
Some of the most popular balloon characters over the years have included Big Bird, Pikachu, SpongeBob SquarePants, Kermit the Frog, Snoopy, Garfield, Ronald McDonald, Grogu, and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Balloons are the signature elements of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The giant helium balloons generally measure several stories in size, and depict characters from pop culture, such as cartoons, films, comic strips, video games, and advertising icons. The first balloons were introduced by Tony Sarg for the 1928 Parade, serving as a replacement for the live animals, who had previously appeared in the Parade but frightened child attendees. Sarg, being a puppeteer, imagined the balloons as "upside-down marionettes," with participants handling the balloon by a series of handling lines as it makes its way down Broadway.
Every Macy’s Parade balloon combines artistic design with aerodynamics and engineering. Ballooning experts, the Macy’s team in collaboration with consultants calculate and perfect the balloon’s aerodynamic design. Once a flight-worthy balloon concept has been approved, it moves onto a 3D-printed model (previously sculpted with clay). This step helps the team create a physical blueprint from which the balloon will be built. From there, giant reams of polyurethane fabric will be patterned, cut and sealed together to create multiple chambers, which ultimately produce the character’s head, body and limbs. Once the balloon has been created and painted to the exact specifications required of the character, it will undergo many tests including indoor and outdoor flights, inflation and deflation tests, and final touch-ups before its inaugural flight in the Macy’s Parade.
The first manufacturer of the balloons was the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, headquartered in Akron, Ohio, who produced balloons between 1928 and 1980. Kemp Balloons, Inc. then took over creation of the inflatable giants until 1983. In 1984, Sioux Falls-based Raven Aerostar began constructing balloons for the Parade and would do so for several decades until 2019, when the Macy's Parade Studio took over full-time construction of the balloons alongside with Signs & Shapes International.
Balloons have since been split into several categories; giant character balloons (balloons that require 5,000 or more cubic feet of helium, generally depicting pop-culture characters), Novelty/Heritage balloons (balloons that require less than 5,000 cubic feet of helium, generally depicting generic objects and recreations of historic Macy's balloons ); Balloonicles (a balloon figure powered by a vehicle inside the balloon, introduced in 2004); Balloonheads (an inflatable character head attached to a costume worn by the performer, introduced in the 1930s but later reintroduced in 2003); Trycaloons (balloon figures riding on bicycles, introduced in 2011); and Floaloonicles (part-float, part-balloon-part, vehicle, introduced in 2021).
Following is a list of giant balloons that have appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade over the years, ordered in their debut years.
1920s introductions[]
1928[]
- Big Turk by Macy's
- Wobbly Head by Macy's
- Goldfish by Macy's
- Sky Tiger by Macy's
- Giantess by Macy's
- Humming Bird by Macy's
- Early Bird by Macy's
- Sky Elephant by Macy's
1929[]
- Horse and Rider by Macy's
- Lap Dog by Macy's
- The Katzenjammer Kids by King Features
- Terrible Turk by Macy's
- The Inspector by King Features
- Gobble the Turkey by Macy's
- Old Man Dragon by Macy's
1930s introductions[]
1930[]
- Boob McNutt by McNaught Syndicate
- Joe Jinks by The New York World
- Our Boarding House by Newspaper Enterprise Association
- Toonerville Folks by Wheeler Syndicate
- The Goops by Macy's
1931[]
- Hippopotamus by Macy's
- Tom Cat by Macy's
- Cat by Macy's
- Two-Headed Giant by Macy's
- Tiamat the Dragon by Macy's
1932[]
- Fritz the Dachshund by Macy's
- Jerry the Pig by Macy's
- Felix the Cat (1st Version) by Macy's
- Willie Red Bird by Macy's
- Andy the Alligator by Macy's
- George the Giant Drum Major by Macy's
1933[]
- Tom the Cat by Macy's
- Gulliver The Gullible by Macy's
- Colicky Kid by Macy's
- Rabbit by Macy's
- Elephant by Macy's
- Monkey by Macy's
1934[]
- Mickey Mouse [1] (1st Version) by Walt Disney Productions
- Practical Pig by Walt Disney Productions
- The Three Little Pigs by Walt Disney Productions[2]
- Pluto by Walt Disney Productions
- Eddie Cantor by United Artists
- Horace Horsecollar by Walt Disney Productions
- The Big Bad Wolf by Walt Disney Productions
1935[]
- Indian by Macy's
- Donald Duck [3] (1st Version) by Walt Disney Productions
- Turkey by Macy's
- The Happiest Dog by Macy's
- Harpo Marx by Macy's
1936[]
- Dragon (1st Version) by Macy's
- Two-Headed Pirate by Macy's
- Father Knickerbocker by Macy's
1937[]
- Officer SOS 13 by Macy's
- The Man on the Flying Trapeze by Macy's
- Morton the Nantucket Sea Monster (2nd Version) by Macy's
- Christmas Stocking by Macy's
- Pinocchio by Macy's
1938[]
- Uncle Sam (1st Version) by Macy's
- Little Man-Big Man by Macy's
- Ferdinand the Bull by Munro Leaf
1939[]
- The Tin Man by Metro Goldwyn Mayer
- Santa Claus by Macy's
1940s introductions[]
1940[]
- Hippopotamus (1st Version) by Macy's
- Clarence the Clown by Macy's
- Superman [4] (1st Version) by Detective Comics Inc.
