Looking to add some big fun to your backyard bash? Look no further than these giant lawn games! These larger-than-life versions of classic games are perfect for all ages and add a playful twist to any outdoor gathering. Whether you’re looking for a game to keep the kids entertained or a way to liven up your next BBQ, jumbo yard games are the way to go. From giant Jenga to oversized bowling, there are so many options to choose from. But where do you start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

We’re sharing our top picks for giant lawn games that you can purchase right now. In fact, most of them are from Amazon, so you can get them almost right now. It’s never too early to start planning your spring and summer get-togethers, and these are also perfect for spring break. Plus, we made sure to consider kiddos of all ages so no one gets left out. Get ready to supersize your next backyard game night!

Oversized Yardzee

giant wooden dice set lawn game
SWOOC

This oversized Yahtzee (Yardzee—get it?) game is so much fun for everyone! And this set isn't just limited to Yahtzee. Farkle, Bowling, Pig, and more (20+ games) are packed into this one, weather-resistant set. 

Oversized Yardzee ($39.99)—Buy Here!

Giant Yard Pong

giant yard pong lawn game
Juegoal

This jumbo yard pong game is perfect for all ages. This set includes 12 oversized red cups, four balls, and a carrying case so you can take easily bring the fun with you to the beach or your next family gathering. Available in red, black, or teal/glow in the dark options!

Giant Yard Pong ($39.99)—Buy Here!

28 Piece Large Wooden Dominoes

giant dominoes lawn game
Triumph Sports

Color-coded and varnish-finished, these giant dominoes are ideal for the the whole family!

28 Piece Large Wooden Dominoes ($44.63)—Buy Here!

2-in-1 Vintage Giant Checkers & Tic Tac Toe

giant checkers board
SWOOC

Did someone say 'washable'? The board—a durable and reversible canvas—can be machine-washed, so grass stains and drink spills are no problem at all. This set comes with everything you need for Checkers and Tic Tac Toe.

2-in-1 Vintage Giant Checkers & Tic Tac Toe ($39.99)—Buy Here!

Jumbo Ring Toss

Amazon

This giant ring toss game is simply a backyard must-have. A tried-and-true favorite activity through the spring, summer, and fall, ring toss has a way of bringing people (of all ages) together. This particular set has almost 12K glowing Amazon reviews, too, so they're clearly doing something right.

Jumbo Ring Toss ($24.99)—Buy Here!

GoSports Ladder Toss

set of two ladder toss games
GoSports

This ladder toss is a great game for all ages to play. Set up is easy and you'll be having a blast in no time.

GoSports Ladder Toss ($49.99)—Buy Here!

MegaChess

giant game of chess
MegaChess

Just as the name implies, this is indeed a mega game of chess. With a 25 in. tall king (should give you a good idea of the size we're talking about here), this is such a charming set for mega chess fans.

MegaChess ($450.00)—Buy Here!

Giant Playing Cards

hand holding giant playing cards for lawn games
Yuanhe

Who among us doesn't need a full (all 52 cards) deck of enormous playing cards?

Giant Playing Cards ($13.69)—Buy Here!

Kick Croquet Game Set

giant kick croquet game
Franklin Sports

Kids will have a ball with this fun, outdoor, giant kick croquet game! Kick Croquet combines the fun of running and kicking a ball with the extra added attraction of guiding it through a course of wickets. You can make the course as hard or easy as you want. We're talking soccer vibes in a huge croquet set.

Kick Croquet Game Set ($34.18)—Buy Here!

Giant Connect 4

giant connect 4 game and bag
Giantville

If this isn't the most fun game for families, we aren't sure what is. Set up this jumbo version of Connect Four in your backyard and the kids will be dueling it out all summer long (but, you know, like in a healthy, friendly competition way). Don't believe us? Read the reviews!

Giant Connect 4 ($208.21)—Buy Here!

Giant Jenga

jumbo jenga game
Jenga

Don't you just love this extra-huge version of Jenga? The kids might need your help setting it up every time they knock it over, but other than that this is certainly one of the best jumbo lawn games you can bring home.

Giant Jenga ($118.50)—Buy Here!

Giant Kick Darts

SWOOC

Sure, this huge inflatable game could go one of two ways depending on the kind of neighbors you have and the aim your family has, but it's still wildly fun.

Giant Kick Darts ($149.99)—Buy Here!

Giant Inflatable Dice 6-Pack

Amazon

This inflatable dice set comes with six dice so that you can teach the kids one of these fun games or even use them to make match concepts fun. We love that they are easy to transport so that you can bring them with you camping or on your next family vacation.

Giant Inflatable Dice 6-Pack ($17.29)—Buy Here!

Giant Inflatable Bowling Set

Etna

This is a super fun option for little ones since there's very little risk of them getting hurt. Have the kids kick the bowling ball or mix it up and have them kick it backward—there are tons of ways this can be a fun and active game.

Giant Inflatable Bowling Set ($24.99)—Buy Here!

All the products listed are independently & personally selected by our shopping editors.

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation. Prices and availability reflect the time of publication.

All images courtesy of retailers.

You can totally still find everything you need, even a last-minute gift card for that niece you left off your list, at these stores

Picture this: it’s Christmas Day and just realized you forgot to get apples for the pie. Or, maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas and you just need to buy some milk. So, what do you do? Luckily there are a decent amount of grocery stores open on Christmas that can save your day. So where should you head when your entire family is just minutes away and you need something ASAP? We’ve compiled a list of convenience and grocery stores open on Christmas Day.

But first—the bad news. While there are several convenience and grocery stores open on Christmas, some of your go-to grocers will be closed for the holiday. Grocery stores giving their employees the day off include Aldi, Costco, Hy-Vee, Giant, Kroger (hours vary by location so check your local store to confirm), Publix, Stop & Shop, Target, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Wegman’s and Whole Foods.

Convenience and Grocery stores open on Christmas Day

  • 7-Eleven: Most locations are open 24 hours
  • Acme: most stores open at 7 a.m.
  • Albertsons: Most locations are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Bravo Supermarkets: Most locations will be operating with special hours
  • Cumberland Farms: Open from 7 a.m. to midnight
  • Circle K: Most locations are open 24 hours
  • CVS: Most locations are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Pavilions: Most are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Safeway: Some Safeway locations will be open on Christmas, so check your local store for hours
  • Sheetz: Open 24 hours
  • Starbucks: Not a grocery store, but if you need more caffeine to survive the day you can make a pit stop as most locations will maintain regular hours
  • Walgreens: Stores that are regularly open 24/7 will stay open on Christmas, and most other locations should stay open with reduced hours
  • Wawa: Most locations are open 24 hours
  • QuickChek
  • QuickTrip: Most are open on Christmas Day

Your local stores’ actual holiday hours may vary depending on where you live, so be sure to check before you head out.

 

What’s better than one plant pillow? Multiple plant pillows! Green Philosophy Co. has a new batch to liven up your home sans green thumb.

Snag a beautiful blush peach Big Pop pillow for $69 and enjoy the soft, microplush material. The new pillow is also available in sage green, plus smaller versions as well.

Want to cozy up with a blanket, too? The new Sherpa Gloriosum Leaf Throw Blanket ($149) covers you in green glory. The design is inspired by the Philodendron Gloriosum’s leaves, which boast a heart shape and contrasting veins.

Snag a beautiful Alocasia Micholitziana in forest green or obisidian with a pop of white from its eye-catching vein pattern. It’s available now for $49.

You may be familiar Green Philosophy Co. realistic succulent trio that comes in sage green, olive green and peach. The pillows measure 15 inches wide and 8 inches tall. You can buy them individually ($39) or as a bundle ($109). 

Another new growth, the Philodendron Gloriosum, is inspired by a lovely heart shaped plant that looks great in any room. You can buy it in Serene Green (pictured) or Moody Green for $39.

Or order a Monstera deliciosa pillows as well! The only bad news: pre-orders aren’t shipping until September. Pull the trigger on one now and you’ll have it just in time for fall!

And before you wonder if these are just novelty pillows, the reviews and our own-plant obsessed editor can attest: these babies are plush, snuggly and high-quality. So far, they’re even toddler-proof.

—Jennifer Swartvagher, Amber Guetebier, Karly Wood and Sarah Shebek

All photos courtesy of Green Philosophy Co. 

 

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Photo: Unsplash

From this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part…

But what if it’s not one of you two who got sick? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the United States. Nine out of ten people from that group are providing care for an aging relative, and the relative majority is caring for a parent.

