Thanksgiving Throwback: 14 Iconic Photos of the Macy's Parade

The annual holiday tradition was first held in 1924. To celebrate Thanksgiving, here are 14 iconic moments in its history

Is it really a "Happy Thanksgiving!" if you haven't tuned into Macy's annual Thanksgiving Day Parade? The over-the-top procession, which guarantees gigantic balloons, top-tier entertainment and lots of A-list celebrities (Santa included!) first began as a simple show back in 1924. Over the years, it's become more and more of a spectacle, with enormous balloons, performances from pop stars and Broadway shows, and much more.

Look back at 14 memorable moments from the parade's history, including the debut of some of the most iconic balloons and most dramatic experiences to date. 

1924: The First Macy's Parade

The very first Macy's parade (also called the Macy's Christmas Parade) featured no balloons, though it did have elephants from the Central Park Zoo. The inaugural parade was such a hit that Macy's decided to make it an annual tradition.

1927: First Character Balloon in the Macy's Parade

It's Felix the Cat! Unfortunately, poor Felix — the first balloon ever to feature in the parade — hit the telephone wires and caught fire, which required his removal from the parade.

1934: Mickey Mouse Balloon Debuts in the Macy's Parade

The original Mickey Mouse balloon debuted in 1934 and was designed with the help of Walt Disney himself. The Mickey balloon has been redesigned four times, most recently in 2009.

1939: First Televised Macy's Parade

The parade was first televised on a local New York City station in 1939. In 1948, CBS broadcast the parade nationally for the first time. NBC has aired the parade every year since 1953.

1956: The Mighty Mouse Balloon Is Defeated and Deflated in the Macy's Parade

In 1956, Mighty Mouse failed to prevail against 45-mph winds and collapsed dramatically near Columbus Circle. Afterward, the balloon was retired from the parade.

1961: The Bullwinkle Balloon Debuts in the Macy's Parade

This fan-favorite balloon of the popular cartoon moose debuted in 1961. The original Bullwinkle balloon was retired in 1983, but he was reintroduced in 1996 along with his friend Rocky.

1968: The Snoopy Balloon Debuts in the First of His Many Costumes in the Macy's Parade

In 1968, the Snoopy balloon debuted with the popular character dressed as an aviator. From 1969 to 1977, he was an astronaut. In 1987, he was an ice skater, a costume he kept until 1994. In 2000, he was given a crown for the millennium, and from 2006 to 2011, he returned to his Flying Ace costume. The Snoopy balloon was redesigned yet again in 2013 and 2019.

1980: The Third Superman Balloon Debuts as the Largest-Ever Balloon in the Macy's Parade

Superman had multiple incarnations throughout the parade's history, but his 1980 edition was the largest-ever, at 104-ft. long. The massive balloon was retired after the 1987 parade.

1977: The Kermit the Frog Balloon Debuts in the Macy's Parade

The Kermit the Frog balloon debuted in 1977. Two years later, Kermit became the first balloon to travel outside of the U.S. when he headed to England to help celebrate the International Year of the Child.

1982: The Olive Oyl Balloon Breaks Barriers in the Macy's Parade

Olive Oyl (pictured here with Swee'Pea) was the first new female character balloon in decades when she debuted in the 1982 parade. In 1986, Swee'Pea was added to the balloon's design.

1993: Sonic the Hedgehog Speeds Through the Macy's Parade

Sonic became the first-ever video game character to get his own balloon in the parade in 1993. Unfortunately, in its debut year, heavy winds veered the Sonic balloon into a streetlight, causing several pieces to fall on spectators.

1997: The Cat in the Hat Ballon Wreaks Havoc in the Macy's Parade

Wind gusts caused the Cat in the Hat balloon to hit a street lamp, severely injuring a spectator. After this unfortunate incident, Macy's decided to implement restrictions on the size of the balloons in future parades.

2005: The Blue Sky Gallery Debuts in the Macy's Parade

The Blue Sky Gallery turned the works of contemporary artists into floats and debuted at the 2005 parade with Tom Otterness' "Humpty Dumpty." Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and Tim Burton have all been featured as well.

2020: The Macy's Parade Goes Crowdless During COVID

The show must go on! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade switched formats in 2020, cutting almost all of its participants, requiring masks for those who did march and eliminating spectators for safety. Instead, floats and Broadway performers were kept close to the company's flagship store rather than down the miles-long parade route.

In 2021, the parade resumed its normal format.

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