1941[]
- Elephant by Macy's
- Goldfish by Macy's
- Sea Serpent by Macy's
- Hugo the Football Hero by Macy's
1945[]
- Triple-Scoop Ice Cream Cone (1st Version) by Macy's
- Ol' Man Pumpkin by Macy's
- Bobo the Hobo by Macy's
- Young Man on the Flying Trapeze By Macy's
- Teddy Bear by Macy's
1946[]
- Pilgrim by Macy's
- Panda Bear by Macy's
- The Baseball Player (1st Version) by Macy's
- Candy Cane (1st Version) by Macy's
1947[]
- The Comical Cop (1st Version) by Macy's
- The Pirate (1st Version) by Macy's
- The Gnome by Macy's
1948[]
- Monkey on the High Trapeze by Macy's
- The Crocodile by Macy's
- The Fireman (1st Version) by Macy's
1949[]
- Dachshund (1st Version) by Macy's
- Howdy Doody on the Flying Trapeze by NBC
- Hobo Clown (1st Version) by Macy's
1950s introductions[]
1950[]
- Toy Soldier (1st Version) by Macy's
- Rainbow Trout (1st Version) by Macy's
1951[]
- Mighty Mouse by Terrytoons
1952[]
1953[]
- Dachshund (2nd Version) by Macy's
- Hobo Clown (2nd Version) by Macy's
- Goldfish with Pinkish Fins (2nd Version) by Macy's
1954[]
- Gorgeous Gobbler (1st Version) by Macy's
1956[]
1957[]
- Popeye by Associated Artists Productions
1960s introductions[]
1960[]
- Happy Dragon (1st Version) by Macy's
1961[]
- Bullwinkle Moose (1st Version) by The Kalmus Company/Macy's
1962[]
- The Flying Trapeze by Macy's
- Donald Duck (2nd Version) by Walt Disney Productions
1963[]
- Dino the Dinosaur (1st Version) by Sinclair Oil Corporation/Macy's
- Elsie the Cow by Borden
1964[]
- Linus the Lionhearted by Post Cereals/Macy's
1965[]
1966[]
- Superman (2nd Version) by National Periodical Publications
- Smokey Bear (1st Version) by General Electric Company/The Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Program/Macy's/United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service
1968[]
- Snoopy (1st Version) by United Media
1970s introductions[]
1971[]
- Smile by Macy's
- Mickey Mouse (2nd Version) by Walt Disney Productions
1975[]
- Weeble by Hasbro
1977[]
- Kermit the Frog [5] (1st Version) by Henson Associates/Jim Henson Productions
1980s introductions[]
1980[]
- Superman (3rd Version) by DC Comics
1982[]
- Olive Oyl (1st Version) by King Features
- Woody Woodpecker [6] by Walter Lantz Productions/Universal Studios
1983[]
- Yogi Bear by Hanna-Barbera/Hanna-Barbera Productions
1984[]
- Garfield (1st Version) by United Feature Syndicate/United Media/PAWS, Inc.
- Raggedy Ann by I.D.T.'s Character Licensing, Inc./MacMillan/Macy's
1985[]
- Betty Boop by King Features
1986[]
- Humpty Dumpty by Macy's
- Olive Oyl & Swee'Pea (2nd Version) by King Features
- Baby Shamu by SeaWorld
1987[]
- Spider-Man (1st Version) by Marvel Entertainment Group/Marvel Comics
- Ronald McDonald (1st Version) by McDonald's
- Skater Snoopy (2nd Version) by United Media
- Snuggle Bear by Lever Brothers Company
1988[]
- Big Bird (1st Version) by Children's Television Workshop/Jim Henson Productions/Sesame Workshop
- Quik Bunny by Nestlé
- The Pink Panther by MGM/United Artists Communications Company/MGM-Pathé Communications/Metro Goldwyn Meyer/MGM
- Snoopy & Woodstock (3rd Version) by United Media
1989[]
1990s introductions[]
1990[]
- Clifford the Big Red Dog by Scholastic, Inc.
