Raven Aerostar is a division of Raven Industries and has worked for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
In August 1983, the people at the Macy's Studios were interested in Raven's balloon making skills, and reached out to them if they were interested in making balloons for the parade. Despite them only making cold-air inflatables at the time, they said yes. After the 1983 Parade ended, a salesperson at Raven Aerostar, Cindy Peterson, would meet up with executives at Macy's to give them background on what they do. Shortly after this meeting, work would begin on their first giant balloons. They would continue making balloons for the Parade for almost four decades, before parting ways with the Parade in 2019 after creating the Green Eggs and Ham balloon. They were replaced by Signs & Shapes for the following year. Raven Aerostar has produced balloons for the second-longest time, only behind Goodyear.
Balloons Created[]
Giant Balloons[]
- Raggedy Ann (1984-1986, 1991)
- Garfield (1st Version) (1984-1989, 1992-1999)
- Betty Boop (1985-1987, 1991-1992, 1995-1996)
- Olive Oyl and Swee'Pea (2nd Version) (1986)
- Baby Shamu (1986-1988)
- Starfish (1986)
- Spider-Man (1st Version) (1987-1998)
- Ronald McDonald (1st Version) (1987-1990, 1993-1994)
- Skater Snoopy (1987)
- Snuggle Bear (1987-1994)
- ABC Bouncing Balls (1988-2000, 2002-2003)
- Big Bird (1st Version) (1988-2000)
- Quik Bunny (1988-1999)
- Pink Panther (1988-1997)
- Winter Snoopy and Woodstock (4th Version) (1988-1995)
- Bugs Bunny (1989-1992)
- Clifford the Big Red Dog (1990-1996, 2000-2004)
- Babar (1991-1992)
- Pumpkins (1st Version) (1992-1998)
- Goofy (1992)
- Beethoven (1993-1995, 2008)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1st Version) (1993-1997)
- Rex (1993)
- Izzy (1993-1995)
- Barney (1st Version) (1994-2002)
- The Cat in the Hat (1994-1997)
- Dudley the Dragon (1995)
- Fujifilm's Blimp (1995-1997)
- Sky Dancer (1995-1996)
- Eben Bear (1995-1998)
- Rocky and Bullwinkle (2nd Version) (1996, 1999-2000)
- Peter Rabbit (1996-1998)
- Arthur (1997-2001, 2003)
- Rugrats (1997-2001)
- Bumpé (1997)
- Babe (1998)
- Wild Thing (1998-1999, 2002-2003)
- Dexter (1998-2000)
- Millennium Snoopy (5th Version) (1999-2001)
- Honey Nut Cheerios Bee (1999-2001)
- Blue (1999-2002)
- Bandleader Mickey Mouse (3rd Version) (2000)
- Jeeves (2000-2002, 2004)
- Ronald McDonald (2nd Version) (2000-2008)
- Cassie (2000-2001)
- Holiday Elf (2000-2012, 2013-2017)
- Curious George (2001)
- Pikachu (1st Version) (2001-2005)
- Big Bird (2nd Version) (2001-2006)
- Happy Hippo (2001-2003, 2005-2006)
- Jimmy Neutron (2001-2003)
- Cheesasaurus Rex (2001-2003)
- Uncle Sam (2002-2006, 2008, 2010-2013)
- Charlie Brown and the Elusive Football (1st Version) (2002-2005, 2012)
- Little Bill (2002-2004)
- Mr. Monopoly (2002-2004)
- Kermit the Frog (2nd Version) (2002-2004, 2007-2012)
- Strike Up the Band Barney (2nd Version) (2003-2005)
- Pumpkins (2nd Version) (2003-2011)
- Freida the Dachshund (2003-2005, 2009, 2011)