Becoming a caregiver changes a lot, and that is not an exaggeration. Your life is different now, and you have to come up with a plan to keep your marriage alive. Here are 5 tips for caregivers about how to protect your marriage.

Tip #1. Support Does Matter
Never underestimate a caregiver’s strain on the marriage. Being a caregiver may feel like having way too much on your plate, which doesn’t become any easier over time. In fact, caregiving affects marriage a lot. For example, dealing with an aging parent can lead to caregiver spouse burnout that will inevitably affect your marriage. The important thing to remember here is that you don’t have to deal with it alone.

Caregiving won’t ruin your relationship if you build your support group with people who are ready to give you a hand or two. It doesn’t necessarily have to be your best friend on speed dial; you can also consider joining support groups or counseling sessions once or twice a week. If you find your safe place and take some time to recharge, you can stay refreshed.

Tip #2. Never Forget to Schedule Some Me-Time
Have you ever felt like caregiving is ruining your marriage? The only reasonable outcome of everyday stress is burnout. To avoid that, you need to take some time to relax and regain your energy. No doubt, it is important to find time for your partner; however, sometimes, you will have to put your physical and mental health first to function at all.

Never underrate your own needs to have a rest. Treat yourself, do that face mask, watch the sitcom you’ve planned to, and, most importantly, don’t shame yourself for being a human. Elder care and marriage can coexist if you are taking care of yourself first.

Tip #3. Communication Is Key
When your spouse is a caregiver, it takes two of you to build strong and healthy communication in your relationship. If you’re the one taking care of an aging person, the bad news is your family members have no clue about your emotional state. So they may have a hard time guessing why you are so frustrated or irritable.

Have there been times when you lost your composure over little things? And your partner is confused because your reasons are not that obvious for them as they seem for you. Spouse caregiver burnout is much more common than you think. Talk with them, explain how you feel, why you feel that way, and what you need them to do to make things better. Actually, it works both ways; they also need to be heard and listened to. Everyone does.

Tip #4. Don’t Forget to Give Your Relationship That Precious Sparkle
Just a few extra minutes of snuggling in bed can do wonders for your marriage. Caregiver spouse intimacy is not off limits! Surprise your partner with a nice bubbly bath and a glass of wine, or take an evening off to do something together.

Sometimes even the little things are enough to show that you love your partner and care about your relationship. Just do it! And maybe one time you’ll come home to see the tickets to your favorite movie, a Broadway show or opera as a thank you for all your efforts.

Tip #5. Consider Other Options
An aging parent with health problems is, in fact, a common situation for most families. It might become a real problem when your spouse is a caregiver, so you may want to explore other options, such as care services. In-home caregiving help can become a lifesaver as you will still have some control over your parents and keep your life balance.

A nursing home gives you back the intimacy of your home, and what’s more, you can stop worrying about your parent’s wellbeing. If your parent has a chronic disease or other health issues, you can also consider a geriatric doctor. Talk with your parents and your partner to figure out what works best for all of you. Remember to keep their interests in mind as it’s not about choosing between a spouse and an elderly parent.

Marriage and caring for aging parents are not mutually exclusive. As long as you put some effort into handling your family-life balance and maintaining harmony at home, nothing is impossible. Patience and understanding are crucial for working through this complicated stage of your life. Just remember to choose your priorities and work out a strategy and stick to it.

 

I'm a certified life transformation coach at OnlineDivorce.com and a freelance writer with expertise in mindfulness and sustainability. In addition, I'm a published author focused on the most progressive solutions in Psychology. I help people go through fundamental life challenges and build an entirely new life by reframing their personal narratives.  

The bad news: fall isn’t here yet. The good news: Nestle Toll House is giving us one more reason to look forward to the upcoming season! Get ready for some fantastic new cookie dough flavors launching for a limited time in August, including everyone’s fave, Pumpkin Spice.

Yup, Pumpkin Spice! Nestle’s getting in on the craze with the release of a new dough that’s pumpkin-spice flavored and mixed with white chocolate morsels. We can’t think of anything better to pair with a latte or cider for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Plus you’ll be able to buy a new assortment that features white morsels, mini coffee biscuits and pumpkin-spice flavored chunks!

If you can’t handle any more Pumpkin Spice, you’ll be happy to hear Nestle has a few more tricks up its sleeves. PB&J Cookie Dough riffs off the sandwich classic, with peanut butter cookie dough and strawberry-flavored pieces. Cinnamon Roll Cookie Dough is sugar cookie dough laced with cinnamon and cream cheese pieces. And Trick or Treats Dough is a fudge dough topped with festive Halloween sprinkles!

The new doughs will be available at retailers nationwide starting in August and retail for around $2.99. At that price, you’d better believe we’ll be trying them all!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Nestle Toll House

 

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Good news and bad news. Bad news: Your sleep quality takes a dramatic dive once you become a parent. Good news: There are a lot of other parents out there who can sympathize. New data from SWNS drives that point home and shows that more than half the moms and dads surveyed would even consider hiring a babysitter to take over the bedtime routine.

If you have a hard time falling asleep at night, sneak a nap during the day or struggle to get your kids down, you’re not alone! The survey of 2,000 American parents of kids 18 and under found that our lovely offspring are the main reason for sleep deprivation. Forty-six percent of respondents said kids are the main reason they can never fall, or stay, asleep. Almost three-quarters (72%) said they’ll go for a daytime nap when possible. And almost half (44%) don’t drift off to dreamland easily once it’s finally time for bed.

While the average kid bedtime is a reasonable window between 8-9 p.m., we all know it’s not easy getting there. One-third of parents said putting their kids to bed is the biggest sleep routine challenge. Babysitters are traditionally reserved for date nights, but more than half of parents said they’d consider hiring one just to handle bedtime. An unlikely, but admittedly appealing-sounding arrangement some nights.

Mattress company Sealy commissioned the study, which was conducted by OnePoll. Tired parents also reported falling asleep everywhere from the kitchen table to the salon chair. But there’s more good news: It doesn’t last forever (thanks, teenagers). In the meantime, can we recommend a coffee subscription?

 

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Sometimes you really just want a slice of cheesecake. Then you remember how long it takes to bake at home—but fighting the restaurant crowds for a slice also makes you shudder. Still, cheesecake sounds so good, preferably blended up with some ice cream. Here comes Sonic to the rescue with new Cheesecake Blasts!

The popular drive through chain is offering two new flavors in its Blast lineup, Cheesecake Blast and Strawberry Cheesecake Blast. Both swirl delicious cheesecake and graham cracker pieces with ice cream, and the strawberry cheesecake even has real pieces of fruit added in.

Sonic Cheesecake Blasts

“From the rich, velvety flavor to the craveable crunch of the graham cracker, SONIC magically perfects the unmistakable experience of indulging in decadent cheesecake, with no fork or plate necessary,” said Scott Uehlein, vice president of product innovation and development for SONIC. “With high quality ingredients from start to finish, our guests can delight in the classic, or Strawberry Cheesecake Blast, to truly capture the delectable flavors of Summertime.”

One piece of bad news: the new blasts are only available for a limited time at participating Sonic drive ins, through June 27. If that news has you racing to your car, you can also order online or through the SONIC app for contactless payment and delivery. Consider your craving satisfied in minutes, not hours.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Business Wire

 

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“I peed all over myself and I ruined my new, special, sparkly shoes from my baby sister. It was my gift from my baby sister! It’s all ruined!”

This was not at all how I imagined my first night home from the hospital with my second daughter but that is the first thing I heard when I walked through the door. 

No, the night I brought my newborn into my family fold was carefully planned and rehearsed in my mind. My toddler would come to meet us at the hospital, we would all go home as a family, we would turn in early. But the best laid plans are just that – plans- and reality is a grainier version of our dreams so often. At least it was that night.

One of the most important principles of integrating a new sibling into a family is to make sure that the older son or daughter still feels special during the whole process. So, we had slyly sleuthed out a gift “from” baby sister that she would receive at the hospital. In this case, in keeping with my daughter’s obsession with fancy shoes (not my fault, I swear), we bought her a pair of gold, glittery mary janes with huge bows on the toes. When she arrived to meet her new sister, she was ecstatic to see her and to try on her shoes. So ecstatic, in fact, that she forgot that she needed to make a potty stop later that afternoon while on a walk, fell while running down an incline on the sidewalk in the neighborhood and came home with a bloody knee, urine in her shoes and a very discouraged dad.

The bad news? Things didn’t go quite as planned. The good news? By the next morning, she had completely forgotten about the incident and was back to her happy self. AND, the more important things we planned DID work.