- Bart Simpson by Fox Inc./20th Century Fox
1991[]
- Babar by Nelvana Limited & The Clifford Ross Company
1992[]
1993[]
- Beethoven by Universal Studios/Universal City Studios/Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1st Version) by Sega of America
- Rex by Universal Studios
- Izzy by 1996 Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games
1994[]
- Barney (1st Version) by The Lyons Group/Lyrick Studios/HiT Entertainment
- The Cat in the Hat by Random House Publishing/Esprit de Corp
1995[]
- Dudley the Dragon by Meridian Worldwide
- Sky Dancer by Abrams Gentile Entertainment, Inc.
- Eben Bear by Macy's/The John Deere Company
1996[]
- Jay Ward's Rocky and Bullwinkle (2nd Version) by Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
- Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit by Fredrick Ward & Company
1997[]
- Arthur by Little Brown Children's Publishing/Eden Toys/Random House Children's Media Group/The Learning Company/Marc Brown Studios
- Rugrats by Nickelodeon
- Bumpé by Skandiiplaay, LTD.
- Petula Pig by Macy's/The John Deere Company
1998[]
- Babe by Universal Pictures
- Maurice Sendak's Wild Thing by Bell Atlantic/HarperCollins Children's Books
- Dexter's Laboratory by Cartoon Network
1999[]
- Millennium Snoopy (4th Version) by United Media/United Feature Syndicate
- Buzz the Honey Nut Cheerios Bee by General Mills/Honey Nut Cheerios
- Blue's Clues by Nickelodeon
2000s introductions[]
2000[]
- Bandleader Mickey (3rd Version) by The Walt Disney Company
- Jeeves by Ask Jeeves, Inc.
- Ronald McDonald (2nd Version) by McDonald’s/McDonald's Corporation
- Dragon Tales' Cassie by Sony Pictures Family Entertainment
2001[]
- Curious George by Vivendi Universal
- Pikachu (1st Version) by The Pokémon Company/Pokémon USA Inc.
- Big Bird (2nd Version) by Sesame Workshop
- Jimmy Neutron by Nickelodeon
- Cheesasaurus Rex by Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
2002[]
- Charlie Brown & The Elusive Football (1st Version) by United Feature Syndicate/Peanuts Worldwide
- Little Bill by Nickelodeon
- Mr. Monopoly by Parker Brothers.
- Kermit the Frog (2nd Version) by The Jim Henson Company/The Muppets/The Muppets Studios/Disney/The Walt Disney Company
2003[]
- "Strike Up the Band" Barney (2nd Version) by HIT Entertainment
- Super Grover by Sesame Workshop
- Garfield (2nd Version) by PAWS, Inc./20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
2004[]
- Chicken Little by Walt Disney Pictures
- Red and Yellow Brighten the Holidays by M&M's Chocolate Candies
- SpongeBob SquarePants (1st Version) by Nickelodeon
2005[]
- Scooby-Doo by Warner Brothers. Consumer Products
- Dora the Explorer (1st Version) by Nickelodeon
- "Healthy" Mr. Potato Head by United States Potato Board
- JoJo by Disney Channel/Playhouse Disney
2006[]
- 80th Anniversary Hot Air Balloon by Macy's
- Snoopy as the Flying Ace (5th Version) by United Feature Syndicate/Peanuts Worldwide
- Pikachu with PokéBall (2nd Version) by Pokémon USA Inc./The Pokémon Company International
2007[]
- Abby Cadabby by Sesame Workshop
- "Super Cute" Hello Kitty (1st Version) by Sanrio, Inc.
