Designer-toy darlings are stepping into one of America’s biggest holiday spotlights. POP MART’s lovable creatures — led by viral favorite LABUBU — are officially headed to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, debuting a brand-new float in New York City that brings their whimsical world to millions of viewers.
Announced in an October 22 press release, the float is titled “Friendsgiving in POP CITY” and unites several of the brand’s most recognizable characters. After dominating everything from kids’ backpacks to designer handbags, POP MART’s plush little mischief-makers are set to add a playful, fuzzy flourish to the iconic parade.
Inside “Friendsgiving in POP CITY”
“Friendsgiving in POP CITY” will showcase a lineup of POP MART favorites, including LABUBU, MOKOKO, SKULLPANDA, Peach Riot, Dimoo, MOLLY, and Duckoo. According to the Macy’s website, LABUBU and MOKOKO are both 16-foot-tall fuzzy inflatable sculptures — the first elements of their kind to be built for a float in the Parade. That distinction is a notable twist for a production famous for its supersized helium balloons and storybook floats, and it gives POP MART’s characters a distinctive textural presence on the route.
POP MART’s characters blend cute design with a streak of mischief, a formula that has fueled their popularity across collectible figures, accessories, and fashion collaborations. Translating that personality into the Parade’s visual language — with towering, soft-textured figures alongside a full cast of companions — positions “Friendsgiving in POP CITY” as one of this year’s more eye-catching additions.
“For more than a century, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has been home to the world’s most recognizable and beloved characters — icons that spark wonder and connection for fans everywhere,” Jordan Dabby, producer of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, said in POP MART’s announcement. “This year the Parade gets an extra splash of personality as the colorful characters of POP MART join the celebration. Bursting with creativity and charm and a dash of mischief, this delightful cast of friends and monsters have inspired smiles and joy for 15 years and we couldn’t be more excited to officially welcome their bright, joyful world into the Macy’s Parade family.”
Dabby’s comments underscore how the Parade continues to evolve while honoring its legacy. Introducing designer-toy icons into a lineup traditionally anchored by classic cartoon characters and blockbuster brands reflects the growing crossover between collectible culture and mainstream family entertainment.
Macy’s x POP MART Bring The Holiday Pop-Up To Herald Square
The Parade collaboration isn’t stopping at one float. POP MART is also partnering with Macy’s on a special holiday pop-up at the retailer’s flagship — Macy’s Herald Square — this November. The activation promises fans a chance to “step into the whimsical world of POP MART and experience their favorite characters and products in real life,” per POP MART’s press release.
For collectors and curious newcomers alike, the pop-up will extend the parade-day excitement into an immersive retail setting, offering a tactile, up-close look at the characters that will be rolling down Sixth Avenue. Given how quickly POP MART drops can sell out, the pop-up is poised to be a high-traffic destination for holiday shoppers and fans looking to pick up exclusive items or seasonal gifts tied to LABUBU and friends.
The timing is a savvy one-two punch: a nationally televised debut alongside a flagship in-store experience at one of the world’s most visited department stores. Together, the float and pop-up amplify POP MART’s presence during the busiest shopping season of the year while introducing the brand’s aesthetic to the Parade’s massive audience.
How To Watch The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will air on November 27 on NBC and be available to stream on Peacock. As always, the broadcast will feature a mix of marching bands, larger-than-life balloons, musical performances, and intricately designed floats — now including POP MART’s “Friendsgiving in POP CITY.”
For fans who’ve followed POP MART from specialty stores to fashion collabs — and for families discovering LABUBU, MOKOKO, SKULLPANDA, and the rest for the first time — the Parade offers a rare opportunity to see these characters scaled up to parade-size and integrated into one of TV’s most beloved holiday traditions.
By planting POP MART’s imaginative menagerie in front of millions, Macy’s is doubling down on what has kept the Parade relevant for nearly a century: embracing new icons while celebrating the communal joy of the season. Expect “Friendsgiving in POP CITY” to bring color, texture, and a dose of playful chaos to Thanksgiving morning — and to send plenty of viewers straight to Herald Square to continue the adventure in person.
