The 86th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2012) | The 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2013) | The 88th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2014) |
The 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 28, 2013 in New York City, and shown to viewers 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 15 giant helium balloons, 37 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons, 30 floats, 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers, 900 clowns, 11 marching bands, and a host of celebrity performers.
Parade Lineup[]
Listed below are the Parade elements that appeared in the 2013 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 a Parade element that was retired after the 2013 procession.
Balloons[]
Giant Balloons[]
- Snoopy & Woodstock (Peanuts Worldwide) - 1st time
- Sonic the Hedgehog* (SEGA of America, Inc.) - 3rd time
- Hello Kitty (Sanrio Inc.) - 2nd time
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (ABRAMS Books) - 4th time
- Julius* (Paul Frank) - 3rd time
- Ronald McDonald (McDonald's) - 5th time
- SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon) - 1st time
- Toothless (DreamWorks Animation) - 1st time
- The Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon* (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.) - 1st time
- Spider-Man (Marvel Entertainment) - 5th time
- Pikachu with PokéBall* (The Pokémon Company International) - 8th time
- Pillsbury Doughboy* (Pillsbury) - 5th time
- Adventure Time with Finn & Jake (Cartoon Network) - 1st time
- Buzz Lightyear* (Disney•Pixar) - 6th time
- The Elf on the Shelf (The Elf on the Shelf) - 2nd time
- Papa Smurf (Sony Pictures Animation) - 2nd time
Novelty Balloons[]
- Yellow Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 8th time
- Pumpkins (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Happy Hippo* (Universal Orlando Resort) - 1st time
- Baseball (Macy's) - 7th time
- Uncle Sam* (Macy's) - 8th time
- Flying Fish (Macy's) - 14th time
- White Macy's Star (Macy's) - 11th time
- Football (Macy's) - 1st time
- Harold the Policeman (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Planet Earth* (Saban Brands) - 7th time
- Harold the Fireman (Macy's) - 18th time
- Red Candy Cane (Macy's) - 10th time
- Virginia (Macy's) - 4th time
- Charlie, Kit & C.J. Holiday Elves (Macy's) - 1st time (Charlie & Kit); 10th time (C.J.)
- Red "Believe" Stars (Macy's) - 5th time
Balloonheads[]
- Pilgrim Man & Woman (Macy's) - 9th time
- Founding Fathers* (Macy's) - 9th time
- The Wizard of Oz Characters (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.) - 1st time
Balloonicles[]
- The Aflac Duck* (Aflac, Inc.) - 3rd time
- Kool-Aid Man (Kraft Foods) - 4th time
- Trixie's Dreidel* (Macy's) - 1st time
Trycaloons[]
- Tough Guy & Bulldog (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Nutcracker & Mouse King (Macy's) - 2nd time
Floats[]
- Tom Turkey (Macy's) - 20th time
- Woodland Family Gathering* (Ocean Spray) - 6th time
- Daytime, Play Time, Night Time Too... (Sprout) - 2nd time
- Frozen Fall Fun (Discover) - 3rd time
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop) - 10th time
- Goldfish on Parade (Pepperidge Farm Goldfish) - 2nd time
- Bridge to the Future (Hess Corporation) - 11th time
- It's All Rock & Roll (Gibson Brands) - 2nd time
- The True Spirit of Thanksgiving* (Oneida Indian Nation) - 6th time
- Sea of Surprises (SeaWorld) - 1st time
- Marion-Carole Showboat (Macy's) - 12th time
- Uncle Sam's Top Hat* (Drake's Cakes) - 2nd time
- Mount Rushmore's American Pride (South Dakota Department of Tourism) - 4th time
- Zhu-niverse!* (ZhuZhu Pets)- 3rd time
- A World at Sea (Royal Caribbean International) - 1st time
- Dreamseeker (Cirque du Soleil) - 1st time
- The Enchanting World of Lindt Chocolate (Lindt Chocolate) - 1st time
- Pep Rally (Spirit of America Productions) - 10th time
- Big Apple (The New York Daily News) - 9th time
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Nickelodeon) - 2nd time
- Despicably Delicious!* (Universal Studios Home Entertainment) - 1st time
- International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower (Build-A-Bear Workshop) - 7th time
- Wild Wild West Express* (Macy's) - 24th time
- Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations (Domino Sugar) - 2nd time
- Cornucopia* (Macy's) - 12th time
- Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure* (Nickelodeon) - 4th time
- Winter Wonderland In Central Park (Delta Air Lines) - 5th time
- Smurf Mushroom House (Sony Pictures Entertainment) - 6th time
- On The Roll Again (Homewood Suites by Hilton) - 4th time
- Santa's Sleigh (Macy's) - 5th time
Specialty Units[]
