The 90th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2016) | The 91st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2017) | The 92nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2018) |
The 91st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 23, 2017, 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 17 giant helium balloons, 28 legacy balloons, balloonicles, balloonheads and trycaloons, 26 floats, 1,100 cheerleaders and dancers, more than 1,000 clowns, 12 marching bands, and six performance groups.
Parade Lineup[]
Listed below are the Parade elements that appeared in the 2017 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, strikethrough indicates an element that was removed from the lineup, and * indicates a Parade element that was retired after the 2017 procession.
Balloons[]
Giant Balloons[]
- Olaf (Walt Disney Animation Studios) - 1st time
- Ice Age's Scrat and His Acorn* (Twentieth Century Fox) - 3rd time
- Ronald McDonald (McDonald's) - 3rd time
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Greg Heffley (Amulet Books, an Imprint of ABRAMS) - 2nd time
- Hello Kitty* (Sanrio, Inc.) - 6th time
- Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger (Saban Brands) - 4th time
- Pikachu (The Pokémon Company International) - 4th time
- Trolls (DreamWorks Animation) - 2nd time
- Charlie Brown (Peanuts Worldwide) - 2nd time
- Jett from Super Wings (Alpha Group) - 1st time
- Chase from PAW Patrol (Spin Master Ltd. and Nickelodeon) - 1st time
- Angry Birds' Red* (Rovio Entertainment) - 3rd time
- SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon) - 5th time
- Pillsbury Doughboy (Pillsbury) - 4th time
- DINO (Sinclair Oil Corporation) - 3rd time
- Dr. Seuss' The Grinch (Illumination) - 1st time
- The Elf on the Shelf (The Elf on the Shelf) - 6th time
Novelty Balloons[]
- Blue & White Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 1st time
- Pumpkins* (Macy's) - 6th time
- Harold the Fireman* (Macy's) - 22nd time
- Yellow Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Harold the Baseball Player* (Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment) - 1st time
- Rex the Happy Dragon* (Macy's) - 3rd time
- Snow Crystals* (Macy's) - 10th time
Red & Green Candy Cane* (Macy's) - 2nd time- Christmas String of Lights* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Charlie, Kit & C.J. Holiday Elves* (Macy's) - 5th time (Charlie and Kit); 3rd time (C.J.)
- Red & Gold Macy's Stars (Macy's) - 1st time
Balloonheads[]
- Pilgrim Man & Woman (Macy's) - 13th time
- Mama, Papa & Baby (Macy's) - 3rd time
Balloonicles[]
- The Aflac Duck (Aflac, Inc.) - 1st time
Trycaloons[]
- Tough Guy & Bulldog (Macy's) - 7th time
- Nutcracker & Mouse King (Macy's) - 6th time
Floats[]
- Tom Turkey* (Bravo's Top Chef) - 25th time
- The Cranberry Cooperative (Ocean Spray) - 3rd time
- Frozen Fall Fun (Discover/NHL) - 7th time
- 1-2-3 Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop) - 14th time
- Universal Playground (Sprout) - 1st time
- On The Roll Again (Homewood Suites by Hilton) - 8th time
- It's All Rock & Roll* (Gibson Brands) - 6th time
- Big City Cheer! (Spirit of America Productions) - 3rd time
- Shimmer and Shine (Nickelodeon) - 1st time
- Building A Better World (Girl Scouts of the USA) - 2nd time
- The Colonel's Road Trip to NYC* (Kentucky Fried Chicken) - 3rd time
- Everyone's Favorite Bake Shop (Entenmann's) - 1st time
- Big Apple* (NY Daily News) - 14th time
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (Nickelodeon) - 6th time
- Parade Day Mischief (Sour Patch Kids Candy) - 1st time
- Fun House (Krazy Glue) - 2nd time
