The iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons
Floating to Macy's Herald Square
(Photo by Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images)
For three hours every Thanksgiving morning, Manhattan belongs to the balloons.
Since 1928, from Barney Google to Mickey Mouse to Superman, the Smurfs, SpongeBob SquarePants, Scooby-Doo, and an inflatable army of fan-favorite characters beyond that, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has featured an array of inflatable wonders that soar and meander through the streets of New York City. (The parade’s inaugural year was 1924 and featured live animals.) And while several types of balloons have been featured during the event—one-man operated to the 90-plus-person-crewed behemoths—few have tugged on the pop-culture heartstrings more than the character versions.
As we kick off the holiday season, List Wire is taking in a virtual e-Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and looking back on some of our favorites throughout history. So join us—and no worries if you fall asleep on the couch like it’s the actual parade.
Shrek
(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Sailor Mickey
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
KAWS "Companion" balloon
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Kung Fu Panda (Po)
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Charlie Brown
(Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
Hello Kitty
(Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
Happy Worm
(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Mr. Potato Head
(Photo by Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images)
Garfield
(Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)
Chicken Little
NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 24: Chicken Little floats down Broadway during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on November 24, 2005. (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)
Super Grover
(Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)
Betty Boop
(Photo credit should read JON LEVY/AFP via Getty Images)
Bullwinkle
(Photo credit should read TEDDY BLACKBURN/AFP via Getty Images)
Blue
(TEDDY BLACKBURN/AFP via Getty Images)
Mr. Monopoly
(STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
Pink Panther
(STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
Babe
(STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
Curious George
(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
Goku
(USA TODAY Network)
Pikachu
(USA TODAY Network)
Astronaut Snoopy
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)
The Grinch and Max
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)
Ronald McDonald
(USA TODAY Network)
Mighty Morphin Power Ranger
(USA TODAY Network)
Gingerbread Man (Gingy)
(USA TODAY Network)
Pillsbury Doughboy
(USA TODAY Network)
Charlie Brown
(USA TODAY Network)
Toothless
(USA TODAY Network)
Big Bird
(Photo by Joe Kohen/Getty Images)
Snoopy and Woodstock
(Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)
The Grinch
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)
Olaf
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)
Dinosaur
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Harold The Policeman
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Paddington
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Skylanders Erupter
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Trixie
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
Abe Lincoln
(TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Buzz Lightyear
(TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Red Titan
(Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s Inc.)
Boss Baby
(TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Super Wings
(Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
Love Flies up to the Sky
(Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s Inc.)
Trolls
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Jojo and Bjorn
(Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s)
Little Cloud
(Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s)
Angry Bird and SpongeBob SquarePants
(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Scrat
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Harold the Baseball Player
(Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s)
Bulldog
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Turkey (1957)
(AP Photo/John Lindsay, File)
Grogu (a.k.a. Baby Yoda)
(Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy’s, Inc.)
Chase
(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Rex the Happy Dragon
(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Spider-Man
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Thomas the Tank Engine
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Papa Smurf
(Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Sonic the Hedgehog
(Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Sega of America)
Kermit the Frog
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
Horton Hears a Who
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
Goofy
(Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)
SpongeBob SquarePants
(TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
Elf on the Shelf
(Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)
Santa Claus
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
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