Nintendo announces Mario is coming to the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Mario will be showing up at the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a special character balloon, Nintendo just announced. We have an early look with the 3D model above.

The Mario balloon was created by Macy’s Parade Studio’s team of artists in partnership with Nintendo of America. It measures 51-feet and 2-inches long, 37-feet wide and 43-feet, and 8-inches tall. Mario himself will be represented with his classic blue overalls and signature red cap, along with a flying pose inspired by Super Mario Galaxy.

Devon Pritchard, EVP of Revenue, Marketing & Consumer Experience at Nintendo of America, said today: “Having Mario join this iconic holiday tradition is an incredible way to honor the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Since he first emerged from a Warp Pipe, Mario has embodied our goal of bringing smiles to faces all over the world. We are excited for Mario fans of all ages to see his new balloon’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade debut.”

Jordan Dabby, producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade added: “The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has long been a stage for the world’s most beloved characters, and this year we’re thrilled to partner with Nintendo to welcome a new Mario balloon to that tradition. As Mario celebrates 40 years of inspiring players and families worldwide, his flight down the streets of Manhattan is both a historic milestone and a joyful celebration — one sure to have fans everywhere cheering ‘Wahoo!’ this Thanksgiving morning.”

In other news, the Nintendo New York store will be celebrating the holiday. Visitors can expect festive décor and “plenty of Nintendo-themed holiday magic.”

The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place Thursday, November 27 in the U.S. on NBC and stream on Peacock. It’ll run between 8:30 AM and 12 PM.