Central Elementary (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Central Elementary School KCLC program is proud to announce a unique and educational event inspired by the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Central Elementary KCLC students have been learning about this iconic event and its rich history, culminating in a special parade within the school halls.
On Tuesday, Nov. 21, students will bring the magic of the parade to the hallways, showcasing their creativity and learning. Inspired by our recent learning about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the book “Balloon Over Broadway,” each of our 51 KCLC students has uniquely designed and created a balloon.
These student-made balloons, all carried on sticks by our “balloon handlers,” will be paraded down the halls of Central Elementary at 2:45 p.m. Fellow students and staff will line the halls, forming an enthusiastic parade audience.
This event serves not only as a fun activity but also as an educational experience, highlighting interesting facts about the parade that the students have learned, such as:
50,000,000
The number of viewers who tune in to watch the parade each year, which starts at 9 am EST. Add that to the more than 8,000 parade participants and 3.5 million on-site spectators and you’ve got a whole lot of eyes!
94
The number of times that the parade has gone on. It was started by Macy’s employees in 1924 and featured real animals from the Central Park Zoo, including elephants, lions, and tigers. They’ve marched every year since, which the exception of three years during World War II.
80
The tallest balloon height, in feet, that the Macy’s Day Parade had introduced. An 80-foot Superman made his first appearance in the 1980 parade and has since set the record for tallets balloon. Interestingly enough, this massive balloon can also fold up small enough to be trucked through the Lincoln Tunnel the night before!
90
Each large balloon needs about 90 minutes to be inflated. But it only takes 15 minutes to deflate
100
From 1928 to 1932, if you found a balloon and returned it to Macy’s, you’d receive a $100 reward.
2.5
The balloon pilot’s job is to walk in front of the balloon and direct the rest of the handlers on how to navigate the route. To become a pilot, a candidate for the job must be able to walk the entire 2.5-mile route backward, without stumbling. Macy’s offers balloon pilot training three times a year to prepare for the big day.
90
Up to 90 people are needed to anchor and navigate each balloon, and they do so by grasping onto long ropes affixed to the bottom and sides. These ropes are called “bones,” and they require a specific way of handling so they remain taut throughout the parade.
