple Circus) - 1st time
- Calliope Wagon with 2 horses (Big Apple Circus) - 4th time
- Star Sound Unit #2 (Macy's) - 5th time
- "All the World Loves a Parade" Banner (Macy's) - 1st time
- Big Red Shoe Car (McDonald's) - 13th time
- PLANTERS Nutmobile (Planters) - 2nd time
- Star Sound Unit #3 (Macy's) - 5th time
- Storr Tractor Banner - 3rd time
- Macy's REO Truck (Macy's) - 15th time
Toy Floats[]
- Rocking Tortoise (Macy's) - 31st time
- Rocking Giraffe (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Rocking Lion* (Macy's) - 25th time
- Macy's Parade Drum (Macy's) - 6th time
- Rocking Lobster (Macy's) - 27th time
- Rocking Horse (Macy's) - 55th time
Marching Bands[]
- North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine (Greensboro, NC) performed "Herald Square Medley"
- Niceville High School Eagle Pride Marching Band (Niceville, FL) performed "Jazzy Jingle Bells"
- Kenton Ridge High School Marching Cougar Band (Springfield, OH) performed "The Cougar Ragtime Band"
- Banda Musical Delfines (Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico) performed "Fiesta Mexican"
- United States Air Force Band & Honor Guard (Washington, DC), performed "This is My Country"
- Father Ryan High School Band (Nashville, TN) performed "Asphalt Cocktail"
- Saratoga High School Marching Band (Saratoga, CA) performed "2012 American Overture"
- NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY) performed "Proud Mary"
- Macy's Great American Marching Band (Nationwide) performed "Up the Lazy River"
- Wyoming All-State Marching Band (Wyoming) performed "Silverado"
- University of Louisiana Lafayette Marching Band (Lafayette, LA) performed "Let the Good Times Roll"
- Oak Ridge High School War Eagle Band (Conroe, TX) performed "Dashing Through the Snow"
Guest Stars[]
- Parade Official Amy Kule and the Girl Scouts of Greater New York
- Chris Isaak sang "Great Balls of Fire" (Woodland Family Gathering)
- Chef Geoffrey Zakarian (Tom Turkey)
- Carly Rae Jepsen sang "This Kiss" (Frozen Fall Fun)
- Sesame Street Cast Members sang "What I Am" (1-2-3 Sesame Street)
- Jimmy Fallon & The Roots sang "We Will Rock You" (Music Is Our Life)
- Karmin sang "Brokenhearted" (On The Roll Again)
- Thirza Defoe with the Native Voices Choir sang "Tree of Life" (True Spirit of Thanksgiving)
- Miss USA 2012 Olivia Culpo (Uncle Sam's Top Hat)
- Don McLean sang "American Pie" (Mount Rushmore's American Pride)
- PS 22 Chorus sang "Home" (Gift of Freedom)
- Power Rangers Megaforce performed "Flashmob"
- The Wanted sang "I Found You" (Bridge to the Future)
- Neon Trees sang "Everybody Talks" (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Kidz Bop sang "ABC" (Zhu-niverse!)
- Whoopi Goldberg as the Pirate Queen (Jolly Polly Pirate Ship)
- Flo Rida and Kelli-Leigh sang "I Cry" (Big Apple)
- Sprout's Sunny Side Up Show Cast sang "Squeaka with Chica" (Day Time, Play Time, Night Time Too...)
