MIDTOWN - Mary J. Blige and Cee Lo Green will bring some star power to Macy's Annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will celebrate its 85th year on Thursday.
The annual parade, which will kick off at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving morning at 77th Street and Central Park West, will wind its way down the western end of the park and veer east to Sixth Avenue, before continuing down to Herald Square.
This year's collection of giant inflated balloons — which will start coming to life Wednesday as crews inflate them along 77th and 81st streets between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. — will bring a host of new characters.
Artist Paul Frank's Julius the sock monkey, Sega video game star Sonic the Hedgehog, and Tim Burton's whimsical character B. Boy are among the newest additions to the roster.
This year's parade is set to feature a total of 15 giant character balloons, 44 novelty balloonicles and balloonheads, and 27 massive floats — as well as 1,600 cheerleaders and dancers, 800 clowns, 11 marching bands and Santa Claus, along with a host of celebrities from Neil Diamond, to Nickelodeon's The Fresh Beat Band and Avril Lavigne.
Burton's B. Boy balloon is part of Macy's "Blue Sky Gallery series," inflatable works by world-renowned artists. Past contributors include Tom Otterness, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and Takashi Murakami.
The Aflac duck and a rendition of the 1948 "Harold the Policeman" balloon will also be unveiled this year.
“This year, as we celebrate 85 years of magical moments, we are truly humbled by the unique role the Macy’s parade now fills in the lives of Americans," said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"We are thrilled to celebrate this special milestone with an unparalleled line-up of new balloons, floats and the nation’s best performers — all here to kick-off the spectacular holiday season."
