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View the Macy's Parade route map and list of entries below

NEW YORK, November 11, 2011 — Enchantment returns this Thanksgiving as Macy's magical procession ushers in the holiday season at the 85th Anniversary Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 2011 parade steps off at 9:00 AM on Thursday, November 24, bringing with it the nation's best marching bands, performance groups, cheerleaders, clowns, giant balloons, floats and the biggest star of them all, Santa Claus.

From the trumpeting of the time-honored phrase "Let's Have a Parade" to the first glimpse of one of Macy's signature giant helium balloons, the march will delight more than 3.5 million spectators lining the streets of Manhattan and more than 50 million viewers nationwide.

Macy's Parade Route Map

The 85th Macy's Thanksgiving Parade will step off at 77th Street and Central Park West. The procession will travel down to Columbus Circle, turn onto Central Park South before making a right turn to march down 7th Avenue to 42nd Street. The Parade will then turn east toward 6th Avenue where it will march down the Avenue of the Americas. At 34th Street, the parade will make its final turn west marching in front of Macy's Herald Square.

NBC Telecast Begins at 9 AM in All Time Zones

Americans coast to coast can share in the magic of the parade through NBC-TV's national telecast hosted by TODAY's Matt Lauer, Ann Curry and Al Roker. On board to add an extra dose of star power are exclusive performances from some of the hottest Broadway shows including Daniel Radcliffe and the cast of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sister Act, and Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. In addition, the telecast will feature a special performance from the world-famous Radio City Rockettes. The telecast will air from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon in each of the four time zones in the continental United States.

2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Lineup

The 85th Annual Macy's Parade will be a crowd-pleasing spectacle that features 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers, singers and performers; 800 clowns; 15 giant character helium balloons; 44 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonheads and balloonicles; 11 marching bands; 27 floats; and a host of celebrity performers.

New arrivals to the giant balloon lineup include a jetpack-sporting awesome monkey, Paul Frank's Julius, and Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog, which returns to the big show after its pioneering debut in 1993 as the procession's first-ever video game character.

The float lineup brings five new additions including scenes depicting a Turkey Day slapshot showdown on the Frozen Fall Fun float; the celebration of the nation's beacon of hope and liberty on the Gift of Freedom; the special nod to Macy's parade history on the Hats Off To Our Heritage float; the frolicking celebration aboard P.B. Polar Bear; and the zhany fun found on the ZHU-NIVERSE!

Following is the list of 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade entries (all talent, performances, line-up and information is subject to change).

15 GIANT BALLOONS
• Buzz Lightyear
• Clumsy Smurf
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Super Cute Hello Kitty
• Julius
• Kermit the Frog
• Kung Fu Panda
• Pikachu
• Pillsbury Doughboy
• Ronald McDonald
• Sailor Mickey
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Snoopy as the Flying Ace
• Spider-Man
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• The parade also boasts 44 novelty/ornament balloons and balloonicles, ranging in size from 12 to 25 feet tall.

11 MARCHING BANDS
• Carmel High School, Carmel, IN
• Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport, TN
• Hawaii All-State Marching Band, HI
• Homestead High School, Cupertino, CA
• Homewood High School, Homewood, AL
• Legacy High School, Broomfield, CO
• Macy's Great American Marching Band, USA
• Miami University, Oxford, OH
• Nation Ford High School, Fort Mill, SC
• NYPD Marching Band, New York, NY
• Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, Canton, MI

27 FLOATS
• 123 Sesame Street
• Big Apple
• Bridge To The Future
• Christmas in Central Park
• Dora's Christmas Carol Adventure
• Elves Raise the Roof
• Frozen Fall Fun
• Gift of Freedom
• Hats Off To Our Heritage
• Home Baked Goodness
• International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower
• Jolly Polly Pirate Ship
• Local Heroes Helping Everyday
• Macy's Parade Drum
• Marion-Carol Showboat
• Mount Rushmore's American Pride
• On the Roll Again
• Pep Rally
• P.B. Polar Bear
• Santa's Sleigh
• The Smurfs
• Snoopy's Doghouse
• Tom Turkey
• The True Spirit of Thanksgiving
• Wild West Express
• Woodland Family Gathering
• ZHU-NIVERSE

PERFORMANCE GROUPS
• 610 Stompers
• Alma Boliviana
• Camp Broadway
• CAP 21
• Mobile Azalea Trail Maids
• Spirit of America Dance
• Stage Door Manor
• United We Sing
• Varsity Spirit Cheer
• The parade also features more than 800 clowns.

CELEBRITIES
• Rodney Atkins
• Big Apple Circus
• Mary J. Blige
• Cobra Starship
• Neil Diamond
• Michael Feinstein
• The Fresh Beat Band
• Cee Lo Green
• Avril Lavigne
• Shelby Lynne
• Mannheim Steamroller
• China Anne McClain
• Scotty McCreery
• Ingrid Michaelson
• The cast and Muppets of Sesame Street
• Savannah Outen
• Power Rangers Samurai
• Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan
• Willard Scott
• Straight No Chaser
• US Naval Academy Glee Club
• Johnny Weir
• Zendaya

A holiday treat for children everywhere, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's finale features the biggest star of all, the one-and-only Santa Claus. As his sleigh comes into view, Macy's will wish everyone "Happy Holidays" and a "Merry Christmas."

Further information on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade can be obtained by calling the Parade Hotline at (212) 494-4495 or by visiting www.macys.com/parade.

See more information on Marching.com about the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Text and images courtesy of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

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