Macy's Unveils New Floats For Thanksgiving Parade
HOBOKEN, N.J. (AP/WCBS 880) -- Delighted schoolchildren were among the first to preview seven floats and two balloons that will make their debut at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Students and local Boy and Girl Scout troops from New Jersey got a tour Tuesday of the Macy's Parade Studio in Hoboken where the floats are assembled.
"I saw a lot of nice floats. They were very creative, and I liked them very much," said 9-year-old Makayla Cordoba, a fourth-grader from Hoboken.
The executive producer of the parade, Amy Kule, said things were almost ready for the annual Thanksgiving fun.
WCBS 880's Levon Putney caught up with some fourth graders who were excited to be at Tuesday's event.
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WCBS 880's Levon Putney with a sneak peek
"I think it's the coolest field trip I've seen," one student told Putney.
"My favorite float is the one with the elves," another student said.
Themes of the new floats include the popular bilingual cartoon heroine of Nickelodeon's "Dora The Explorer" and a float featuring a replica of Mount Rushmore.
Photo Gallery: Getting Ready For Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Many of the teachers were even excited about the new floats.
"It brings out the kid in all of us, doesn't it," one teacher said.
John Piper, the vice president of Macy's Parade Studios, said this year's parade will feature 25 large floats, a number of new smaller floats, and 15 giant balloons.
Two additions to the balloon collection this year include a character from the movie "Kung Fu Panda" and the children's story "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," according to Piper.
Dancing elves, gigantic ducks and movie characters in costume greeted the children, who saw step-by-step how Macy's famous parade balloons and floats are assembled.
The parade starts at 9 a.m. in New York City on Nov. 25 and is scheduled to air on NBC.
(TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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