Throughout the years, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has housed nearly 200 different balloons of famous cartoon characters, alongside over 300 different floats. A large majority of these balloons and floats were introduced to the Parade in order to promote a specific movie, television show, merchandise releases, and more.
Below, you will find a list of balloons and floats that were part of a promotional campaign, alongside their respective promotions.
Giant Balloons[]
1951[]
- Mighty Mouse - Created to celebrate the character's inception the following year.
1964[]
- Linus the Lionhearted - Created to promote the television series, Linus the Lionhearted.
- Donald Duck - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate the character's 30th Birthday.
1966[]
- Smokey Bear - Created to in part promote the television special, The Ballad of Smokey Bear.
1967[]
- Donald Duck - Returned to the lineup to pay tribute to Walt Disney.
1968[]
- Superman - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 30th Birthday.
1969[]
- Smokey Bear - Returned to the lineup to promote the television series, The Smokey Bear Show.
- Snoopy - Returned to the lineup to promote the Apollo 11 mission, which happened earlier that year, and the theatrically released movie, A Boy Named Charlie Brown.
1970[]
- Happy Dragon - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 10th Birthday.
- Snoopy - Returned to the lineup to promote the television special, Play It Again, Charlie Brown and to celebrate Peanuts' 20th Anniversary.
1972[]
- Snoopy - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Snoopy Come Home.
1973[]
- Snoopy - Returned to the lineup to promote the television special, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
- Mickey Mouse - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate Walt Disney Productions' 50th Anniversary.
1974[]
- Smokey Bear - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 30th Birthday.
1978[]
- Mickey Mouse - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 50th birthday.
1979[]
- Kermit the Frog - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, The Muppet Movie.
1984[]
- Donald Duck - Returned to the lineup to celebrate his 50th Birthday.
1985[]
- Snoopy - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate Peanuts' 35th anniversary.
1986[]
- Kermit the Frog - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate The Muppet Show's 10th anniversary.
1988[]
- Garfield - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 10th Birthday and the premiere of Garfield and Friends.
- Quik Bunny - Created to help celebrate Nestlé Quik's 40th anniversary.
1989[]
- Bugs Bunny - Created to prepare for his 50th birthday in 1990.
1990[]
- Woody Woodpecker - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 50th birthday.
- Kermit the Frog - Retured to the lineup to pay tribute to Jim Henson.
- Bugs Bunny - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 50th birthday, and to promote the television series, Tiny Toon Adventures.
- Snoopy & Woodstock - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate Peanuts' 40th anniversary.
1992[]
- Garfield - Returned to help prepare for his 15th birthday
- Goofy - Created to help celebrate his 60th Birthday.
- The Pink Panther - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Son of the Pink Panther.
1993[]
- Beethoven - Created to promote the movie, Beethoven's 2nd.
- Garfield - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 15th Birthday.
- Smokey Bear - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 50th Birthday.
- Ronald McDonald - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 30th Birthday.
- Rex - Created to promote the movie, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story.
1994[]
- Woody Woodpecker - Returned to the lineup to pay tribute to Walter Lantz.
1997[]
- Peter Rabbit - Returned to the lineup to promote The World of Peter Rabbit Exhibit at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey.
- Barney - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Barney's Great Adventure.
- The Cat in the Hat - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate the book's 40th anniversary.
- Spider-Man - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 35th Birthday, as well as Stan Lee's 75th birthday in December 1997.
1998[]
- Babe - Created to promote the movie, Babe: Pig in the City.
- Barney - Returned to the Parade to Celebrate his 10th Anniversary
- Garfield - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate his 20th Birthday.
- Rugrats - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the movie, The Rugrats Movie.
- Quik Bunny - Returned to celebrate quik's 50th birthday.
1999[]
- Big Bird - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate Sesame Street's 31st anniversary.
- Honey Nut Cheerios Bee - Created to help celebrate Honey Nut Cheerios' 20th anniversary.
- Rocky and Bullwinkle - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show's 40th anniversary and to promote the movie, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle.
