Below is an image gallery for the world's happiest dragon, Happy Dragon!
Happy Dragon (1960-1964, 1966-1981, 1991-1992)[]
Development and Creation[]
Happy Dragon as he appeared on the 1960 Parade newspaper advertisement
Happy under construction in 1960 (Credit: Bill Smith)
Happy Dragon after construction had finished (Credit: Bill Smith)
Test Flight[]
Another picture of Happy Dragon's test flight
A rare picture of the Happy Dragon balloon's test flight in 1960
1960 Macy's Parade[]
Happy Dragon prior to the 1960 parade
Happy Dragon waiting to step-off in the 1960 Parade during its debut
(Credit: Eddie Hausner)
Happy Dragon enters Herald Square for the first time
1961 Macy's Parade[]
1962 Macy's Parade[]
Happy and Popeye in the 1962 Parade
1963 Macy's Parade[]
Happy Dragon leads Elsie the Cow down the parade route in 1963
Even with John Kennedy's assassination in mind, Happy managed to entertain the crowds in 1963
The Happy Dragon during the 1963 NBC telecast
1964 Macy's Parade[]
Happy and Donald during the 1964 parade
1966 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: Paul Slade)
The Happy Dragon during the 1966 NBC telecast
1967 Macy's Parade[]
Happy Dragon's middle horn was deflated
1968 Macy's Parade[]
1969 Macy's Parade[]
1970 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: Mel Finkelstein)
(Credit: Mel Finkelstein)
Happy Dragon during the 1970 NBC telecast
1972 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: Ron Rothschild)
Happy Dragon during the 1972 parade NBC telecast
1973 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: Associated Press)
Happy Dragon in the 1973 parade (Credit: Producers Library)
(Credit: Producers Library)
(Credit: Producers Library)
Happy Dragon and Smokey Bear in the 1973 Parade
Happy Dragon is on the lookout for King Kong at Herald Square in 1973
1974 Macy's Parade[]
Happy Dragon and Smokey Bear during the 1974 Parade
Happy Dragon Balloon in the 1974 Parade on the NBC Telecast
1975 Macy's Parade[]
Look behind the Weeble balloon
The World's Happiest Dragon, as he reaches 34th Street in 1975
1976 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: Kevin Jennings)
Happy Dragon during his appearance in the 1976 NBC telecast. (Credit: NBC)
1977 Macy's Parade[]
1978 Macy's Parade[]
Happy Dragon during his appearance in the 1978 CBS telecast (Credit: CBS)
(Credit: CBS)
1979 Macy's Parade[]
Happy Dragon during his appearance in the 1979 CBS telecast (Credit: CBS)
(Credit: NBC)
1980 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: pop1lar)
Happy Dragon during his 1980 NBC telecast (Credit: NBC)
1981 Macy's Parade[]
Happy Dragon during his appearance in the 1981 NBC telecast, and would also be used for flashback sequences in 1982, 1983 and 1986 (Credit: NBC)
1991 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: Robert Shanley)
(Credit: NBC)
(Credit: Mark D. Phillips)
(Credit: Beth Bergman)
(Credit: Massimo Pacifico)
(Credit: Massimo Pacifico)
Happy Dragon returns to the parade for the first time in 10 years during his appearance in the 1991 NBC telecast. (Credit: NBC)
1992 Macy's Parade[]
(Credit: Tracer Lin)
Happy Dragon decided to visit NYC one more time during his appearance in the 1992 NBC telecast. (Credit: NBC)
(Credit: Alex Rappoport)
Other[]
The Happy Dragon being referenced and used in an article for future Balloon Training since 1985, showing the incorrect way of handling a balloon
The Happy Dragon being referenced and used in an article for future Balloon Training's since 1985, showing the correct way on how to handle a balloon
Rex the Happy Dragon (2012, 2016-2017)[]
Development and Creation[]
2012 Macy's Parade[]
The Happy Dragon (now known as Rex) returns to the parade in the 2012 NBC telecast (Credit: NBC)
2016 Macy's Parade[]
During the 90th Annual Macy's Day Parade, Rex was brought back for the 2016 parade.
Rex returns during its return in the 2016 NBC telecast. (Credit: NBC)
2017 Macy's Parade[]
Rex during his last appearance in the 2017 NBC telecast (Credit: NBC)