Preparations for the 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are underway, and one balloon in particular had a makeover.
According to ABC News, the Snoopy Balloon has been around since 1968 when he appeared as Snoopy the Aviator and has been featured in 36 parades since, which is more than any other balloon. The completion of Snoopy's makeover also cements the balloon's standing as the most balloon versions throughout the years for the parade.
The lovable Peanuts character has appeared as an astronaut from 1969-1977, an ice skater from 1986-1987, a flying ace and Millennium Snoopy, reports the Examiner. This year, Snoopy will be cruising down the parade route as classic nose-diving snoopy with Woodstock atop his head.
The new balloon was constructed from polyurethane coated in nylon and is 67 feet long, 27 feet wide and 38 feet tall. The new design has Snoopy made of 12 chambers which will require 90 handlers to control.
The 2013 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade begins at 9:00 a.m. ET on Thanksgiving morning on NBC. Performers include Carrie Underwood, Fall Out Boy, Gavin DeGraw, Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, Austin Mahone, Goo Goo Dolls, Florida Georgia Line, Cher Lloyd, Kellie Pickler, Megan Hilty, Kristin Chenoweth, Joan Jett, and Jimmy Fallon and The Roots. Three other new balloons will also debut this year, including Adventure Time's Finn and Jake, a holiday edition made-over SpongeBob Square Pants and Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon.
Watch Snoopy as he maneuvers Times Square back in 2011.
Image: YouTube screen shot