2000[]
- Rugrats - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie.
- Rocky and Bullwinkle - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle's VHS and DVD releases.
2001[]
- Jimmy Neutron - Created to promote the movie, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
- Rugrats - Returned to the lineup to celebrate Rugrats' 10th anniversary.
2003[]
- Arthur - Returned to the lineup to promote the spin-off series Postcards from Buster, which would then air in the fall of 2004.
- Pikachu - Returned to the lineup to promote Pokémon: Advanced.
- Clifford the Big Red Dog - Returned to the lineup to promote the TV show Clifford's Puppy Days and the movie, Clifford's Really Big Movie.
- Wild Thing - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate Where the Wild Things Are's 40th Birthday.
- Garfield - Created to promote the 2004 film, Garfield: The Movie.
2004[]
- Chicken Little - Created to promote the movie, Chicken Little.
- SpongeBob SquarePants - Created to promote the movie The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.
- Garfield - Returned to the lineup to promote Garfield: The Movie's DVD and VHS releases.
- Clifford the Big Red Dog - Returned to the lineup to promote Clifford's Really Big Movie's DVD and VHS releases.
2005[]
- Scooby-Doo - Created to promote the direct-to-video movie, Scooby-Doo: Where's My Mummy?.
- Chicken Little - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Chicken Little.
- Pikachu - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate Pokemon's 10th Anniversary.
2006[]
- Scooby-Doo - Returned to the lineup to promote the CW show Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!
- Pikachu - Created to help celebrate Pokemon's 10th Anniversary.
- Garfield - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties.
2007[]
- Shrek - created to promote the DVD release of Shrek the Third.
2008[]
- Smurf - Created to promote the movie, The Smurfs (2011), and to help celebrate The Smurfs' 50th Anniversary
- Buzz Lightyear - Created to promote the movie, Toy Story 3.
- Kermit the Frog - Returned to the lineup to promote the television special, A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa.
- Shrek - Returned to the lineup to promote the musical, Shrek The Musical.
- Beethoven the Dog - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Beethoven's Big Break.
- Horton the Elephant - Created to promote the 2008 film, Horton Hears a Who!
2010[]
- Snoopy as the Flying Ace - Returned to and lead the line of march to celebrate Peanuts' 60th anniversary.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Created to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth and the 2011 film, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules.
2011[]
- Sonic the Hedgehog - Created to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to the lineup to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever.
- Buzz Lightyear - Returned to the lineup to promote the theatrical short, Toy Story: Small Fry.
- Sailor Mickey - Returned to the line of march to promote the launch of the Disney Fantasy cruise ship.
- Po from Kung Fu Panda - Returned to the lineup to promote the home media releases of Kung Fu Panda 2.
- Spider-Man - Returned to the line of march to promote the Broadway musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
- Smurf - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the release of 2011 film, The Smurfs.
- Kermit the Frog - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the release of the 2011 film, The Muppets.
2014[]
- SpongeBob SquarePants - Returned to the lineup to promote The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.
2015[]
- Ice Age's Scrat & His Acorn - Created to promote the fifth movie of the franchise, Ice Age: Collision Course.
- Adventure Time with Finn and Jake - Returned to the lineup to promote the video game, Adventure Time: Finn and Jake Investigations.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to the lineup to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School.
- Power Rangers Mighty Morphin Red Ranger - Returned to the lineup to promote the TV series, Power Ranger: Dino Super Charge.
- Skylanders' Eruptor - Returned to the lineup to promote the video game, Skylanders: SuperChargers.
- Angry Birds' Red - Created to promote The Angry Birds Movie.
- Toothless the Dragon - Returned to the lineup to promote the Netflix series, Dragons: Race to the Edge.
- Sinclair's Dino - Created to help celebrate Sinclair Oil Corporation's 100th anniversary.
2016[]
- Charlie Brown - Created to help celebrate You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown's 50th Anniversary.
- Thomas the Tank Engine - Returned to the lineup to promote Thomas and Friends: The Great Race.
- Paddington Bear - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate the announcement of Paddington 2.
- Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger - Returned to the lineup to promote the TV Series Power Rangers: Ninja Steel.
- Pikachu - Returned to the lineup to promote the video games, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Created to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down.
- Trolls - Created to promote the DreamWorks movie, Trolls.
- Skylanders' Eruptor - Returned to the lineup to promote the video game, Skylanders: Imaginators, as well as the Netflix series, Skylanders Academy.
- Ice Age's Scrat & His Acorn - Returned to the lineup to promote the home media releases of Ice Age: Collision Course, as well as the mobile game, Ice Age World.
2017[]
- Olaf - Created to promote the featurette, Olaf's Frozen Adventure
- Ice Age's Scrat & His Acorn - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate Ice Age's 15th Anniversary.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to the lineup to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway.
- Power Rangers Mighty Morphin Red Ranger - Returned to the lineup to promote the television series, Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel, as well as the franchise's 20th Anniversary.
- Pikachu - Returned to the lineup to promote the video games, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon.
- Trolls - Returned to the lineup to promote the Christmas special, Trolls Holiday.
- Angry Birds' Red - Returned to the lineup to promote the announcement of the movie, The Angry Birds Movie 2, as well as the webseries, Angry Birds Blues.
- SpongeBob SquarePants - Returned to the lineup to promote the Broadway musical, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical
- The Grinch - Created to promote the movie, The Grinch (2018).
2018[]
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Meltdown.
- Toothless the Dragon - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the third and final movie of the franchise, How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.
- Pikachu - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the video games, Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let's Go Eevee!
- Goku - Created to promote the movie, Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
2019[]
- Astronaut Snoopy - Created to promote the Apple TV show, Snoopy in Space, in addition to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing.
- Goku - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate Dragon Ball Z's 30th anniversary and to promote the video game, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.
- Pikachu - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the recently-released video games, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball.
- Green Eggs & Ham - Created to promote season one of the animated Netflix series, Green Eggs & Ham.
- SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary - Created to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary, and to promote the franchise's third movie, SpongeBob SquarePants: Sponge on the Run.
- Trolls - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the second movie of the franchise, Trolls: World Tour.
- Dr. Seuss' The Grinch - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the digital, Blu-Ray, and DVD release of The Grinch (2018 film).
- Pillsbury Doughboy - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate Pillsbury's 150th anniversary.
- Olaf - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote Frozen 2.
2020[]
- Red Titan - Created in part to promote the Amazon Kids+ Original Special, Super Spy Ryan.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End.
- Chase from PAW Patrol - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote PAW Patrol: The Movie.
- Spongebob Squarepants & Gary - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, and the spin-off series, Kamp Koral: Spongebob's Under Years.
- Trolls - Returned to the Parade lineup to promote the new series, TrollsTopia.
- Pikachu - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate Pokemon's 25th Anniversary.
- The Boss Baby - Created to promote The Boss Baby: Family Business.
- The Elf on the Shelf - Returned to the Parade lineup to celebrate The Elf on the Shelf's 15th Anniversary.
2021[]
- Ada Twist, Scientist - Created to promote the Netflix series of the same name.
- Red Titan - Returned to the lineup to promote the Amazon Kids+ Original Special, Galaxy Explorer.
- Chase from PAW Patrol - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, PAW Patrol: The Movie.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to the lineup to promote the book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot and the Disney+ animated reboot of the first book and movie.
- The Boss Baby - Returned to the lineup to promote the digital release of the movie, The Boss Baby: Family Business.
- Goku - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
- Astronaut Snoopy - Returned to the lineup to promote season 2 of the TV show, Snoopy in Space.
- Sonic the Hedgehog - Returned to the lineup to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary and to promote Sonic The Hedgehog 2.
- Papa Smurf - Returned to the lineup to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Smurfs TV series, and to promote the 2021 revival on Nickelodeon.
- Pikachu & Eevee - Created to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary promote the recently-released video games, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl.
2022[]
- Grogu - Returned to promote the third season of The Mandalorian.
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Created to, in part, promote Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Diper Överlöde, and the Rodrick Rules animated film.
