Everything You Need to Know About Macy's 2015 Iconic Parade Balloons

This Thursday, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's signature balloons will float through the streets of Manhattan, capturing the attention of viewers at home and on the streets.

Don't let your favorite pass by. Below is the line up of the iconic balloons with some interesting fun facts, according to Macy's 

1. Jake and Finn from Cartoon Network's "Adventure Time with Finn and Jake"

Heroes Finn and Jake will take a break from fighting for justice in the Land of Ooo to join the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for their third flight.

Balloon dimensions: 57 feet long, 26 feet wide and 40 feet tall
Fun fact: Adventure Time fans should be on the lookout for a cameo from the Snail. Can you find it hidden on the balloon?

2. Red from Rovio's "Angry Birds"

Red, who has been protecting his eggs for years, will take his first flight through Manhattan.

Balloon dimensions: 44 feet long, 29 feet wide and 45 feet tall
Fun fact: Each of Red’s distinctive ‘Angry’ eyebrows measure 7 feet wide.
 

3. Greg Heffley from Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Holding onto his diary as much as his secrets, Greg Heffley returns to the parade, flying through the skies of New York City.

Balloon dimensions: 60 feet long, 25 feet wide and 56 feet tall
Fun fact: Greg Heffley’s journal (it's NOT a diary) is 15 feet tall.

4. DINO from Sinclair Oil

Sinclair Oil’s classic DINO (pronounced dye-no) balloon will return to the parade this year
after a 40-year absence and just in time for Sinclair’s centennial celebration in 2016. A fan
favorite in the 60s and 70s, this Apatosaurus will join the line of march as the only life-sized
balloon in the Parade. 

Balloon dimensions: 72 feet long, 24 feet wide and 36 feet tall
Fun fact: Dino first appeared as a 70 foot long giant balloon in the 1963 Macy’s Parade and
flew until 1976. The original balloon became an honorary member of the American Museum of Natural
History in 1975.

5. The Elf on the Shelf

Watch out! Santa is sending his favorite scout elf to fly over New York City with a mission to bring back news of who’s been naughty or nice.The Elf on the Shelf, which has been a parade staple since 2012, is the first self-published character to be celebrated as a balloon in the parade since Peter Rabbit in 1996.

Balloon dimensions: 46 feet long, 28 feet wide and 64 feet tall
Fun fact: At 64 feet tall, The Elf on the Shelf is the tallest character balloon in the parade.

6.Hello Kitty

Riding in her adorable retro airplane, Hello Kitty returns to the Big Apple, soaring through the crowd for the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Balloon dimensions: 50 feet long, 38 feet wide and 36 feet tall
Fun fact: Hello Kitty’s signature red bow measures 6 feet tall.

7. Toothless, the Dragon from "How To Train Your Dragon"

The lovable Night Fury Dragon, Toothless will take to the skies delighting fans young and old.
Balloon dimensions: 72 feet long, 36 feet wide and 48 feet tall
Fun fact: To get his signature color, the Macy’s parade team had to create a custom paint
that would deflect heat in order to keep Toothless cool during his Thanksgiving flight.

8. Scrat from "Ice Age" 

Scrat, the rambunctious star of the Ice Age animated film series, will fly the entire 2.5 mile parade route trying to catch a runaway acorn in his inaugural Parade flight.

Balloon dimensions: 59 feet long, 24 feet wide and 41 feet tall
Fun fact: More than 15 million standard-size acorns would fit inside Scrat’s helium runaway treat.

9. Paddington Bear 

The world’s favorite traveling bear returns to New York, wearing his trademark red traveling hat and blue button down coat.

Balloon dimensions: 54 feet long, 36 feet wide and 60 feet tall
Fun fact: Paddington, who first appeared in the parade as a falloon (a cold air balloon,
riding on a float) in 1990, carries a helium suitcase that is as big as a two car garage.

