Matt Harnick's MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE: A NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY TRADITION Book to Commemorate the Annual Event

"Let's have a Parade!" This is the iconic phrase that kicks off the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade each and every year. Since 1924 the spectacle has delighted millions of fans in Herald Square and around the world. Celebrating its 90th march in 2016, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has proudly marked the official start of the holiday season for several generations of fans, and MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE: A NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY TRADITION, with photography by Matt Harnick and The Macy's Archives and text by Stephen M. Silverman, is the official commemorative keepsake for this big anniversary.

Growing in size and scale since its ragtag debut, the Macy's Parade marches down a more than 2-mile route in New York City. With more than 50 million viewers across the country and more than 3.5 million spectators that line up along the streets of New York City each year the spectacle has become a national icon that has grown into a world-famous holiday event. With more than 8,000 participants in tow the Parade is a magical enterprise that features 17 of Macy's signature giant helium character balloons, 27 dazzling floats, more than 5,000 costumed performers, casts of the hottest Broadway shows, the legendary Radio City Rockettes, stars as diverse as KISS, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Shania Twain, and Jimmy Fallon (to name a few who have performed over the years), America's best marching bands and performance groups, and of course, the one-and-only Santa Claus.

MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE: A NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY TRADITION is filled with exclusive and archival images of the spectacular floating balloons that have charmed millions of old and young alike for decades, and offers readers a never-before-seen look at the planning and preparation of the parade, including a peek into the magic factory located in Bergen County, NJ where a staff of 25 work all year long on The Parade, building floats and designing balloons. It also features spectacular images of hundreds of dazzling floats throughout the years and the thousands participating in marching bands and as costumed performers. Of course, the book ends the way the actual parade does-with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, who welcome the world to start their holidays in the most joyous way possible.

Independent photographer Matt Harnick has contributed over 100 wonderful pictures to the book, complementing those from The Macy's Archives. "Shooting these photos has been a labor of love," Harnick said. "I've been thrilled watching the parade set up year after year outside my building on Central Park West ever since I was five-years-old. It felt right to make a book in conjunction with Macy's to celebrate the parade's milestone anniversary."

Matt Harnick is an independent photographer who learned his craft from his mother, Broadway actress-turned-professional photographer Margery Gray Harnick. His father is famed Broadway lyricist Sheldon Harnick whose hits include Fiddler on the Roof among others. Matt has been shooting Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade professionally since 2009. His photography is often shown at art exhibits. About the Author: Stephen M. Silverman is a 20-year veteran of Time Inc. and was the first editor of People.com. His previous books include Divas, The Catskills, and the biographies of the filmmakers David Lean and Stanley Donen, and his work has appeared in Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, Newsweek, the New York Times, The Times (London), Vogue, and The Washington Post. He lives in New York City and was born on Thanksgiving Day. Andrew M. Cuomo is the governor of New York. Terry J. Lundgren is the Chairman and CEO of Macy's, Inc.

Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc. (NYSE:M), delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 730 locations in 45 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. Via its stores, e-commerce site, mobile and social platforms, Macy's offers distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Macy's flagship stores -- including Herald Square in New York City, Union Square in San Francisco, State Street in Chicago, and Dadeland in Miami and South Coast Plaza in southern California -- are known internationally and are leading destinations for visitors. Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $69 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.

MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE: A NEW YORK CITY HOLIDAY TRADITION

Photography by Matt Harnick and The Macy's Archives

Text by Stephen Silverman

Foreword by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Afterword by Terry J. Lundgren

Rizzoli New York

ISBN: 978-0-7893-3257-8

PRICE: $29.95 US / $40.00 CAN

PUBLICATION DATE: September 2016

Hardcover / 136 pages / 166 color and black-and-white photographs / 10½" x 9½"

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