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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