- Shrek by DreamWorks Animation
2008[]
- Smurf by Sony Pictures Entertainment/Lafig Belgium
- Buzz Lightyear by Disney/Pixar
- Horton the Elephant by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
2009[]
- Spider-Man (2nd Version) by Marvel Entertainment/Sony Pictures Entertainment
- Ronald McDonald (3rd Version) by McDonald's
- Sailor Mickey (4th Version) by Disney Cruise Line
- Pillsbury Doughboy (1st Version) by Pillsbury
2010s introductions[]
2010[]
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1st Version) by ABRAMS Books/ABRAMS Publishers
- Kung Fu Panda (1st Version) by DreamWorks Animation
2011[]
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2nd Version) by SEGA
- Julius by Paul Frank
2012[]
- Hello Kitty (2nd Version) by Sanrio, Inc.
- Papa Smurf by Sony Pictures Animation/IMPS/Nickelodeon
- The Elf on the Shelf by CCA and B, LLC/Elf on the Shelf/The Lumistella Company
2013[]
- Snoopy & Woodstock (6th Version) by Peanuts Worldwide
- SpongeBob SquarePants (2nd Version) by Nickelodeon
- How To Train Your Dragon's Toothless by DreamWorks Animation
- The Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc.
- Adventure Time with Finn & Jake by Cartoon Network
2014[]
- Thomas the Tank Engine by Mattel Inc./Fisher-Price
- Paddington Bear [7] by The Weinstein Company/The Copyrights Group
- Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger by Power Rangers/Saban Brands/Hasbro
- Skylanders' Eruptor by Activision Publishing, Inc.
- Pikachu (3rd Version) by The Pokémon Company International
- Pillsbury Doughboy (2nd Version) by Pillsbury
2015[]
- Ice Age's Scrat & His Acorn by 20th Century Fox
- Ronald McDonald (4th Version) by McDonald's
- Angry Birds' Red by Rovio Entertainment
- Sinclair's DINO (2nd Version) by Sinclair Oil
2016[]
- Charlie Brown (2nd Version) by Peanuts Worldwide
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2nd Version) by ABRAMS Children's Books
- Trolls by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures
2017[]
- Olaf by Walt Disney Animation Studios
- Jett from Super Wings by Alpha Group
- Chase from PAW Patrol by Spin Master Ltd. and Nickelodeon
- Dr. Seuss' The Grinch by Illumination Entertainment
2018[]
- Goku (1st Version) by Funimation/Toei Animation
2019[]
- Astronaut Snoopy (7th Version) by Peanuts Worldwide
- Green Eggs and Ham by Netflix
- Spongebob SquarePants & Gary (3rd Version) by Nickelodeon
2020s Introductions[]
2020[]
- Red Titan from Ryan's World by Sunlight Entertainment and pocket.watch
- The Boss Baby by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures
2021[]
- Ada Twist, Scientist by Netflix
- Grogu by Funko and Lucasfilm
- Ronald McDonald (5th Version) by McDonald's/McDonald’s USA
- Pikachu & Eevee (4th Version) by The Pokémon Company International
2022[]
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (3rd Version) by Abrams Books
- Bluey by BBC Studios and Ludo Studio
- DINO and Baby DINO (3rd Version) by Sinclair Oil/HF Sinclair
- Stuart the Minion by Universal Pictures/Illumination
2023[]
- Beagle Scout Snoopy (8th Version) by Peanuts Worldwide
- Leo by Netflix
- Monkey D. Luffy by One Piece/Toei Animation Inc.
- Kung Fu Panda's Po (2nd Version) by DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures
- Pillsbury Doughboy (3rd Version) by Pillsbury
2024[]
- Minnie Mouse by The Walt Disney Company
- Marshall from Paw Patrol by Spin Master & Nickelodeon
- Spider-Man (3rd Version) by Marvel
- Goku (2nd Version) by Dragon Ball/Toei Animation, Inc.
- Gabby by DreamWorks Animation
- Extraordinary Noorah & The Elf on the Shelf by The Lumistella Company
See also[]
- Falloon - Float-based balloons.
- Balloonicles - Self-powered balloon vehicles.
Notes[]
- ↑ A second balloon of Mickey debutted in 1972, and two additional versions were made in the 2000s, one portraying him as a bandleader and the other depicting him as a sailor.
- ↑ smaller Little Pigs Balloons were seen behind practical Pig in 1935 footage
- ↑ A second balloon of Donald was introduced in 1962.
- ↑ Superman's balloon was redesigned into the "Football Player" balloon in 1941. Superman later returned with a new balloon in 1966, then a third balloon of the character - one of the largest to ever appear in the parade- was used in the 1980s.
- ↑ After the original was retired, a second balloon of the character was launched in the 2000s.
- ↑ Widest balloon in parade history
- ↑ Originally appeared as a falloon in the 1990's