In this Nov. 23, 1995 file photo Woody Woodpecker leads a line of other balloons and floats into New York's Times Square during the 69th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. A Macy's Thanksgiving parade reimagined for the coronavirus pandemic will feature floats, performers and giant balloons parading along a one-block stretch of 34th Street in front of the retailer's flagship Manhattan store, Macy's officials announced Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Hurschmann, File)
By Karen Matthews
A Macy's Thanksgiving parade reimagined for the coronavirus pandemic will feature floats, performers, and giant balloons along a one-block stretch of 34th Street in front of the retailer's flagship Manhattan store, Macy's officials announced Monday.
The spectacle will be broadcast as usual from 9 a.m. to noon Eastern time on NBC and will include both live and recorded elements, Macy's officials said.
"Under the unique challenges of these unparalleled times, we felt it was important to continue this cherished holiday tradition that has been the opening act to the holiday season for generations of families," Susan Tercero, executive producer of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, said in a prepared statement.
She added, "While it will certainly look different in execution, this year's Macy's Parade celebration will once again serve its historical purpose — to bring joy into the hearts of millions across the nation."
Macy's similarly remade its traditional July Fourth fireworks show this year, swapping the big one-night spectacle for a series of smaller fireworks displays.
The 2 1/2-mile Thanksgiving parade route will be axed in favor of a short stroll for the cameras, Macy's spokesperson Orlando Veras said.
The giant cartoon-character balloons will be flown without the traditional 80 to 100 handlers each and will instead be tethered to specialized vehicles that have been tested and approved by the city police and transportation departments, Veras said.
Most of the parade's performers will be locally based to cut down on travel, Veras said. High school and college marching bands that had been invited to perform will be deferred to 2021. In accordance with coronavirus restrictions, all performers will be required to maintain social distancing and wear face masks.
Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked Macy's officials for their effort to stage the parade despite COVID-19 restrictions.
"They are reinventing the event for this moment in history," de Blasio said at his daily coronavirus briefing. "And you will be able to feel the spirit and the joy of that day on television, online."
The Macy's parade has been a traditional holiday season kickoff for more than 90 years and usually attracts throngs of tourists and locals who line the parade route to gawk at inflated characters like Snoopy or Felix the cat.
This year's lineup of balloon characters and human performers will be announced later, Veras said.
Director Ava Duvernay and Roberto Patino, both executive producers of the HBO series "DMZ," joined Cheddar News to talk about adapting the comic book about a future American civil war and a dystopian Manhattan. "I think it reflects a couple steps ahead of us. It really contemplates what happens if we can't kind of get our act together and be able to listen to each other and be able to be civil with folks we disagree with," said Duvernay. "It contemplates what's next if we don't kind of right our path."
Joanna Ostrem, Head of Estates, Appraisals, and Valuations at Christie's, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss what to look for when evaluating a piece, building a collection, and the growing interest from millennial investors.
College basketball forward for the HBCU Texas Southern University, Mimi O'Neal, daughter of Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, is pushing for more changes in light of gender equity scandals in NCAA college hoops brought to light on social media last year.
European prime ministers are heading into Kyiv today, a suspect has been arrested in the shootings of five homeless men in two cities, and Elon Musk challenges Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here is all the news you Need2Know for Tuesday, March 15, 2022.
Student loan payments for millions of borrowers are set to resume on May 1st. However, signals from the Department of Education show that the date may be pushed back. Once again, it's been pushed back a few times. Initially, the Biden Administration stated loan payments would resume as the economy continues to show signs of recovery. Student Loan Expert and Author of "How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid", Mark Kantrowitz, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Mission-driven fintech company Propel raised $50 million in a Series B round led by Nyca Partners. Propel's mission is to help low-income Americans improve their financial health. The company's free app is called Providers, designed as a one-stop-shop for Americans to manage government benefits and other income side-by-side. Jimmy Chen, founder and CEO of Propel, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Russia may be asking China for help with its war in Ukraine, according to several reports citing unnamed U.S. officials. Russia is reportedly calling on its ally for military and economic assistance, in an attempt to avoid punishment from sanctions imposed by the U.S., Europe, and Asia, which have hammered Russia's economy. Chinese and Russian officials denied the reports. Meanwhile, top U.S. and Chinese officials are meeting today, with both countries confirming the conflict in Ukraine will be the meeting's main topic. Edward Wong, diplomatic correspondent for the New York Times, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Following the Texas Supreme Court's decision to end further challenges against the latest abortion restrictions, Texas saw a 60 percent decrease in abortions performed in the state — with an exodus of patients seeking care in other parts of the country. President, and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Alexis McGill Johnson, joined Cheddar News at South by Southwest 2022 to discuss the impact of the court's ruling on reproductive health care in the Lone Star State and beyond.
