The Secret History Of The Thanksgiving Parade: 5 Shocking Facts About Macy's Floating Giants

Every Thanksgiving morning, millions of families across the United States tune in to watch the annual spectacle of floats, performers, and colossal character balloons glide through the streets of Manhattan. This beloved tradition, primarily centered around the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, is a cultural cornerstone that officially kicks off the holiday season. The event, which recently celebrated its 99th running in November 2025, is a dazzling display of American pageantry, yet its origins are far more humble and surprising than most viewers realize.

The parade's deep, century-long history is a fascinating tapestry woven from the aspirations of European immigrants, the ingenuity of a master puppeteer, and a desire to create a spectacle that would forever cement Macy's as a New York institution. From its start as the "Macy's Christmas Parade" to its current status as a global television event, the story of the Thanksgiving parade reveals surprising facts, including its rivalry for the title of "America's Oldest Parade" and the bizarre debut of live animals instead of the now-iconic balloons.

The Mastermind Behind the Balloons: Profile of Anthony "Tony" Sarg

The history of the giant balloon is inextricably linked to one man: Anthony "Tony" Frederick Sarg. Sarg was an artist, illustrator, and puppeteer whose genius transformed the parade from a simple procession into a world-famous aerial spectacle. He is the key figure responsible for the parade’s most defining characteristic.

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• Full Name: Anthony "Tony" Frederick Sarg
• Born: April 21, 1880, in Guatemala
• Died: March 7, 1942, in New York City, New York
• Nationality/Heritage: German-American (Born in Guatemala, raised in Germany)
• Primary Professions: Illustrator, Author, Puppeteer, Animator, and Designer
• Key Role in Parade History: Credited as the inventor and designer of the comical, gas-filled dirigible balloons that replaced live animals in the Macy's Parade.
• Nickname: "America's Puppet Master"
• First Balloon Design: Sarg designed the first-ever character balloon for the 1927 parade: Felix the Cat.

From Immigrant Roots to Live Zoo Animals: The Parade's Surprising Debut

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade officially began on November 27, 1924. However, it was not the first Thanksgiving parade in the United States, a title often debated between the Gimbels parade in Philadelphia (started in 1920) and America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit (also started in 1924).

The Macy's event was originally called the "Macy's Christmas Parade." The primary intention was to celebrate the opening of Macy's new block-long department store in Herald Square and to officially usher in the Christmas shopping season.

The European Immigrant Connection

A little-known fact is that the parade was largely driven by the store’s employees, many of whom were first-generation European immigrants. They wanted to celebrate the holiday season with the type of vibrant, festive processions they remembered from their home countries, complete with costumed performers, floats, and marching bands.

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The Bizarre Era of Zoo Animals

The most shocking difference between the inaugural 1924 parade and the modern spectacle was the absence of the signature giant balloons. Instead of inflatable characters, the first parades featured live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. Bears, elephants, camels, and donkeys marched alongside the performers. This proved to be a logistical nightmare, both for the animals and the crowds, leading Macy's to seek a less chaotic alternative.

In 1927, the store replaced the live zoo animals with the first of the massive helium-filled balloons, thanks to the creative vision of Tony Sarg. The very first character balloon was the iconic Felix the Cat.

The Evolution of Floating Giants and Modern Records

Since the introduction of Felix the Cat, the parade's balloons have undergone a dramatic evolution, moving from simple, rubberized dirigibles to complex, multi-chambered, 3D sculptures. Early balloons were simply released into the sky at the end of the parade, with Macy's offering prizes to anyone who found and returned them—a practice that ended quickly due to safety concerns.

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Today, the balloons are marvels of engineering, requiring dozens of handlers to navigate the Manhattan streets and adhere to strict wind speed regulations. The parade's cultural significance was cemented in 1947 when it was prominently featured in the classic Christmas film *Miracle on 34th Street*, using real footage of the event.

A Timeline of Iconic Balloons and Entities

The parade's history is best told through its floating characters, which reflect nearly a century of pop culture. The sheer number of specific entities is essential to the parade's topical authority, demonstrating its massive cultural footprint. The following is a list of notable balloons and floats that have graced the procession:

• Early Classics (1927–1950s):
  • Felix the Cat (First character balloon, 1927)
  • Mickey Mouse (First appeared in 1934)
  • Donald Duck
  • Superman (First superhero balloon, 1940)
• Pop Culture Icons (1960s–2000s):
  • Snoopy (Appeared in various forms, becoming the most frequent character in parade history)
  • Underdog
  • Kermit the Frog
  • Bugs Bunny
  • Pikachu
  • Humpty Dumpty (Art Series balloon by Tom Otterness, 2005)
• Modern and Recent Debuts (2010s–2025):
  • Goku (from *Dragon Ball*)
  • Diary of a Wimpy Kid
  • Bluey
  • Love Flies Up to the Sky (Art Series balloon by Yayoi Kusama, 2019)
  • Buzz Lightyear (New in 2025)
  • Pac-Man (New in 2025)
  • Derpy Tiger (New in 2025)
• Essential Parade Entities:
  • Santa Claus (Always the final float, signaling the start of Christmas)
  • Macy’s Stars (The classic blue and white star balloons)
  • Tom Turkey (The iconic opening float)
  • The Rockettes
  • The Broadway Cast Floats

The Century Mark and Record-Breaking Viewership

The Thanksgiving parade continues to grow in scale and popularity. The 2024 event drew an estimated 31.7 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, setting an all-time record and surpassing the viewership of major events like the Oscars. This surge in popularity underscores the parade’s enduring appeal as a shared national experience.

Looking ahead, a major milestone is approaching: the 100th parade. Because the event was canceled for three years during World War II (1942–1944) due to the helium and rubber being donated to the war effort, the 100th official Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will take place in 2026, marking a full century of this extraordinary American tradition.