Solon, Gates Mills teens in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade

CLEVELAND -- It's Thanksgiving with Santa Claus in New York City for Solon High School freshman Dani Apple, 15, of Solon, and Mayfield High School senior Zoe Conley, 18, of Gates Mills. They're performing in the finale of the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, seen from 9 a.m. to noon on NBC's WKYC-TV here.

More than 450 students tried out and 60 were chosen to sing and dance in a special performance created just for them in the Macy's parade.

The two join other young performers from 22 states and three countries. The entire cast came out of the Stagedoor Manor summer theater program in upstate New York, where both Dani and Zoe are enrolled.

The 60 singers and dancers will have roles on-and-around the sleigh that carries Santa Claus to Macy's.

This year, the parade has a brand new route and several new gigantic balloons and floats.

The new balloons include the Pillsbury Doughboy, Ronald McDonald, Sailor Mickey and Spider-Man.

There will also be several new float introductions in this year's Thanksgiving Day parade: Local Heroes Helping Everyday, There's a Party in My City and the 3rd edition of Santa's Sleigh.