Here are some of the key moves I recommend and used myself to make the addition of a second sibling extremely smooth overall:

1. We talked about baby a lot before she was born. From pretending she was laughing when my toddler tickled my pregnant belly to letting my daughter feel her kick, she was very much a part of our lives before she ever existed on the outside. We also brought up in conversation what it would be like to have a baby (“When babies are little they don’t talk, they cry a lot, but we can give them little kisses on the head and we can love on them”) and also talked about funny things the baby would do so we had some jokes to laugh about when baby came (“The baby will toot a lot, she’ll have little burps, she’ll yawn”). It worked. “Hey, she did burp!” my daughter exclaimed that first morning home.

2. We kept my physical connection with my daughter intact as much as possible. When my eldest arrived at the hospital, her first question (after whispering, “hello mama” and giving me the tiniest wave) was to ask when it was ok for her to crawl onto my lap. It was the sweetest request and one I recognized as a need to know I was still her mom, still the one she could hold. I answered “right now!” and we had my husband hold the baby while I held onto my precious, big girl. Others have done this similarly – they have another person hold onto the baby when the older child enters the room or they have the baby in the bassinet so the child is coming back to just the parents. There is no perfect way. The most important is for your little (big) one to feel like they have not been replaced.

3. We introduced language and standards so both kids knew from the start that there was a give and take. We knew we would be saying, “Just a minute, I’m taking care of your sister,” quite a bit to our older daughter just given the way newborns tend to need attention. So, when we were helping our toddler with a task and our newborn started to cry or fuss, we used that same phrase with her as we finished up.

4. We attended to our own sense of loss. I underestimated how much I would miss my older daughter when I had my newborn. I watched my husband play with her, give her a bath and put her to bed. It didn’t take long before I really MISSED her. In the first few days, it was impossible physically for me to take care of her to the same extent he could. So, instead, I had my daughter sit with me as we watched a movie (special treat!), read a book or just snuggled.

5. We kept our same traditions. We’ve had a tradition for the past 3 years of snuggling in bed in the morning on the weekends as a family. My husband and I used it at first as a little reward for my daughter sleeping through the night but then it stuck and was a happy way for us to start the weekend, too. We used to call it, “Three Peas in a Pod” and she would climb in and pull the covers over all of us. Now we call it “Four Peas in a Pod.” It takes a little more maneuvering to make sure that no one (ie. me or the baby) gets mauled as she jumps in, but it’s worth it to preserve the sense of tradition for my daughter.

6. We gave my daughter little jobs to do to help us. We never tell her she has to help with the baby but we ask her if she can take the used diapers to the diaper pail and if she can find the fresh diaper for us. She loves it. Now she comes over and waits for me to finish changing baby so that she can do her job. She is thrilled to be a big helper. Every child is different but this totally plays to her personality to be involved and to be “big.” It also gives us something to praise during days where she is acting out a little because she’s not getting quite as much attention as she normally gets.

7. We planned mommy-daughter time. As soon as physically possible (for me at about 3 weeks in), I planned a mommy-daughter date where my toddler and I went – just us- no baby, and did something super fun. For us, it was going to a little kids’ concert and to the bakery for a treat. We left for long enough that it felt like an adventure for her (about 2-3 hours) but not for so long that I had to pump more than once to make it happen. I needed to reconnect and she did, too. Taking little breaks from the baby as soon as possible was so important to remind myself of what I have to look forward to, too. When you’re a new mom, you feel like “this is it – my life may ALWAYS look like this.” When you’re a second-time mom, you have more perspective as you look at your older child and see that they made it. Still, it’s easier to keep that perspective when you get moments away from the baby and with your older, more interactive child.

Planning to bring baby #2 home? Expect it to be amazing… and complicated and messy. Coming home to urine-filled, brand-new shoes and a crestfallen face of tears? Not my ideal. But the love my daughter has for her little sister is so worth all the drama. Yesterday she looked at the baby, looked up at me and smiled. “Isn’t she wonderful, mom?” she whispered. Alright, it’s definitely worth it, I thought, soggy shoes and all.

_____________

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Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, FAAP
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I'm a pediatrician and a mama mindset expert. I host The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast, and am a mom to two young girls in Portland, Oregon. I'm also author of The New Baby Blueprint and The Working Mom Blueprint from the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

No one was more excited to get the news that California can start the process of reopening theme parks than residents themselves––except maybe theme park enthusiasts! Disneyland, Six Flags, LEGOLAND, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios and more have all been closed since last March but new guidelines will soon allow the parks to reopen.