- NYPD Motorcycles - 29th time
- "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" Banner (Macy's) - 2nd time
- Planters NUTmobile (Planters) - 3rd time
- 1903 "United States" Circus Wagon (Big Apple Circus) - 8th time
- Calliope Wagon (Big Apple Circus) - 7th time
- Big Red Shoe Car (McDonald's) - 14th time
- Star Sound Unit #1 (Macy's) - 7th time
- NYC Parks Mounted Unit - 26th time
- "All the World Loves a Parade" Banner (Macy's) - 2nd time
- NYPD Mounted Unit - 87th time
- Star Sound Unit #2 (Macy's) - 7th time
- Macy's REO Truck (Macy's) - 17th time
Toy Floats[]
- Rocking Tortoise (Macy's) - 32nd time
- Rocking Giraffe (Macy's) - 4th time
- Rocking Lobster (Macy's) - 27th time
- Rocking Horse (Macy's) - 54th time
Marching Bands[]
- James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes (Harrisonburg, VA), performed "My Favorite Things"
- Lakota West Marching Firebirds (West Chester, OH), performed "A Copeland Fantasy"
- Concord Community High School Marching Minutemen (Elkhart, IN), performed "Journey to the Center of the Mind"
- Union High School Renegade Regiment (Tulsa, OK), performed "Sirens"
- Quantico Marine Corps Band (Quantico, VA), performed "Strike Up The Band"
- Tarpon Springs Outdoor Performance Ensemble (Tarpon Springs, FL), performed "An American Reunion"
- Ooltewah High School Band (Ooltewah, TN), performed "The Wizard of Oz Medley"
- NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY), performed "Gonna Fly Now"
- University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band (Amherst, MA), performed "Big Noise from Winnetka"
- Mountain View High School Toro Marching Band (Mesa, AZ), performed "Sonoran Desert Holiday"
- Marian Catholic High School Band (Chicago Heights, IL). performed "Sleigh Ride"
- Macy's Great American Marching Band (Nationwide), performed "Can't Hold Us" and "Holiday Fanfare"
Guest Stars[]
- Parade Official Amy Kule
- FIRST Team Members with Robots
- Sandra Lee (Tom Turkey)
- Gavin DeGraw, sang "Make a Move" (Woodland Family Gathering)
- Chica and the Gang, sang "Kindness Counts" (Daytime, Play Time, Night Time Too...)
- Kellie Pickler, sang "Little Bit Gypsy" (Frozen Fall Fun)
- NHL Legends Cam Neely and Mike Richter (Frozen Fall Fun)
- Jimmy Fallon and The Roots with the Cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, sang "Somebody Come and Play" (1-2-3 Sesame Street)
- Fifth Harmony, sang "Better Together" (Goldfish on Parade)
- Cher Lloyd, sang "I Wish" (Bridge to the Future)
- Florida Georgia Line, sang "Cruise" (It's All Rock & Roll)
- Richard Simmons (Rocking Tortoise)
- Native Pride Arts (The True Spirit of Thanksgiving)
- Tituss Burgess and Beverly Staunton with Manhattan Youth Ballet, performed "One Song" (A Sea of Surprises)
- The Cast of Duck Dynasty (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Mr. Peanut (Planters NUTmobile)
- Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri (Uncle Sam's Top Hat)
- The Summer Set, sang "Lightning in a Bottle" (Mount Rushmore's American Pride)
- Big Apple Circus (1903 "United States" Circus Wagon)
- Ronald McDonald and McKids (Big Red Shoe Car)
- Debby Ryan, sang "Favorite Time of the Year" (Zhu-niverse!)
- Kristin Chenoweth, sang "New York, New York" (A World at Sea)
- Cirque du Soleil (Dreamseeker)
- Goo Goo Dolls, sang "Come to Me" (The Enchanting World of Lindt Chocolate)
- Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, sang "Any Weather" (Pep Rally)
- NFL Legends Joe Namath, Bart Oates, Amani Toomer, and Hines Ward with NFL Play 60 (Big Apple)
- Fall Out Boy, sang "Alone Together" (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Austin Mahone, performed "Banga Banga" (International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower)
- Mannheim Steamroller, performed "Good King Wenceslas" (Wild Wild West Express)
- Brett Eldredge, sang "Closer" (Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations)
- Cherokee National Youth Choir, sang "Alleluia" (Cornucopia)
- Ariana Grande, sang "Last Christmas" (Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure)
- Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, sang "Ain't No Chimneys" (Winter Wonderland in Central Park)
- Megan Hilty, sang "Merry Christmas, Darling" (On The Roll Again)
- Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (Santa's Sleigh)
Special Characters[]
- Henry and Justin (Woodland Family Gathering)
- Turkey Tech Gobbler
- Wompkee
- Mother Nature (Rocking Giraffe)
- Captain Macy (Marion-Carole Showboat)
- Webster the Duck (Uncle Sam's Top Hat)
- Mermaid (Rocking Lobster)
- Mother Goose
- Old King Cole
- The Wind in the Willows
- Queen of Hearts
- Dorthy and Toto
- Sam the Minuteman
- Gru and The Minions (Despicably Delicious!)
