Annual Macy's Thanksgiving parade boasts host of new balloons

By the CNN Wire Staff

November 24, 2011 -- Updated 1257 GMT (2057 HKT)

Macy's employees in New York inflate the floats for the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Macy's employees in New York inflate the floats for the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade.Among the new additions are an eagerly-anticipated Tim Burton creationForecasters predict sunny skies50 million people are expected to watch from home

New York (CNN) -- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as much a holiday tradition as turkey, football and dinner table debates, celebrates its 85th anniversary Thursday with a host of new floats and balloons.

Making its return after an 18-year absence will be Sonic the Hedgehog. He will join a 41-foot-tall Julius the monkey; an eagerly-anticipated newcomer, "B," a pointy-toothed, stitched-face creation from filmmaker Tim Burton; and the Aflac Duck Balloonicle -- a balloon on wheels.

Rounding out the newbies are Gazer the Elf and Harold the Policeman.

"It's amazing to see them come to life," Amy Kule, the parade's executive producer, told CNN affiliate WABC. "They start off as ideas in your head, they become a drawing on a piece of paper. And then miraculously, the magicians at the Macy's parade studio build them and bring them to life."

In all, more than 50 balloons will grace the Manhattan sky.

Forecasters predict sunny skies and 10 mph winds, good news for the 3.5 million people who are expected to line the parade route.

Another 50 million are expected to watch from home as more than 1,600 cheerleaders, two dozen floats, 11 marching bands and, of course, Santa Claus saunter by.

Singers Cee Lo Green and Mary J. Blige are among those expected to perform.

CNN's Chris Kokenes contributed to this report.

Font: CNN