Here’s a little fact I’ll bet you die hard New York natives, newly arrived and tourists alike didn’t know.  That grassy knoll which nestles just beyond  the Central Park entrance on East 72nd Street is known as “Pilgrim Hill”, in homage to the brazenly bronze statue of a Pilgrim that crowns its crest.  Sculpted by John Quincy Adams Ward, “The Pilgrim” was gifted to Central Park by the New England Society in 1885.  As an aside, it just so happens that this stoic bronzed gent also watches over what us insiders know to be one of the park’s primo sledding locales in winter as well as a popular picnicking spot in the warmer months.  I’d like to think that such joyful sights bring an inward smile to our man as he continues to stand guard throughout the decades.

I have to believe that amongst the many treasured memories we have surrounding this holiday, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is one of those we all share.  This year marks the 9th decade of this beloved New York and national treasure.  Through wind, rain, sleet, snow or hail, over 3.5 million people will brave the elements to see it in person while an average of 50 million viewers will tune in to watch from the comfort of their homes.  Here’s a bit of trivia that will make you a hit at Thanksgiving dinner:

-Macy’s is the second largest consumer of helium after the U.S government.

-The parade has been an annual tradition since 1924.  From 1942-1944 it was put on hold because of a rubber and helium shortage during WWII.

-The parade scene in the 1947 holiday classic “Miracle on 34th Street” features footage shot from the 1946 Macy’s Parade.  The film studio installed cameras along the parade route from Central Park West (if you’re an inveterate New Yorker like I am, you’ll notice how low the trees are in Central Park!) to Broadway.  With a parade of this magnitude, there are no reshoots!  The Santa Claus bringing up the rear of the parade in all of his holiday splendor that year was actor and star of the film, Edmund Gwenn.  He would win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor the following year for the role.

-Since 1968, the floats have been designed by artists at the Macy’s Parade Studio in New Jersey.  The floats are as tall as 40′ high and 28’wide.   In order to squeeze through the Lincoln Tunnel (taking them from NJ to NY) they actually fold down to a mere 12 x 8 ft. box!  Can you imagine?!

-The balloons are painted while fully inflated to prevent the paint from cracking.

-It takes 90 minutes to inflate the big balloons which are capable of lifting nearly 750 lbs.  Each balloon requires up to 90 handlers.

-Making its big debut this year will be “Bouncing Dog”, happily prancing her way down the parade route at a whopping 36′ long x  15′ wide.  At an estimated 40′ high she is one tall pup!

-After the parade is over, the balloons are deflated behind Macy’s Department Store and are then put into storage for the revelries of next year.