Papa Smurf and the Elf on The Shelf, also making their debut this Thanksgiving (Alexander Michael)
They passed with flying colors.
These three new Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons, Hello Kitty in a retro air plane, a dancing Papa Smurf and The Elf on The Shelf storybook character, debuted yesterday in their first test flight over New Jersey’s Meadowlands Racetrack.
“The Elf on The Shelf” co-author Chanda Bell watched her beloved little character plump into a giant 46-foot tall, 28-foot wide, 64-foot long helium balloon.
“When you’re old and grey, you can look back and just be proud.” said Bell, as 70 ground crew members handled ropes to navigate each balloon.
Macy’s veteran balloon designer John Piper said each new balloon takes about a year to create.
The major challenges this year involved making Hello’s Kitty’s trademark red bow and balancing Papa Smurf’s blue legs to appear as if he’s dancing.
“The payoff is seeing three million jaws dropping and six million eyes popping. Whether your three or 103, you’re a kid on Thanksgiving when those balloons go by,” he said.
He said choosing the characters comes from kids.
Among the 16 floating balloons in this year’s 86th annual parade along 6th Avenue are Charlie Brown, Underdog and SpongeBob Square Pants.