- Megan & Liz sang "Bad for Me" (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Rose Syracuse (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Christian Laettner and David Thompson (75 Years of March Madness)
- U.S. Summer Olympic Gold Medalists "The Fierce Five" (Pep Rally)
- Ronald McDonald and McKids (Big Red Shoe Car)
- Colbie Callait sang "Christmas in the Sand" (Home Baked Goodness)
- Sandra Lee (Home Baked Goodness)
- Rachel Crow sang "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure)
- Trace Adkins sang "Just Fishin'" (Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations)
- Cody Simpson sang "Wish U Were Here" (International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower)
- Jenette McCurdy sang "What Christmas Means to Me" (Goldfish on Parade)
- Mannheim Steamroller performed "Silver Bells" (Winter Wonderland in Central Park)
- Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (Santa's Sleigh)
Special Characters[]
- Henry and Justin (Woodland Family Gathering)
- Snoopy, Lucy and Linus (Snoopy's Doghouse)
- Turkey Tech Gobbler
- Hare (Rocking Tortoise)
- Wompkee
- Lewis the Duck (On The Roll Again)
- Mother Nature (Rocking Giraffe)
- Clown (Rocking Lion)
- Drum Major (Parade Drum)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Mermaid (Rocking Lobster)
- Pirate King and Pirate (Jolly Polly Pirate Ship)
- Mother Goose
- The Fiddlers Three
- Queen of Hearts
- The Wind in the Willows
- Jesters
- Papa Smurf, Smurfette and Smurf (Smurf Mushroom House)
- Stem (Big Apple)
- Captain Macy and Mrs. Macy (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Band, Clown and Macy*s Parade Bears (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Johnny Thunderbird and Joe Bruin (75 Years of March Madness)
- Mr. Peanut (PLANTERS Nutmobile)
- Bakers (Home Baked Goodness)
- Dora the Explorer and Boots (Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure)
- Cookie Engineer (Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations)
- Clara (Nutcracker Trycaloon)
- Bearemy, Pawlette Coufur, Holly and Hal Moose (International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower)
- Toy Soldier (Rocking Horse)
- Ice Skaters (Winter Wonderland in Central Park)
- Sleigh Driver Elf (Santa's Sleigh)
Performance Groups[]
- Texas State University Strutters (San Marcos, TX) performed "Kickin'"
- Spangles Dance Company (New York, NY) performed "The Heat Is On"
- Spirit of America Dance Stars (Nationwide) performed "Gaga Medley"
- Fred Hill Briefcase Drill Team (Detroit, MI) performed "One Very Tricky Briefcase Maneuver"
- King Charles Unicycle Team (New York, NY) performed "Basketball-Playing Unicyclists"
- Heartland Hoedowners performed "Polichinelles" (Elves Raise the Roof)
- The Tap Dancing Christmas Trees (Alameda, CA), performed "We Need a Little Christmas"
- Stagedoor Manor (Loch Sheldrake, NY) performed "Santa by the Book"
Pre-Parade Acts[]
- Varsity Spirit Cheerleaders, performed "Get it Started Medley"
- Elf, performed "The Story of Buddy the Elf"
- Nice Work If You Can Get It, performed "Lady Be Good" and "S'Wonderful"
- Annie, performed "A New Deal for Christmas"
- Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, performed "Impossible" and "Ten Minutes Ago I Saw You"
- Bring It On: The Musical, performed "I Got You"
- The Radio City Rockettes, performed "We Wish You a Rockette Christmas"
Clowns[]
- Hi-Roller Skating Clowns - 8th time
- Celebration Clowns - 2nd time
- Funny Farm Clowns - 19th time
- Turkey Tech Football Gobblers - 2nd time
- Keystone Cops & Robbers - 4th time
- Pre-K Clowns - 7th time
- Pool Hall Clowns - 4th time
- Springtime Clowns - 10th time
- Bananas & Palm Tree Clowns - 2nd time
- Circus Clowns - 3rd time
- Clown U Marching Band - 9th time
- Patriotic Clowns - 6th time
- Hoedown Clowns - 1st time
- Funny Fire Brigade Clowns - 14th time
- Funny Bone Medical Team* - 24th time
- Silly Seaside Clowns & Bathing Beauty - 14th time
- Jolly Polly Pirate Clowns - 6th time
- Birthday Party Clowns - 18th time
- Holiday Clowns - 8th time
- Studio Art Clowns - 9th time
- Nutty Professor Einsteins & Wacky Graduates - 13th time
- Breakfast Clowns - 2nd time
- Malt Shop Clowns - 6th time
- Silly Sailors* - 1st time
- Baseball All-Stars - 11th time
- Half-Baked Holiday Clowns - 5th time
- Sleepy Clowns - 13th time
- Gnomes - 3rd time
- Nutty Cracker Ballet Clowns & Sugar Plump Fairies - 2nd time
- Rag Doll Clowns - 4th time
- Toy Blocks - 16th time
- Santa's Toy Box Clowns - 8th time
Stilt Walkers[]
- Celebration - 2nd time
- Roosters - 9th time
- Zebra* - 1st time
- Parrots - 4th time
- Toucans - 5th time
- Statue of Liberty - 1st time
- Jack and the Beanstalk - 3rd time
- Holiday - 1st time
- Pencils - 2nd time
- Apple - 1st time
- Candy Canes - 2nd time
- Snowflakes - 2nd time
- Toy Soldier - 5th time
Clown Vehicles[]
- Farm Truck - 19th time
- Fire Truck - 8th time
- Clown Ambulance* - 26th time
- School Bus - 7th time
Trivia[]
- This Parade marked the first time Savannah Guthrie would host the NBC broadcast, replacing Ann Curry.
- The 2012 Parade was the first time the modern-day route was put into use. Previously, the procession travelled through Times Square. The reconfigured route bypassed Times Square entirely, instead travelling down 6th Avenue.