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First look: Macy's unveils new floats for the 95th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy's unveiled the new floats Tuesday for a "first look," showcasing everything from an enormous steam-punk alligator carrying New Orleans on its back to life-sized elephants surfing on a giant ocean wave.

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By
Heather Leah
, WRAL multiplatform producer

More magic is rolling out than ever before this Thanksgiving during the 95th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®.

"Set to transport spectators lining the streets of Manhattan and viewers nationwide into worlds of fantasy, these landscapes are a marvel to behold," wrote Macy's in a release highlighting the floats.

Macy's unveiled the new floats Tuesday for a "first look," showcasing everything from an enormous steam-punk alligator carrying New Orleans on its back to life-sized elephants surfing on a giant ocean wave.

Pictured is Birds Of A Feather Stream Together fleet presented by PEACOCK®. With a wink and wing flutter, Peacock - the full-fledged entertainment extraordinaire - takes its first flight down the Parade route. Decked out in metallic & color-shifting paint, sparkling glitter & paillettes with a mylar fringe skirt, this glitzy bird is unmissable. Just like Peacock, you can’t not watch this float! (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's, Inc.)

"Decked out in metallic & color-shifting paint, sparkling glitter and paillettes with a mylar fringe skirt, this glitzy bird is unmissable," Macy's writes of an enormous peacock, which will strut through the streets of New York for the first time.

Celebration Gator by the Louisiana Office of Tourism is "adorned in colorful azaleas, magnolias and Mardi Gras beads, a tribute to Louisiana’s rich culture, from its grand riverboats to the famous French Quarter."

If you look closely through the logo, you may be able to spot its animators working "in the belly of the beast," as the gator's enormous jaws open and close.

Pictured is Celebration Gator presented by Louisiana Office of Tourism. Crawling out of the bayou to join this year’s festivities is the Celebration Gator. Adorned in colorful azaleas, magnolias and Mardi Gras beads, this float is a tribute to Louisiana’s rich culture, from its grand riverboats to the famous French Quarter. Look through the logo to see the animators working in the belly of the beast! (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's, Inc.)"

"This year six new floats will debut including Birds of a Feather Stream Together by Peacock®; Celebration Gator by Louisiana Office of Tourism; Colossal Wave of Wonder by Kalahari Resorts and Conventions; Gravy Pirates by HEINZ; Magic Meets the Sea by Disney Cruise Line; and Tiptoe’s North Pole," said Macy's in their release.

Not only are the floats visually stunning, but they move by themselves, thanks to a a team of carpenters, engineers, electricians, painters, animators, balloon technicians and costume designers.

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