Tom Turkey

Turkey
Tom Turkey gobbles up all the attention in 1984. (Credit: GoBots Magazine)
Years active	1973-1992
Sponsor	Macy's
Designer	Manfred Bass
Type	Float
Tom Turkey
Tom passes along Central Park West in 2015. (Credit: Christian Clothier)
Years active	1993-2002, 2004-2017
Sponsor	Macy's (1973-1993, 1995-1998, 2001-2002, 2005-2008, 2013-2016) Butterball Turkey Company (1994) macyparade.com (1999) macys.com (2000) Big3 Entertainment (2004) Food Network Magazine (2009) Food Network (2010, 2012) Cooking Channel (2011) Bravo's Top Chef (2017)
Designer	Manfred Bass
Type	Float

Tom Turkey
Tom struts his stuff as a new float in the 2018 Parade. (Credit: webpay)
Years active	2018-present
Sponsor	Macy's
Designers	Jennifer Palmer Kimberly Montgomery (Costumes)
Type	Float
Tom Turkey
Tom showcases his glitz and glamor in 2019. (Credit: Macy's Inc.)
Years active	2018-present
Sponsor	Macy's
Designers	Jennifer Palmer Kimberly Montgomery (Costumes)
Type	Float
Tom Turkey
Tom shows off his new top hat in 2022. (Credit: Macy's Inc.)
Years active	2018-present
Sponsor	Macy's
Designers	Jennifer Palmer Kimberly Montgomery 9Costumes)
Type	Float

LeVar Burton demonstrates how Tom Turkey is animated in an episode of Reading Rainbow. (Credit: PBS)

“Fa-la-la-la-la, the Turkey's here!”
—Willard Scott, 1994 Parade broadcast

Tom Turkey (full name Thomas T. Turkey) is the longest-running float and unofficial mascot of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His status as America’s favorite Thanksgiving bird is solidified by his position as the lead float and host, ushering the Parade down the route and welcoming millions of Thanksgiving Day guests by flapping his wings and bobbing his head. Tom has been lauded with such titles as “the most agile turkey in the world,” “the lively grandaddy of the Parade,” and “the fanciest turkey we have ever seen.”

Like most big stars, Tom resides in Hollywood year-round and can be found lounging on the sandy beaches of Santa Monica Pier while reading classics such as Pride and Prejudice. His fame—second only to that of Santa Claus—is so great that he is often hounded by the paparazzi on his way to New York City for the Parade. Upon arrival, however, he is given the V.I.P. treatment, arriving at the staging area via limousine and receiving a personal escort from Harold the Policeman.

History with the Macy's Parade

Tom Turkey (1973-2002, 2004-2017)

The Turkey float (as it was originally known) first appeared in the 1973 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as a tribute to America's first Thanksgiving. It began production approximately one year before its debut with design work by Manfred Bass, who drew inspiration from mechanical wind-up turkey toys and the puppets of Bil Baird.^{[citation needed]} Bass and another artist from Macy’s Studios fabricated the turkey figure using a chicken wire frame covered with a weatherproof skin of paper mache and fiberglass.

Tom, covered in brilliantly-colored plumage and dressed in pilgrim attire, was perched on a hand-painted drum as the 21-foot tall and 20-foot wide centerpiece of the float that held the honor of leading the Parade that year—a Thanksgiving tradition that would soon be as honored as turkey itself. Instead of the usual stuffing or oversized giblets, three animators could be found inside the bird’s belly, controlling a series of cables, levers, and pulleys that allowed Tom to flap his wings, bob his head, and blink his eyes; for this reason, Bass would later proudly refer to the figure as the "world's largest puppet." Adding a touch of country charm, some friendly folks from down on the farm joined Tom for his inaugural turkey trot down Broadway.

The float was "frequently redecorated and refurbished throughout the years to please each new generation of young audiences." In 1974, pumpkins and hay bales were added to the float bed as a holiday hootenanny hit the streets of New York City with Farmer Kids and Square Dancers in attendance; they were soon joined by Scarecrows in 1981 and 1982. In the latter year, the Turkey float received several other new trimmings—a new skirt and fringe, children dressed as Farm Animals, and a sign bearing the Parade’s name, the latter of which lasted until 1990.

Having come of age in 1993, Tom preened his feathers and fixed his makeup celebration of his 21st appearance. The float’s new color scheme moved away from its outdated 1970s hoedown theme and instead focused on earthy, autumnal tones of orange, green, yellow, and brown.

The Turkey float was officially given an identity in 1997 as Thomas T. “Tom” Turkey, named after the distinction given to male wild turkeys, which Tom would later be confirmed to be. That same year, Tom was joined by an entourage of Colonial Men and Woman, as his previous escorts were in use on the Annabelle’s Wish float.

In 1999, Tom became an ambassador for Hunger-Free Holiday, a program that enabled the new macyparade.com website (which was also the float’s sponsor that year) to help fill the nation’s food banks for the holidays. Its base also saw upgrades, adding a new skirt, fringe, and rope fence. Joining him in the celebration were 14 Pilgrim Couples that had previously escorted the Pilgrim Man and Woman Toy Floats.