- The Aloha Spirit (King's Hawaiian) - 2nd time
- Discover Adventure! (Build-A-Bear) - 3rd time
- Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations* (Domino Sugar) - 6th time
- Harvest in the Valley (Green Giant) - 1st time
- Mount Rushmore's American Pride (South Dakota Department of Tourism) - 8th time
- Deck the Halls (Balsam Hill)- 2nd time
- Snoopy's Doghouse (Peanuts Worldwide) - 3rd time
- Heartwarming Holiday Countdown (Hallmark Channel) - 3rd time
- Macy's Singing Christmas Tree (Delta Air Lines) - 1st time
- Santa's Sleigh (Macy's) - 9th time
Specialty Units[]
- NYPD Motorcycles - 33rd time
- "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" Banner (Macy's) - 1st time
- STORR Tractor Banner - 1st time
- Ram Trucks Banner - 1st time
- Big Red Shoe Car (McDonald's) - 18th time
- Star Sound Unit #1 (Macy's) - 11th time
- Star Sound Unit #2 (Macy's) - 11th time
- NYPD Mounted Unit - 91st time
- "An American Tradition" Banner* (Macy's) - 1st time
- Star Sound Unit #3 (Macy's) - 11th time
- NYC Parks Mounted Unit - 30th time
Toy Floats[]
- Rocking Giraffe (Macy's) - 7th time
- Rocking Lobster (Macy's) - 28th time
- Rocking Horse (Macy's) - 58th time
- Rocking Moose (Macy's) - 2nd time
Marching Bands[]
- Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm (Prairie View, TX), performed "Highlights from the HBCU Band"
- Nation Ford High School Band (Fort Mill, SC), performed "We Gather Together"
- Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band (Trumbull, CT), performed "My Favorite Things"
- West Harrison High School Hurricane Band (Gulfport, MS), performed "Enterprising Young Man"
- United States Air Force Band and Color Guard (Washington, DC), performed "Air Force Song"
- NYPD Marching Band (New York, NY), performed "Stand by Me"
- Ohio University Marching 110 (Athens, OH), performed "25 to 6 to 4"
- Colony High School Band (Palmer, AK), performed "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"
- Rosemount High School Marching Band (Rosemount, MN), performed "Pride in the Past, Promise for the Future"
- Rockford High School Marching Band (Rockford, MI), performed "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
- Davis High School Marching Band (Kaysville, UT), performed "Ode to Joy"
- Macy's Great American Marching Band (Nationwide), performed "Holiday Celebration"
Guest Stars[]
- Tom Colicchio and Padma Lakshmi (Tom Turkey)
- Patti LaBelle, sang "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day" (The Cranberry Cooperative)
- Wyclef Jean, sang "What Happened to Love" (Frozen Fall Fun)
- NHL Legends Ray Bourque and Bryan Trottier (Frozen Fall Fun)
- Ronald McDonald and McKids (Big Red Shoe Car)
- Leslie Odom Jr. and the Cast and Muppets of Sesame Street, sang "We Come Together" (1-2-3 Sesame Street)
- Angelica Hale, sang "Girl on Fire" (Universal Playground)
- Andy Grammer, sang "Smoke Clears" (On The Roll Again)
- Jimmy Fallon & The Roots, sang "Let's Go Crazy" (It's All Rock & Roll)
- Miss America 2018 Cara Mund (Big City Cheer!)
- Jojo Siwa, sang "Kid in a Candy Store" (Shimmer and Shine)
- Andra Day and Common, sang "Stand Up for Something" (Building A Better World)
- Dustin Lynch, sang "Small Town Boy" (The Colonel's Road Trip to NYC)
- Sara Evans, sang "Diving in Deep" (Everyone's Favorite Bake Shop)
- Bebe Rexha, sang "Meant to Be" (The Big Apple)
- Kat Graham, sang "Magic" (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Nicky Jam, sang "El Amante" (Parade Day Mischief)
- Flo Rida, sang "Hola" (Krazy Glue)
- Goo Goo Dolls, sang "So Alive" (The Aloha Spirit)
- Sabrina Carpenter, sang "Why" (Discover Adventure!)
