Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wiki

We ask that all Wiki editors read our Policies and Guidelines to ensure a smooth operation. Please also note that we are not affiliated with Macy's, Inc. Thank you.

READ MORE

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wiki
Register
Advertisement

The Opening Macy's Stars are novelty balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

History with the Macy's Parade[]

The Opening Macy’s Stars made their debut as a trio of balloons in the 2018 Macy’s Parade, serving as a golden backdrop to the newly-refurbished Tom Turkey float. The balloons represent the iconic five-pointed logo of Macy’s, and celebrate the famed red star that guided R.H. Macy to shore during his days as a seaman.

Each of the Opening Macy’s Stars measure 25 feet tall, 24 feet wide, 12 feet deep, and are filled with 1,650 cubic feet of helium that allow them to shoot down the streets of New York City. The metallic gold star array is made of a special reflective material to give the balloons a shiny surface.

In 2020, only the third Opening Star appeared due to a health and safety strategy put in place that reduced the number of Parade participants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following this appearance, the third Opening Macy’s Star was temporarily retired and used in Balloon Field Training sessions in September and October 2021.

Two of the Opening Macy’s Star made appearances in 2021 and 2022; the third star returned for the 2023 Parade.[1]

Trivia[]

  • The Opening Macy's Stars bear a resemblance to the Gold Macy's Tri-Star balloon.
  • Two of the Opening Macy's Stars appeared on stage with Céline Dion for her 2019 Parade performance.
  • The third Opening Macy's Star has a rather distinctive appearance compared to the other two, being slightly larger in size, and having more noticeable patches.

References[]

  1. Facebook post from Stephanie Fisher Dindy. Facebook.com. November 7, 2023.

See also[]

Advertisement