Ever the gracious host, Tom Turkey gave up his spot as lead float in 2001 to the Statue of Liberty, honoring that year’s theme of “America’s Homecoming” in tribute to those lost in the September 11^th attacks. To celebrate the Parade’s diamond anniversary that year, Tom wore a blue award ribbon and balloon plume which were both embellished with the number 75.

In 2003, Parade organizers wished to give Tom a Thanksgiving off, allowing him to fly the coop for the first time in three decades. Taking his place as the bird of honor was the Turkey novelty balloon, made as a throwback to the Gorgeous Gobbler balloon of the 1950s.

Tom Turkey returned to the lineup in 2004 with country flair, gobbling about the upcoming CMA Music Awards which were set to be hosted in New York City for the first time ever the following year.

In 2008, the float received an updated, layered skirt that was inspired by Native American fabric patterns.^{[citation needed]}

From 2009 through 2012, Tom Turkey was sponsored by Food Network (with the exception of 2011, when its spin-off, Cooking Channel, sponsored the float) and featured several of its celebrity chefs and hosts from its original programming.

During this time, Tom Turkey’s float escorts also saw change. In 2010, Pumpkin Pickers joined the float due to its traditional Pilgrim escorts temporarily becoming part of the Corny-Copia Clowns for the next three Parades. Adding to the fall scene in 2014 were an array of Autumn Leaves, repurposed from the Woodland Family Gathering float.

The original iteration of the Tom Turkey float made its final appearance in 2017, where it was sponsored by and featured the stars of Bravo’s Top Chef.

Tom Turkey (2018-present)

The float's rigging being welded. (Credit: Macy's Inc.)

The signage on the front of the current Tom Turkey float frequently updates to match the Parade's ever-evolving branding. Pictured from left to right, top to bottom: 2018, 2019-2022, 2023 (a temporary fixture that was only displayed on Inflation Eve), and 2024.

Tom Turkey was completely revamped for the 2018 Parade in a project spearheaded by Macy’s Studios associate producer/costume director Kimberly Montgomery, elevating him—both literally and figuratively—from a traditional float into a “gorgeous, self-propelled title float” that would accentuate his starring role in the longest-running show on Broadway.

“I wanted to rethink and elevate Macy’s own Tom Turkey to be a gorgeous, self-propelled “title float!" Paint him with light-catching metallic colors. Add gorgeous autumnal costumes covered in crystals, illuminated animated signage, and a gold backdrop of Macy's stars.”
—Kimberly Montgomery, Associate Producer/Costume Director

While retaining the turkey figure and its original mechanics, the float bed was redesigned to be self-propelled, incorporating a framework to house a heavy-duty Ram 5500 and allow for versatile staging and performance risers, which were accented with artwork by Jennifer Palmer that paid homage to past float bases. Tom himself was painted head-to-toe with a regal, autumn-toned color palette inspired by foil-wrapped chocolate turkeys and jewel tones. The repaint, done entirely by lead scenic painter Beth Lucas, also included highlights of glitter and light-catching metallic paints. Special effects were also added, including a flurry of custom fall leaf confetti and a glittering fan of pyrotechnics that ignited from Tom’s tail feathers.

Rounding out the unit and matching the float’s updated elegance were the Macy’s Starlets—an ensemble of dancing showgirls dressed in Swarovski crystal-encrusted costumes that carried illuminated signage spelling out “Macy*s Parade”—the exuberant Opening Cheer Group, and an escort of Autumn Leaves.

The rebuilt float continued to receive minor changes after its debut. In 2019, the leaf patterns on the float base were replaced with sparkling bronze and gold motifs that better complimented Tom’s new look, and in 2021, Tom sported a “95 Parades” emblem on his hat and a star-shaped bowtie to celebrate the Parade’s 95th anniversary.

As part of Macy’s efforts with Indigenous Direction to make the Parade more respectful to Native American communities, Tom was turned into a “show bird” in 2022, replacing his traditional pilgrim hat with a royal blue top hat as if he were attending a Broadway show. That same year, he would also begin to serve as a stage for special correspondents on the NBC telecast, who provide live updates along the Parade route during its first hour.

In 2023, Tom’s dapperness was complimented by the addition of the Dapper Turkeys, a group of turkey face characters who were dressed to the nines with acorn bowler hats, bowties, and pinstripe pants. The following year, Tom was welcomed onto 34^th Street with a special performance choreographed by Shay Latukolan that featured Charli D’Amelio and Macy’s House Dancers.

Balloonicle

Tom Turkey
The Tom Turkey balloonicle during the 2016 edition of Macy's Holiday Parade.
Years active	2015-2016 (Macy's Holiday Parade)
Sponsor	Macy's
Type	Balloonicle

In addition to leading the Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Tom Turkey balloonicle was introduced to the Macy's Holiday Parade in 2015. John Piper, the former vice president of Macy's Parade Studio, explained its introduction, saying, "We felt that there was just one thing missing from the Parade that could complete it…and that’s leading it with a turkey." The balloonicle featured a redesigned Tom with holiday flair and appeared in the Parade for two seasons until its rebranding into Universal's Holiday Parade featuring Macy's.

