Nov 25, 2009 6:00 pm US/Central
Let There Be Floats! NYC Poised For Macy's Party
Spider-Man One Of Main Attractions Of 2009
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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The Spiderman balloon is steered down Broadway into Times Square in New York November 27, 1997 as part of the 71st annual Macy's Thanksgiving day parade.
JON LEVY/AFP/Getty Images
It wouldn't be Thanksgiving in New York City without the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
This year the big event will take place on a brand new route. But that's not going to stop spectators from enjoying those famous floats and balloons, CBS station WCBS-TV reports.
Kids from age 2 to 92 watched with bright faces as the stars of the Macy's parade came to life Wednesday outside the Museum of Natural History -- all for the biggest and best Thanksgiving spectacle in the greatest city in America.
This year parade goers will get a chance to see everything from the classics to the new balloons.
"We have a great freshman class this year. We actually have one new member who's never been in the parade before, the Pillsbury Doughboy. He used to be on a float he's never been a balloon in the sky," said Macy's parade executive producer Robin Hall.
The once-deflated bodies of the new Mickey Mouse in a sailor suit, the Energizer Bunny and crowd favorite Spider-Man lined the streets by the Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, but soon they'll be flying high above the city -- thanks to a lot of helium.
"Spidey is about 35,000 cubic feet of helium," Hall said. "We have 35 smaller balloons. Those are all 5,000 to 12,000 cubic feet. This one is three times that size."
They have been the stars of the city since 1927 -- just once every 365 days for a mere 24 hours -- but yet everyone has their favorites.
"I like the Energizer Bunny because I think it's just like clever. I wouldn't think of that," Molly King said.
Of course, there's also Kermit the Frog, another huge fan favorite.
Floats aside, though it may look like any other year, 2009 is actually very different. After 82 years there's a change to the parade route that means no straight shot down Broadway.
"We actually practiced doing even harder turns than we do in the parade so we're ready for it," balloon handler Katie Casella said.
This year the parade rolls down Central Park West from 77th Street, makes a left at Central Park South, right on Seventh, left on 42nd Street and right onto Sixth Avenue and another right to end at 34th and Seventh. If you're counting, that's five turns.
Theoretical Physics professor Brian Schwartz explained that one wind gust or cutting a corner too fast could mean parade trouble.
"They have to coordinate it because this guy will get ahead and it will be pointed in the wrong direction and if it's a long balloon you have to be careful that you end up in the center of the street."
The parade will begin at 9 a.m.
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