Macy's getting ready for the big parade

AccuWeather

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is right around the corner, and the parade's Director of Production Operations Kathleen Wright joins AccuWeather's Bernie Rayno and Ariella Scalese to go over what to expect.

Transcript

00:00A big time of year, busy time of year for you.

00:03We want to know what's new in this year's parade.

00:06Any new floats, balloons, or performers to watch for?

00:11Of course, there's always something new in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

00:15As you said, this is our 99th year, and we're so excited to have the opportunity

00:19to surprise, delight, and entertain the millions of people that are going to tune in and watch.

00:24We have five new balloons this year.

00:26We have such beloved characters from Mario to Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man.

00:32We also have Derpy from K-pop Demon Hunters.

00:36Of course, Shrek and all of Shrek's friends are going to be joining us this year on a balloon.

00:41The most characters that have ever been featured on a balloon.

00:44So, so many new balloons that will be up in the sky this year.

00:47And can't forget our floats.

00:49So many fabulous new floats this year featuring some of the best in entertainment performing

00:55on those floats.

00:56We have an Upside Down float by Stranger Things that will feature a performance from

01:01Foreigner.

01:02We have a float from Serta, their Dream Generator, featuring a song by Debbie Gibson.

01:07So incredible talent, an incredible lineup, and we cannot wait for it to come to life this

01:12Thursday.

01:12Well, now we're getting back to the 80s with Debbie Gibson.

01:15I remember Foreigner 4, one of my best Get Ready albums that I had, right?

01:22All right.

01:23Meanwhile, the weather can really impact the parade.

01:26What conditions cause the biggest challenges for you and your team?

01:30The Macy's parade marches rain or shine.

01:34And so we know that this year's forecast has a little bit of winds in there, but we're prepared

01:38for those windy forecasts.

01:40We work very closely with our partners and city agencies to determine the different flying

01:45conditions that we're able to fly within.

01:47And we're prepared for anything on Thanksgiving morning.

01:50So we're excited and we're ready to start that march uptown and make our way to 34th Street.

01:55All right.

01:55You said rain or shine, but are there contingencies that you have to implement if any kind of storms

02:00are expected?

02:01We do.

02:02We're prepared for a variety of different forecasts.

02:05We're prepared for anything.

02:06And we do monitor real-time weather conditions along the parade route.

02:10We have several anemometers along the parade route that monitor our wind speed so that we're

02:14really checking in with the real-time conditions, whether it be when we step off in the

02:19morning at 8.30 or throughout the entirety of the parade, we have plans in place that we're

02:24able to adjust and react to whatever conditions we're seeing in real time.

02:28I have to ask you this, and the answer may be everything, but what's your favorite part

02:33of the parade?

02:35You know, my favorite part of the parade is definitely the starting line.

02:39I think that there is an energy uptown on Central Park West that just cannot be matched.

02:45Everyone is so excited.

02:47We have a team making announcements to say, come and join the parade to every single unit,

02:53and you really can't match that level of excitement.

02:56Everyone is just starting off starting their morning, and it's so wonderful to have so many

03:01people, both spectators and volunteers and participants, just enjoying their holiday with

03:06us.

03:07Kathleen Wright, Director of Production Operations for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

03:11Thank you so much for joining us, and we are so excited.

03:14We hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.

03:18Happy Thanksgiving.

03:18Let's have a parade.

03:20Woo!

03:32What?

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