Balloon and Float Promotions

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.
• Bullwinkle - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show's 10th anniversary.
• Linus the Lionhearted - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 10th Birthday.
• Astronaut Snoopy - Created to promote the movie, A Boy Named Charlie Brown.

1970

• Happy Dragon - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 10th Birthday.
• Astronaut Snoopy - Returned to the lineup to promote the television special, Play It Again, Charlie Brown and to celebrate Peanuts' 20th Anniversary.

1973

• Astronaut 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.
• Underdog - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 10th Birthday.

1978

• Mickey Mouse - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 50th birthday and to honor Mickey having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1979

• Kermit the Frog - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, The Muppet Movie.
• Linus the Lionhearted - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate his 20th Birthday.
• Bullwinkle - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show's 20th anniversary.
• Aviator Snoopy - Returned to the lineup to promote Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown! (and Don't Come Back!).

1980

• Happy Dragon - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate his 20th Birthday.
• Aviator Snoopy - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate Peanuts' 30th anniversary.
• Superman - Created to promote the movie, Superman II.

1982

• Superman - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Superman III.

1983

• Mickey Mouse - Returned to the lineup to promote The Disney Channel, the opening of Tokyo Disneyland, Mickey's Christmas Carol, and to celebrate his 55th Birthday and Walt Disney Productions' 60th Anniversary.
• Kermit the Frog - Returned to the lineup to promote The Muppets Take Manhattan.

1984

• Donald Duck - Returned to the lineup to celebrate his 50th Birthday.
• Kermit the Frog - Returned to the lineup to promote "Muppet Babies".

1986

• Kermit the Frog - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate The Muppets' 30th Birthday.

1987

• Kermit the Frog - Returned to the lineup to promote A Muppets Family Christmas.
• Woody Woodpecker - Returned to the lineup to celebrate his 40th birthday.

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 Tiny Toon Adventures.

1992

• Santa 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 the Dog - Created to promote the movie, Beethoven's 2nd.
• Garfield - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 15th Birthday.
• The Pink Panther - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 30th 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 the Dinosaur - Created to promote the movie, We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story.
• Snuggle Bear - Returned to the lineup to help celebrate his 10th Birthday.

1994

• The Cat in the Hat - Created to promote the television special, In Search of Dr. Seuss.
• 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 the Dinosaur - Returned to the lineup to promote the movie, Barney's Great Adventure.
• Sonic the Hedgehog - Returned to the lineup to promote the video game, Sonic R.
• 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.
• Bumpé - Created to promote the book, Bumpé ABC.

1998

• Babe the Pig - Created to promote the movie, Babe: Pig in the City.
• Barney the Dinosaur - Returned to the Parade lineup to help celebrate his 10th Birthday.
• 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 the Parade lineup to help celebrate Nestle Quik's 50th Birthday.

1999

• 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

• 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.

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 Parade 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 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.

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

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.

1977

• 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.