Bridgewater-based industrial gas company Messer Americas is giving the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade a lift when it returns this year as helium supplier for the iconic event’s massive balloons. 

While not as prominent as turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie, the colorless, odorless gas’ role on the holiday can be considered important, as it helps Snoopy, Spider-Man and other characters sail high above the millions of spectators gathered in New York City on Thanksgiving morning.

“We’re so very pleased to uphold the tradition of supplying Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. We look forward to seeing families rejoice when the balloons make their way through the streets,” said Chris Ebeling, executive vice president of sales & marketing, US Bulk at Messer.

According to Messer, the helium begins its journey at the company’s plant in Otis, Kan., where it is refined and liquefied before being transported to a helium trans-fill facility in Bethlehem, Pa., for conversion into gas. After being compressed into high-pressure tube trailers, it is then trucked into New York City.

The day before the parade, Messer and Macy’s staff inflate the balloons near the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan using a gas filling apparatus Messer has customized for the parade. Then, on Thanksgiving morning, the balloons are topped off with helium and poised for the parade.

“We can’t wait to kick-off the 2023 holiday season with this year’s Parade. Our longstanding partnership with Messer has been instrumental in helping bring these wonderful characters to life on Thanksgiving,” said Kathleen Wright, director of production operations for Macy’s Studios.

That’s not the only local connection at the beloved event.

Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights were selected as one of 10 marching bands to perform in the parade — and the only one representing New Jersey. It also marks the first time in the band’s 108-year history that it will appear in the parade, joining the revelry along with floats, balloons, clowns and superstar performers.

After answering a call for submissions from the Macy’s Parade Band Committee for bands that have state presence, musical and marching abilities, the Marching Scarlet Knights were picked from more than 100 applicants to march in this year’s parade.

Todd Nichols, Rutgers’ director of university bands and athletic bands, said, “Our entire university band program is thrilled to celebrate the Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights being invited to represent our university and the great state of New Jersey in one of the most time-honored traditions for marching bands.”

“To be invited to march in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is an incredible honor and quite honestly a ‘bucket-list’ wish for our band members, teaching staff and directors. We cannot wait to join the 2023 parade and greatly thank the Macy’s team for this gracious invitation,” Nichols said.

“It is an incredible honor to have our Rutgers Marching Scarlet Knights sharing center stage on one of the biggest days of the year,” said Rutgers Athletic Director Pat Hobbs. “This is a testament to the incredible job Todd and his assistants have done and the hard work of each and every band member. They are so deserving of this opportunity.”

During an appearance last week on the Today Show, the band gave a sneak peek at what the millions of viewers gathered along Fifth Avenue and at home can expect on parade day.

Over the years, the Marching Scarlet Knights have appeared at several other high-profile events, including Super Bowl XVIII, 2022 Music for All Grand Nationals, on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and during Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium.