The Iconic Macy's Herald Square Christmas Windows Unveiled, Today

Macy's Herald Square will introduce a new hero when the flagship store unveils its iconic Christmas windows on Thursday, November 15 at 6:00pm. Visitors of all ages will be able to meet astronaut Sunny the Snowpal in the Broadway window displays, titled "Believe in the Wonder of Giving." The six enchanted windows will share a tale of friendship, family, adventure, and teamwork as Sunny works to save Christmas with the help of her friends.

Award-winning designer and Macy's National Director of Window Presentation, Roya Sullivan, created the 2018 intergalactic-themed Christmas windows. A custom interactive video game lets guests zoom Sunny through snowflakes in pursuit of Santa's sleigh, while LED backdrops and animated characters and scenery bring energy to the holiday scenes.

"We love to tell a new Christmas story in the windows each year, and I am excited to share Sunny's adventure with our visitors," said Sullivan. "The windows are set in space, but the gifts of friendship and family are universal. We hope guests of all ages will find holiday joy reflected in our windows."

New this year, customers can take Sunny the Snowpal home after experiencing her inspiring journey. An 11 inch Sunny the Snowpal plush will be sold exclusively at Macy's Herald Square and Union Square.

Window One

Far from Earth, Sunny the Snowpal is safe and warm in a space station surrounded by wrapped gifts and festive bunting. Sunny looks longingly at Santa's distant sleigh, bursting free to catch him as the scene shifts. Glowing stars and planets flicker brightly around her.

Window Two

Sunny is perched on a snowflake and spectators are invited to join the quest to unite with Santa, navigating our hero safely through a snowstorm using buttons on the glass. Santa's sleigh draws nearer as Sunny swoops through the night sky.

Window Three

The moon shines brightly overhead as spectators meet Sunny inside Santa's bag. Joined by heaps of blinking toys and colorfully wrapped gifts, Sunny meets a new friend. An Arctic fox is also hiding out in Santa's bag, and blinks back at a smiling Sunny.

Window Four

Santa's sleigh is in trouble, but Sunny and her fox friend are here to save the day. As the life-size sleigh rotates over, it reveals a complex maze of cogs and machinery. Sunny works to replace the missing piece with a snowflake as her friend peers down.

Window Five

With the sleigh fixed, Santa zooms over a snowy forest. Burrowed deep underground, families of bunnies, polar bears, and white foxes nestle together, exchanging gifts. Thanks to Sunny's skill, the Arctic fox parachutes safely down to spend Christmas with his family, popping through the door to surprise them.

Window Six

Sunny returns to her family in the final scene. The joyful snowpeople cheer for their returning hero as Ice City celebrates Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the background. Santa and his sleigh swoop overhead, pulling a banner reminding the city to "Believe in the Wonder of Giving!"

In addition to the six Broadway windows, Macy's will also showcase scenes from Christmas classic Yes, Virginia... in the 34th Street windows. The 7th Avenue windows will be filled with colorful Lego scenes.

Macy's Herald Square Christmas Windows Fun Facts

· Macy's was the first department store to feature Christmas window displays and has been enchanting generations of spectators since 1874.

· Macy's began the tradition of animated windows in 1899 at its original 14th street location.

· During peak hours, more than 10,000 people per hour pass by the windows.

· Each Christmas window display is a project nearly a year in the making as plans for the next year's windows begin in January, almost immediately after the windows are taken down.

· It takes a dedicated team of more than 200 of Santa's helpers to bring the windows to life including Macy's display artists, graphic artists, sculptural artists, animators, carpenters, electricians, and music and sound experts.

· Installation of the Christmas windows takes 21 days and nights.

· The windows will run through January 1, 2019.

Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc. delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 650 locations in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com.