First things first, there are a few things you need to know. California currently utilizes a color-coded, tiered system that places counties into varying levels of “openness” based on Covid-19 case rates. Only parks in counties that are in the red, orange and yellow tiers will be able to open.

photo: Christian Thompson via Disneyland Resort

That means that all parks in the purple tier, where the virus is still considered “widespread” will not be eligible for reopening. Once the county moves to the red tier, amusement parks are eligible to open starting Apr. 1.

While in the red tier, parks can operate at a limited 15 percent capacity. Once they move to the orange tier, they can increase to 25 percent, and 35 percent once in the yellow tier.

Now for the potentially bad news: for now, attendance is limited only to in-state visitors. That means, don’t start planning that big Disney trip to California just yet!

But keep that chin up. Currently California has administered over 10 million vaccine doses so that yellow tier is closer than ever!

––Karly Wood

 

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The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a New York City tradition that’s been happening for 94 years. Is it cancelled for 2020? No, but, thanks to Covid-19, it’s different this year. (You know, like everything else.) Here’s what you can expect from The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2020: when it is, how you can see it, who’s performing, and what floats and balloons will be flying high. (Still looking for the best Thanksgiving food in NYC? We found it right here!) Happy Thanksgiving!

When It Is & How to Watch

iStock

For the first time in its history, the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will be a televised event exclusively, with no public spectators. 

It will air nationwide on NBC-TV, Thursday, November 26, from 9 a.m. to Noon, in all time zones. 

On hand to host will be familiar NBC personalities Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and Al Roker.

Changes To the Parade in 2020

Mimi O'Connor

Necessary changes have been made to keep everyone safe. 

The parade will not cover the traditional 2.5-mile parade route; instead the action will be focused solely in and around the Herald Square area of Midtown Manhattan, where Macy's flagship is located. 

You won't see the armies of balloon handlers and staff, as the overall number of participants has been reduced by approximately 75 percent. No kids under 18 this year, either, and of course masks and social distancing will be in play. 

Will the Balloons Fly This Year?

Mimi O'Connor

Yes! But those signature character balloons will be flown without the traditional 80-100 handlers as in previous years. Instead, the parade will employ five rigged specialty vehicles to help them achieve lift-off. 

New Balloons

Macy's

It's a big day for YouTubers and ambitious infants. Two new balloons are joining the parade lineup this year. "Red Titan", the character inspired by YouTube personality Ryan of Ryan’s World is the first balloon based on a YouTuber creation to be part of the parade.

Also debuting is Boss Baby, based on the opinionated animated character from film and tv. 

And, getting the chance to take fly again (after some damage last year) is artist Yayoi Kusama's balloon "Love Flies Up To The Sky," pictured here. 

And Four New Floats!

Macy's/Olay

New floats joining the lineup include a green and gold turkey from Jennie-O, a Christmas in Town Square from Lifetime, a Black woman astronaut from Olay and a madcap scene featuring cat and mouse Tom & Jerry. 

Celebrity Appearances, Musical Performances & Santa

slgckgc via flickr

The stars will still come out to shine and perform this year. Keep your eyes peeled for celebs like Dolly Parton, Leslie Odom Jr., Patti Labelle, the New York City Ballet, Bebe Rexha and Noah Cyrus. (Plus many more!) 

And yes, the finale of Santa's arrival will mark the official start of the holiday season! 

Broadway Performances & The Rockettes

hamiltonmusical via Instagram

The razzle dazzle of Broadway shows will still take place, with performances from the casts of Hamilton, Jagged Little Pill, Mean Girls and Ain't Too Proud. Plus, the Rockettes will rock it as always. 

What About the Marching Bands?

Karmakazesal via Flickr

The bad news: previously-selected regional High School and College Marching Bands performances will be deferred to the 2021 Macy’s Parade.

The good: locally-based professional marching and musical ensembles will step in to provide some rousing tunes.

Can We Attend the Balloon Inflation?

Kowarski via Flickr

Sadly, no: Macy’s traditional giant balloon inflation public event, traditionally held the night before the parade, will not take place.

But! Macy's has created "Parade 101", a guide to the parade with S.T.E.A.M.-inspired videos and activities, including "The Fundamentals of Inflation!" Check it out here! 

—Mimi O’Connor

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