The helium heavies that will float through Manhattan for the famed Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade are almost ready for their official debut. This year's parade will feature more than 50 balloon creations, 27 floats and 800 clowns.
HEADLINE: Raw Video: Preps underway for Macy's parade in NYC
CAPTION: The helium heavies that will float through Manhattan for the famed Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade are almost ready for their official debut. This year's parade will feature more than 50 balloon creations, 27 floats and 800 clowns. (Nov. 23)
NEW YORK (AP) _ There'll be some monkeying around at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade when Paul Frank's sock puppet-inspired simian Julius makes its debut in front of millions of spectators Thursday.
Sporting a jetpack, the 41-foot-tall Julius joins 14 other giant balloons, including fellow newcomer B., a freakish creation from filmmaker Tim Burton, and video game character Sonic the Hedgehog returns after an 18-year absence.
The helium heavies will be inflated beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday across the street from the western side of Central Park between 77th and 81 streets.
Macy's parade also is expected to feature more than 40 other balloon creations, 27 floats, 800 clowns and 1,600 cheerleaders. Organizers say Mary J. Blige, Cee Lo Green, Avril Lavigne and the Muppets of Sesame Street will participate, some taking the stage at the end of the route in Herald Square and others performing on floats.
About 3.5 million people are expected to crowd the Manhattan parade route on Thursday, while an additional 50 million watch from home.
National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Morrin said a storm was expected to speed away by Thursday morning, leaving mostly sunny skies and 10 mph winds, well below city guidelines for grounding balloons.