Since its retirement from the Holiday Parade, the inflatable has been used for the marquee at the Memorial Entrance of Macy's Herald Square, which is featured prominently on the NBC telecast. Like its float counterpart, this Tom was also altered in 2022 to give him a new top hat and, unlike the float, a festive holiday snowflake sweater to match with the surrounding decor.

Guest Stars

Listed below are the guest stars that have appeared on the Tom Turkey float, alongside their respective NBC broadcast performances.

Tom Turkey (1973)

• 1973 - George Jones and Tammy Wynette, sang "We're Gonna Hold On"
• 1975 - Dolly Parton, sang "Love Is Like a Butterfly"
• 1976 - Howdy Doody, Buffalo Bob, Clarabell, and Happy Harmony, sang "Hooray for Santa Claus" / "A Howdy Doody Christmas"
• 1977 - Mel Tillis
• 1978 - The Oak Ridge Boys, sang "You're the One (in a Million)"
• 1979 - Mickey and Jan Rooney, sang "Silver Bells"
• 1980 - Sister Sledge, sang "We Are Family"
• 1981 - Donny Osmond, sang "Give My Regards to Broadway"
• 1982 - Keith Carradine, sang "Sweet Talker"
• 1983 - Charley Pride, sang "Down in Louisiana"
• 1984 - Dionne Warwick
• 1985 - Janie Fricke, sang "If the Fall Don't Get You"
• 1986 - Crystal Gayle, sang "Winter Wonderland"
• 1987 - Rita Coolidge, sang "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher"
• 1988 - Tanya Trucker, sang "Highway Robbery"
• 1989 - Clint Black, sang "Straight from the Factory"
• 1990 - Garth and Sandy Brooks, sang "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House"
• 1991 - Charlie Daniels, sang "Little Folks"
• 1992 - Mac Davis, sang "Never Met a Man I Didn't Like"
• 1994 - Shari Lewis, Lamb Chop, and Charlie Horse, sang "Don't Just Sit There"
• 1995 - Shania Twain, sang "Any Man of Mine"
• 1996 - Bo Diddley, sang "Bo Diddley Is Crazy"
• 1997 - Shari Lewis and Charlie Horse, sang "I Love the Macy's Parade"
• 1998 - Martina McBride, sang "Happy Girl"
• 1999 - Susan Lucci
• 2000 - The Corrs, sang "Breathless"
• 2001 - Willard Scott
• 2004 - Julie Roberts, sang "You Ain't Down Home"
• 2009 - Food Network Celebrity Chefs Sunny Anderson, Anne Burrell and Claire Robinson
• 2010 - Eric Hutchinson, sang "Best Days"
  • Appearance by Alton Brown and his daughter, Zoey
• 2011 - Avril Lavigne, sang "Wish You Were Here"
  • Appearance by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos
• 2012 - Chef Geoffrey Zakarian
• 2013-2016 - Sandra Lee
• 2017 - Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio

Tom Turkey (2018)

• 2020 - America's Frontline Workers
• 2022 - Mario Lopez and Family
• 2023 - Hoda Kotb
• 2024 - Charli D'Amelio and Macy's House Dancers, performed "Danke Schoen"

Trivia

• In an article written the day after the 1973 Parade, UPI referred to the float as “Toy Turkey,” the earliest known instance of it being referred to by a name other than the "Turkey float."
• Because of his status as the Parade’s unofficial mascot, Tom has been featured numerous times in pop culture.
  • Stock footage of the float was featured in the “I Love a Parade” episode of the sitcom Love & War.
  • As part of an advertising campaign to persuade tourists to visit New York City for the holidays following 9/11, a commercial featured Billy Crystal and Robert De Niro arguing over who should be the turkey in the Parade, culminating in the two riding the Tom Turkey float.  
  • In the 2011 Ben Stiller comedy Tower Heist, Tom Turkey is featured among several other elements in a burglary scene that takes place on the Parade route.
  • In the MAD episode “The Bourne Leg-a-Turkey,” a segment ends with the Talking Turkey riding a motorcycle to freedom, only to find that the street is closed for a Thanksgiving Day Parade, featuring a float strikingly similar to Tom Turkey.
  • In 2017, Tom was heavily featured in a commercial for the Ram Black Friday Sales Event, which includes Ram Trucks helping with the process of transporting and assembling the floats on Thanksgiving Day.
• In a poll conducted on iVillage.com in 2007, the Tom Turkey float received 3% of the favorite float vote, tying it with Snoopy's Doghouse by United Feature Syndicate and Expedition to the Top of Rhino Mountain by Ecko Unlimited.
• In 1974, western film star and singer Howard Keel was scheduled to appear on the Turkey float, though he was unable to do so for unknown reasons.
• Miss USA Shauntay Hinton was planned to ride the Tom Turkey float during her reign in 2002, however she was later moved to Pulte Homes’ Three Little Pigs float after its performer, Alan Jackson, was unable to appear.
• Former parade director Robin Hall appeared on the float in 2012 dressed as Pilgrim Man.