- Toy Soldier (Rocking Horse)
- Bearemy, Pawlette Coufur, Holly and Hal Moose (International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower)
- Dora the Explorer and Boots (Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure)
- Clara (Nutcracker Trycaloon)
- Papa Smurf, Smurfette and Clumsy Smurf (Smurf Mushroom House)
- Lewis the Duck (On The Roll Again)
- Sleigh Driver Elf (Santa's Sleigh)
Performance Groups[]
- Spirit of America Dance (Nationwide); performed "Tea Party Medley"
- All That! (Kershaw, SC), performed "Southern Rock Routine"
- J.U.M.P. (Strongsville, OH); performed "I Need Your Love"
- Varsity Spirit Cheer (Nationwide); performed "Super (S)hero Medley"
- South Shore Drill Team (Chicago, IL), performed "Euphoria"
Pre-Parade Acts[]
- Motown: The Musical, performed "Get Ready/Dancing In The Street"
- Matilda The Musical, performed "Naughty," "Revolting Children" and "When I Grow Up"
- Kinky Boots, performed "Raise You Up" and "Just Me"
- Pippin, performed "Corner of the Sky" and "Magic To Do"
- The Sound of Music Live!, performed "Sixteen Going on Seventeen"
- The Radio City Rockettes, performed "New York at Christmas"
Clowns[]
- Hi-Roller Skating Clowns - 9th time
- Celebration Clowns - 3rd time
- Corny-Copia Clowns - 9th time
- Funny Farm Clowns - 20th time
- Hoedown Clowns - 2nd time
- Turkey Tech Football Gobblers - 3rd time
- Pre-K Clowns - 8th time
- Breakfast Clowns - 3rd time
- Nutty Professor Einstein & Wacky Graduates - 14th time
- Racing Rabbits - 1st time
- Springtime Clowns & Gnomes* - 11th time
- Bananas & Palm Tree Clowns* - 3rd time
- Baseball All-Stars - 12th time
- Patriotic Clowns - 8th time
- Circus Clowns - 4th time
- Silly Seaside Clowns & Bathing Beauty - 15th time
- Arrrsome Pirates* - 7th time
- Viking Clowns - 1st time
- Holiday Clowns - 9th time
- Keystone Cops & Robbers - 5th time
- Pool Hall Clowns - 5th time
- Funny Fire Brigade Clowns - 15th time
- Birthday Party Clowns - 19th time
- Half-Baked Holiday Clowns - 6th time
- Studio Art Clowns - 10th time
- Wild West Cowboys & Engineers* - 21st time
- Rag Doll Clowns - 8th time
- Toy Blocks - 21st time
- Santa's Toy Box Clowns - 9th time
- Nutty Crackers Ballet Clowns & Sugar Plump Fairies - 3rd time
- Sleepy Clowns - 14th time
Stilt Walkers[]
- Celebration - 3rd time
- Roosters - 10th time
- Pencils - 3rd time
- Apple - 2nd time
- Toucan and Parrot* - 6th time
- Sea Anemone - 1st time
- Statue of Liberty - 3rd time
- Jack and the Beanstalk - 4th time
- Bakers - 1st time
- Holiday - 2nd time
- Toy Soldiers - 6th time
- Candy Canes - 3rd time
Clown Cars[]
- Farm Truck - 20th time
- School Bus - 8th time
- Confetti-Pult - 1st time
- Fire Truck - 8th time
Trivia[]
- 2013 marked the final time that Milton DeLugg would serve as the music director for NBC's broadcast. The following year, he would pass the baton to Ray Chew, a contemporary musician from New York City.
- Forecasts for the 2013 Macy's Parade predicted high winds, which had a possibility of grounding the giant balloons, however they would subside and the balloons would only end up flying lower than usual.
Incidents & Defects[]
- The Spider-Man balloon swerved into trees at 77th Street, causing its left arm to be punctured, though balloon was able to complete its march with no further incidents.
- Finn's left ear on the Adventure Time with Finn & Jake balloon was missing some helium.
- The Wild Wild West Express float broke down on 6th Avenue, and was sidelined until repairs could be made. Its float escorts (the Wild West Cowboys & Engineers clown unit) completed the rest of the route on foot, and the float was able to rejoin the Parade just before Santa's Sleigh.
- Trixie's Dreidel experienced technical difficulties along Central Park West, and was sidelined. It would be able to regain its composure, and eventually caught up along 6th Avenue.