- The Boss Baby - Returned to promote The Boss Baby: Back in Business: Christmas Bonus.
- Chase from PAW Patrol - Returned to the lineup to promote PAW Patrol's 10th anniversary and the movie, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.
- Red Titan - Returned to the lineup to promote the Titan Universe Holiday Special.
- Goku - Returned to the lineup to promote the film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and the video game Dragon Ball: The Breakers.
- Spongebob Squarepants and Gary - Returned to the lineup to promote the Spongebob Squarepants special crossover episode The Tidal Zone
- Papa Smurf - Returned to the lineup to promote season 2 of the TV show, The Smurfs and an upcoming Smurfs movie
- Stuart the Minion - Created to promote the Peacock release of the movie, Minions: The Rise Of Gru
- Pikachu and Eevee - Returned to promote the release of the video game, Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet
2023[]
- Beagle Scout Snoopy - Created to promote the Apple TV+ series, Camp Snoopy
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to promote the 18th book in the series, "No Brainer" and the christmas special Cabin Fever
- Bluey - Returned to promote the extended episode "The Sign"
- Spongebob Squarepants & Gary - Returned to promote the franchise's upcoming 25th Anniversary
- Leo - Created to promote the Netflix film of the same name
- Goku - Returned to promote the Dragon Ball franchise's upcoming 40th Anniversary
- Chase from PAW Patrol - Returned to promote the Paramount+ release of the movie, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie
- Stuart the Minion - Returned to promote the short Mooned, and the movie, Despicable Me 4.
- Grogu - Returned to promote Funko's 25th Anniversary
- Monkey D. Luffy - Created to promote the One Piece TV show's upcoming 25th Anniversary
- Po from Kung Fu Panda - Created to promote the movie, Kung Fu Panda 4
- Red Titan - Returned to promote the movie, Ryan's World The Movie: Titan Universe Adventure
- Pikachu and Eevee - Returned to promote The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for the video game, Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet
2024[]
- SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary - Returned to promote the franchise's 25th Anniversary
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Returned to promote the 19th book in the series, "Hot Mess"
- Spider-Man - Created to celebrate Marvel Comics' 85th Anniversary
- Goku - Created to celebrate the Dragon Ball franchise's 40th Anniversary
Heritage Balloons[]
2017[]
- Harold the Baseball Player - Recreated to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1947 film, Miracle on 34th Street.
2018[]
- Fleck, Bjorn, JoJo and Hugg - Created to promote the Netflix film, The Christmas Chronicles.
2019[]
- Smokey Bear - Created to help celebrate Smokey Bear's 75th anniversary.
2020[]
- Fleck, Bjorn, JoJo and Hugg - Returned to the lineup to promote the Netflix film, The Christmas Chronicles 2
2023[]
- Uncle Dan - Created to promote the film, Migration
2024[]
- DORA's Fantastical Rainforest - Created to promote the televsion series of the same name.
- Smokey Bear - Returned to promote his 80th anniversary.
Floats[]
1967[]
- LEGO Tivoli Train - Created to promote Legoland in Billund, Denmark.
- The Flounder - Created to promote the movie, Doctor Dolitte.
1968[]
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Created to promote the movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
1975[]
- Raggedy Ann & Friends on Swings - Created to celebrate her 60th Birthday.
1976[]
- Raggedy Ann & Friends on Swings - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure
1977[]
- Raggedy Ann & Friends on Swings - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure
- Watership Down - Created to promote the movie, Watership Down.
1978[]
- The Loch Ness Monster - Created to promote the Loch Ness Monster Roller Coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Watership Down - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Watership Down.
1998[]
- The King and I - Created to promote the movie the following year.
2020[]
- Tom and Jerry - Created to promote the movie, Tom & Jerry.
Falloons[]
1986[]
- Alvin and the Chipmunks - created to promote the 1986 movie the chipmunks adventure
1997[]
- Paddington Bear - returned to the lineup to prepare for his 50th birthday
1998[]
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Created to promote the movie, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: the Movie