10. Pikachu  

The ever electrifying pop culture icon Pikachu floats happily above New York City as Pokémon
makes its 5th consecutive Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance. Sporting a red and
green scarf, Pikachu carries a snowman-pal to usher in the holiday.

Balloon Dimensions: 36 feet long, 29 feet wide and 53 feet tall
Fun Fact: While the Pikachu balloon is larger than life, in reality, Pikachu is 1 foot, 4 inches
tall.

11. The Pillsbury Doughboy

This year, the Pillsbury Doughboy is back to celebrate 50 years of bringing America a host of
holiday favorite treats. The lovable Doughboy promises to inspire spectators to giggle all the
way down the route in the annual spectacle.

Balloon Dimensions: 54 feet long, 34 feet wide and 46 feet tall
Fun Fact: If crescent rolls were baked from dough the size of this balloon version, then more than four million rolls would create a bountiful Thanksgiving feast.

12. The Red Ranger from "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"

As the largest Power Ranger in the world, the iconic Red Ranger takes
his second flight over the streets of New York, defending the world and captivating fans on
Thanksgiving.

Balloon Dimensions: 78 feet long, 26 feet wide and 56 feet tall
Fun Fact: The larger-than-life Red Ranger is the longest balloon in the
parade. Just one of his arms is the size of a standard school bus!

13.Ronald McDonald

Ronald will fill the crowd with laughter and smiles as people watch him soaring the parade 

Balloon Dimensions: 61 feet long, 29 feet wide and 67 feet tall
Fun Fact: Ronald’s iconic shoes are 6 feet long.

14. Eruptor from the "Skylanders" video game series

Eruptor returns to the parade for his second New York City flight, while controlling his natural instinct to erupt and spew lava. Literally a force of nature, Skylander's Eruptor will fly high, delighting fans of all ages.

Balloon Dimensions: 50 feet long, 36 feet wide and 36 feet tall
Fun Fact: Eruptor’s enormous smile spans 25 feet.

15. Snoopy and Woodstock

These classic characters Snoopy and Woodstock will once again grace the streets of Manhattan with their familiar presence 

Balloon Dimensions: 67 feet long, 27 feet wide and 38 feet tall
Fun Fact: Snoopy holds the record for the most appearances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day
Parade, first taking flight in 1968. This year marks Snoopy’s 39th trip through Manhattan.

16. SpongeBob SquarePants 

Everyone’s favorite pineapple dwelling sea sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants joins the
Thanksgiving celebration, donning a festive holiday chapeau, in his second Parade balloon.

Balloon Dimensions: 41 feet long, 34 feet wide and 44 feet tall
Fun Fact: SpongeBob SquarePants’ hat has a 5-foot white brim and a 6-foot diameter “jingle
bell.”

17. Thomas the Tank Engine  

The world’s most famous steam engine, Thomas the Tank Engine returns to the Parade this
year to chug along high above the streets of Manhattan, arriving at Herald Square in perfect
time.

Balloon Dimensions: 51 feet long, 23 feet wide and 47 feet tall
Fun Fact: Each of Thomas’ 6 wheels is bigger than a pitcher’s mound.

                                                                Balloonicles Cast

18. The Aflac duck 

A fan favorite, the Aflac duck balloonicle returns to the parade route in 2015. Bundled up for
winter, the Aflac duck will be sure to keep millions of spectators screaming his trademark call
from the Upper West Side to Herald Square.

Balloon Dimensions: 20 feet wide and 33 feet tall
Fun Fact: 2015 marks the Aflac Duck’s fifth trip down the parade route.

19. The Kool-Aid Man 

Oh Yeah! Everyone’s favorite cherry-flavored icon returns to the Parade for his sixth appearance. 

Balloonicle Dimensions: 22 feet long, 25 feet wide, 34 feet tall
Fun Fact: If the Kool-Aid Man balloonicle was filled with Kool-Aid, there would be more than
10,000 gallons!

This year, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will start at 9 a.m. from Central Park West and 77th Street. The parade will disperse west on 34th Street to seventh avenue, according to the NYPD.  

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