Part of the cultural landscape since 1924, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has become as synonymous with the holiday as turkey and stuffing. Click through to see how the parade and iconic balloons have evolved over the years, along with some fun facts that will make your viewing experience that much more fun.
This piece was originally published in 2018; it has been updated with new information.
Courtesy Macy's Parade
1924
1924: The "Macy's Christmas Parade" (it wouldn't become the "Thanksgiving Day Parade" until 1927) makes its debut, complete with marching animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo.
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1933
1933: Over the next few years, the parade began to slowly morph into the spectacular we know today: Santa Claus appearing on a float, helium balloons replacing circus animals (the first character balloon? Felix the Cat in 1927, and more.
Courtesy Macy's Parade
1934
1934: The parade's first Mickey Mouse balloon, designed with the help of Walt Disney, takes to the streets of Manhattan. Three more Mickeys would appear throughout the coming years: 1977, 2000, and 2009—each version an evolution of the previous.
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1941
1941: Santa Claus (in some form or another) has been a part of the parade from the very beginning, though his appearances have not always been the most graceful: In 1941, the giant Santa balloon lost helium, his legs buckled, and he popped a squat right in the middle of the street.
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1957
1957: Popeye makes his debut during rainy weather—bad news for parade viewers, and even worse news for character balloons. During the parade, the top of Popeye's hat filled with rainwater, causing him to swerve into the crowd and dump cold water all over the spectators.
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1958
1958: Due to a national helium shortage in 1958, the balloons were filled with regular air and hung from construction cranes.
Courtesy Macy's Parade
1966
1966: Superman first appeared in the parade in 1936, therein launching a lifetime of "It's a bird! It's a plane!" jokes. The superhero appeared again in 1966 and 1980.
Courtesy Macy's Parade
1968
1968: Snoopy has appeared eight times throughout the parade's history—more than any other character—making his debut here in 1968.
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1970
1970: Ever since 1968, the parade's massive floats have been designed by Macy's artists in New Jersey. Although the structures can reach up to 40 feet tall and 28 feet wide, each float must fold into itself to a size of 8.5 feet wide, in order to travel to Manhattan through the Lincoln Tunnel.
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1980
1980: The massive character balloons are also built in New Jersey, where designers have been experimenting with materials over time. Cotton fabric was originally used, then neoprene (similar to a tire's inner tube). Each portion of any given balloon is designed as a separate chamber—in other words, if Underdog pierces his nose, the rest of his body will remain filled with helium.
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1995
1995: Bart Simpson is shown here cruising along Central Park in 1995, although the skateboarding balloon has not always had the smoothest ride. During an abnormally windy Thanksgiving Day in 1993, Bart ran into a tree and had his T-shirt completely ripped open.
Courtesy Macy's Parade
2002
2002: Kermit the Frog debuted in 1977, appearing again in 2002.
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2016
2016: Charlie Brown marched the parade for several years in the early 2000s, always in a running stance chasing after his elusive football. The Peanuts character made his comeback in 2016, this time with a smile and a kite.
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2017
2017: A team of volunteers wrangle the red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger along the parade route.
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2018
2018: Three elves from Netflix's The Christmas Chronicles prepare for their 2018 parade debut.
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Macy's Inc
2019
This year's Parade appearance will be Snoopy's 40th flight—the most of any balloon. His very first balloon was the 1968 aviator, and a year later he was reworked as an Apollo astronaut.
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