Macy’s Parade 2021 lineup features Pikachu, Eevee, Sonic and Baby Yoda

Sonic the Hedgehog, Pikachu and Eevee, Baby Yoda, and 1980s rock ballads Foreigner headlined the 95th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Thanksgiving morning tradition in pajamas for fans from old to young. It airs on Thursday, November 25, starting at 9 a.m. EST.

NBC is doing the broadcast, available from your local network branch or the NBC app on iOS or Android. Today Show’s Al Roker, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie will provide play-by-play and analysis. The parade also airs late at 9am PST, so West Coast folks don’t need to get up early.

Vtuber is honored Sonic is returning to his 30th birthday parade. Sega is launching the “Modern Sonic” hot air balloon, which was used from 2011 to 2013, for the occasion. 2013 was also the most recent year Blue Blur appeared, one of eight in his life.

Pikachu will appear for the 21st Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, good for fifth place, all time, among the characters appear as balloons. The Pokémon mascot is an appearance after Kermit the Frog (22 parades, most recently 2012) and is associated with Mickey Mouse and, above all else, Sinclair Oil’s dinosaur, a staple from 1963 to 1976, returning in 2015 to promote the company’s 100th anniversary the following year.

This year, Pikachu and Eevee will debut the latest Pokémon Company hot air balloon design, riding together on a Pokéball-themed sleigh. This year’s hot air balloon is about 30% smaller (by volume) than the parade version from 2014-2020, but it still requires 90 standard operators to wind it.

And Baby Yoda (Grogu, not for SEO purposes) parades down Funko-sponsored 6th Avenue, meaning Grogu’s design is based on his Funko Pop vinyl. He’s wearing Joe Namath fur coat and chase The Mandalorian’s gearshifters.

Finally, Dragon Ball’s Goku will also return, in hot air balloon form, for third appearance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

For those in New York, the annual hot air balloon inflation will take place on Wednesday, November 24 from noon to 6 p.m. Fans must present proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to attending. Join the free event at 72nd St. and Columbus Ave.