- Cam, sang "Diane" (Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations)
- Lauren Alaina, sang "Doin' Fine" (Harvest in the Valley)
- Smokey Robinson, sang "Christmas Everyday" (Mount Rushmore's American Pride)
- Olivia Holt, sang "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (Deck the Halls)
- 98 Degrees, sang "Season of Love" (Heartwarming Holiday Countdown)
- Macy's Singing Christmas Tree Choir, sang "Together at Christmas" (Macy's Singing Christmas Tree)
- Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus (Santa's Sleigh)
Special Characters[]
- Pilgrim Couple (Tom Turkey)
- Turkey Tech Gobbler
- Henry and Justin (The Cranberry Cooperative)
- Unicycle Referees
- Lewis the Duck (On The Roll Again)
- Wompkee
- Colonel Sanders (The Colonel's Road Trip to NYC)
- Stem (Big Apple)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Safari Explorer (Rocking Giraffe)
- Krazy Glue Dancers (Fun House)
- Jester (Rocking Lobster)
- Old King Cole (Rocking Horse)
- The Fiddlers Three
- Alice in Wonderland and Mother Goose
- Cookie Engineers (Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations)
- Mount Rushmore Mascots (Mount Rushmore's American Pride)
- Snoopy, Linus and Lucy (Snoopy's Doghouse)
- Clara (Nutcracker Trycaloon)
- Rag Dolls, Poinsettias, Penguins and Jingle Bells
- Sleigh Driver Elf (Santa's Sleigh)
Performance Groups[]
- Spirit of America Cheer (Nationwide), performed "Shake Your Body"
- Camp Broadway (Nationwide), performed "This is a Great Country"
- 34th & Phunk (New York, NY), performed "Manolo (Remix)"
- Red Hot Mamas (Post Falls, ID), performed "Gimmie Some Lovin'"
- Spirit of America Dance Stars (Nationwide), performed "House of Make Believe"
- Big Apple Circus (New York, NY)
Pre-Parade Acts[]
- The Teen Company and Malloy/CAP 21, performed "Dancing in the Streets"
- SpongeBob SquarePants, performed "Bikini Bottom Day"
- Dear Evan Hansen, performed "You Will Be Found"
- Anastasia, performed "Journey to the Past" and "Once Upon a December"
- Gwen Stefani, performed "White Christmas"
- Once On This Island, performed "Why We Tell the Story"
- The Radio City Rockettes, performed "New York at Christmas"
Clowns[]
- Hi-Roller Skating Clowns - 1st time
- Wintertime Clowns - 1st time
- Turkey Tech Players & Sports Fans - 7th time
- Corny-Copia Clowns - 13th time
- Viking Clowns - 5th time
- Artist Clowns - 14th time
- Breakfast Clowns - 7th time
- Toy Blocks - 1st time
- Rag Doll Clowns - 12th time
- POP! Flowers - 3rd time
- Springtime Clowns - 15th time
- Birthday Party Clowns - 23rd time
- Patriotic Clowns - 11th time
- Silly Sailors - 3rd time
- Malt Shop Clowns - 11th time
- City Tourist Clowns - 3rd time
- Keystone Cops & Robbers - 1st time
- Funny Firefighter Brigade - 19th time
- Vintage Clowns* - 1st time
- Baseball All-Stars - 16th time
- Circus Clowns - 7th time
- Silly Seaside Clowns & Sea Creatures - 19th time
- Arrrsome Pirates - 1st time
- Jester Clowns - 8th time
- Half-Baked Holiday Sweets - 10th time
- Hoedown Clowns - 6th time
- Funny Farm Clowns - 24th time
- Gnomes* - 5th time
- Slumber Party Clowns - 2nd time
- Sleepy Clowns - 18th time
- Santa's Toy Box Clowns - 13th time
Stilt Walkers[]
- Snowflakes - 4th time
- Entenmann's Bakers - 1st time
- Hot Dog & Ice Cream Vendors* - 4th time
- Sea Anemone - 5th time
- Peg Leg Pirates* - 4th time
- Hibiscus - 2nd time
- Jack and the Beanstalk* - 8th time
- Cowboy & Cowgirl - 3rd time
- Christmas Trees - 3rd time
- Elves - 1st time
- Mother Ginger* - 1st time
- Goldie Guards* - 1st time
- Candy Canes - 7th time
- Candy Puppets* - 1st time
- Toy Soldiers - 12th time
Clown Vehicles[]
- Confetti-Pult - 5th time
- Taxi Cab Vehicle - 9th time
- Fire Truck Vehicle - 13th time
- Half-Baked Delivery Truck - 2nd time
- Produce Wagon - 24th time
Trivia[]
- Celebrities featured in the "Dancing in the Streets" Opening Number included Harry Connick Jr., Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Harvey, Jane Krakowski, Gaten Matarazzo, Chrissy Metz, John O’Hurley, Martha Stewart, and Thalia.
- Notable balloon defects from the 2017 Parade include a deflated eyebrow on the Angry Birds' Red Balloon, a partially deflated earmuff on the Greg Heffley balloon, bent arms on the Ice's Ages Scrat Balloon, and bent antennas on the Caterbus of the Trolls balloon.
- While being flown along Central Park West, the Red & Green Candy Cane Balloon blew into a tree and was punctured, resulting in its removal.
- The 2017 Macy's Parade was the first procession to take place following the Parade's rebranding, which included partnering with branding studio Carpenter Collective and creating an evergreen brand across all Parade collateral.
- The 2017 procession marked the final time Matt Lauer would host the event, as he would be fired from NBC just days after the Parade due to sexual misconduct allegations, as Hoda Kotb would be hired (starting next year) for hosting present parades.
- This was the first parade where Jeff Gennette, the CEO of Macy's, joined Al Roker for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.
- This was the most recent time more than 16 giant balloons were flown in one parade until 2024.