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This Thanksgiving, a pair of furry little monsters are stealing the spotlight from Santa—at least for a few blocks. Pop Mart, the global toy and art brand behind the wildly popular collectible characters Labubu and Mokoko, is making its debut at the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with a brand-new float called “Friendsgiving in Pop City.”
Standing 16 feet tall, the mischievous Labubu and its pink-haired pal Mokoko will appear as fuzzy inflatable sculptures—the first of their kind ever created for a Macy’s float—leading a cast of Pop Mart favorites including Skullpanda, Molly, Dimoo, Peach Riot and Duckoo. Together, they’ll join the parade’s usual mix of larger-than-life balloons, marching bands and celebrities as millions tune in to watch from home on November 27.
“Our goal at Pop Mart is to light up passion and bring joy, and Macy’s Parade has been doing that for nearly a century,” said Larry Lu, president of Pop Mart, the Americas, in an official statement. “Bringing our characters to life at such a storied event represents a significant milestone for us as we kick off our 15th anniversary.”
Pop Mart’s appearance marks another pop culture milestone: the 10-year anniversary of Labubu and The Monsters, whose cheeky, chaotic aesthetic has fueled a global designer-toy craze. The float’s theme ties neatly into both the holiday’s spirit and Pop Mart’s international fandom.
“For more than a century, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been home to the world’s most recognizable and beloved characters,” said Jordan Dabby, producer of the parade, in a statement. “This year the parade gets an extra splash of personality as the colorful characters of Pop Mart join the celebration.”
The New York takeover doesn’t stop on 34th Street. Pop Mart is also opening a limited-time holiday pop-up inside Macy’s Herald Square in November, where fans can shop collectibles and meet their favorite characters in person. Across the street, another installation at 1 Penn Plaza brings the bold “Skullpanda: You Found Me” series to life in a 3,000-square-foot immersive space open through the holidays.
Catch “Friendsgiving in Pop City” when the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs live on NBC and streams on Peacock Thursday, November 27—because nothing says Thanksgiving quite like giant fuzzy monsters parading down Sixth Avenue.