- Super Grover (2003-2006)
- Garfield and Pooky (2nd Version) (2003-2006)
- Chicken Little (2004-2005)
- M&M's Red and Yellow Brighten up the Holidays (2004-2006)
- Wiggle Worm (2004-2005, 2010, 2012)
- SpongeBob SquarePants (1st Version) (2004-2006, 2008-2012)
- Scooby-Doo (2005-2007)
- Tom Otterness' Humpty Dumpty (2005-2006)
- Dora the Explorer (2005-2009)
- Healthy Mr. Potato Head (2005-2007)
- JoJo (2005-2007)
- 80th Anniversary Hot Air Balloon (2006)
- Snoopy as the Flying Ace (6th Version) (2006-2011)
- Pikachu with Pokéball (2nd Version) (2006-2013)
- Abby Cadabby (2007-2009)
- Super-Cute Hello Kitty (2007-2011)
- Shrek (1st Version) (2007-2010)
- Jeff Koons' Rabbit (2007)
- Smurf (2008-2011)
- Keith Haring's Figure with Heart (2008)
- Buzz Lightyear (1st Version) (2008-2013)
- Horton the Elephant (2008-2010)
- Spider-Man (2nd Version) (2009-2014)
- Ice Skating Ronald McDonald (3rd Version) (2009-2014)
- Sailor Mickey Mouse (4th Version) (2009-2012)
- Pillsbury Doughboy (2009-2013, 2014-2022)
- Greg Heffley (1st Version) (2010-2015)
- Kaikai & Kiki (2010)
- Po from Kung Fu Panda (1st Version) (2010-2012)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (2nd Version) (2011-2013, 2021)
- Julius the Sock Monkey (2011-2013)
- Hello Kitty (2nd Version) (2012-2017)
- Papa Smurf (2012-2014, 2021-2022)
- KAWS' Companion (2012)
- The Elf on the Shelf (2012-2020)
- Snoopy and Woodstock (7th Version) (2013-2015)
- Santa Hat SpongeBob SquarePants (2nd Version) (2013-2018)
- Toothless the Dragon (2013-2015, 2018)
- Adventure Time with Finn and Jake (2013-2015)
- Thomas the Tank Engine (2014-2016)
- Paddington Bear (2nd Version) (2014-2016)
- Power Rangers Mighty Morphin Red Ranger (2014-2019)
- Eruptor (2014-2016)
- Pikachu (3rd Version) (2014-2020)
- Scrat and his Acorn (2015-2017)
- Ronald McDonald (4th Version) (2015-2020)
- Arrtle the Pirate (2015, 2018, 2021)
- DINO (2nd Version) (2015-2021)
- Greg Heffley (2nd Version) (2016-2021)
- Trolls (2016-2020)
- Jett from Super Wings (2017-2019)
- PAW Patrol's Chase (2017-2023)
- The Grinch (2nd Version) (2017-2019)
- Opening Macy's Stars (2018-present)
- Little Cloud (2018)
- Goku (1st Version) (2018-2019, 2021-2023)
- Sunny the Snowpal (2018)
- Astronaut Snoopy 2.0. (8th Version) (2019-2022)
- Green Eggs and Ham (2019)
- SpongeBob SquarePants and Gary (3rd Version) (2019-present)
Cold Air Inflatables[]
- The Wicked Witch of the West and her Crystal Ball (1990)
- Humpty Dumpty (1991-1998)
- Blue M&M (1995-1997)
Balloonicles[]
- Tibby, Tooey, and Bumpus (2004-2006)
- SnowBo (2005-2007)
- Energizer Bunny (2006-2011)
- Kool-Aid Man (2010-2015)
- Blue Holiday Ornament (2010)
- Red Holiday Ornament (2010-2012)
Trivia[]
- Throughout Raven's tenure with the Parade, only four giant balloons weren't made by them. These were Bart Simpson in 1990 (who was made by Bigger Than Life), Petula Pig in 1997 (who was made by Macy's Studios), and Angry Birds' Red and the 2nd Charlie Brown, who were made by Signs & Shapes.