Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Tickets
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a parade held once per year in New York City, in celebration of the Thanksgiving holidays. The parade is hosted by Macy's famous department store and runs for roughly three hours, starting early in the morning at 9:00 AM EST.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade dates as far back as the 1920's, when Macy's employees, many of whom were immigrants, began this tradition in an attempt to connect with American culture by celebrating Thanksgiving. Currently, the parade features enormous and impressive balloons, a variety of performers and paraders and a viewership of over 44 million every year, on television alone.
Get your Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tickets and see this American family tradition come to life this year, live and right in front of your eyes.
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Continued
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons
The balloons for the parade are inflated the day before (Wednesday) on both sides of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The balloons are split between 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. The inflation team consists of various volunteers from Macy's as well as students from Stevens Institute of Technology, a local university in Hoboken, NJ where the balloons and floats are designed and built. The inflation is open to the public the afternoon and night before the parade.
Balloon Introductions
2008: Horton the Elephant, Buzz Lightyear, Smurf, Bolt
2007: Shrek, Hello Kitty, Abby Cadabby
2006: Pikachu with Poké Ball (2nd version, first balloon with built-in electric power to light up cheeks), Flying Ace Snoopy (sixth version of the Peanuts character, the most ever), 80th Anniversary Hot Air Balloon Replica,
2005: Dora the Explorer (first character of Latino descent to appear in parade), Scooby-Doo, Healthy Mr. Potato Head, JoJo
2004: SpongeBob SquarePants, Disney's Chicken Little, M&M's (was retired after 2006 parade because of accident in Times Square.)
2003: (Strike Up the Band) Barney (2nd version), Super Grover, Garfield (2nd version)
2002: Kermit the Frog (2nd version), Little Bill (First African-American character in parade history), Rich Uncle Pennybags, Charlie Brown (chasing elusive football)
2001: Bandleader Mickey Mouse (3rd version), Ronald McDonald (2nd version), Jeeves, Dragon Tales Curious George, Big Bird (2nd version), Jimmy Neutron, Pikachu (First version; retired after Pokémon Party of the Decade on August 8, 2006), Cheesasaurus Rex
1999: Millennium Snoopy (5th version), Honey Nut Cheerios Bee, Blue's Clues
1998: Babe the Pig, Wild Thing, Dexter
1997: Arthur, Rugrats, Bumpé
1996: Rocky and Bullwinkle (2nd version), Peter Rabbit
1995: Dudley the Dragon, SkyDancer, Eben Bear; Izzy (1996 Summer Olympics mascot)
1994: Barney the Dinosaur (First version), The Cat in the Hat (retired after accident in 1997).
1993: Beethoven (dog), Rex, Sonic the Hedgehog (first video game character in parade history)
1992: Goofy
1990: Clifford the Big Red Dog (was claimed to be a "life-sized balloon"), Bart Simpson
1989: Bugs Bunny
1988: Nestlé Nesquik Bunny, Big Bird, Pink Panther, Snoopy (4th version) with Woodstock.
1987: Spider-Man, Ronald McDonald, Snuggle Bear, Skating Snoopy (3rd version)
1986: Baby Shamu, Humpty Dumpty
1985: Betty Boop
1984: Garfield, Raggedy Ann
1983: Yogi Bear
1982: Olive Oyl (first female character to appear in parade), Woody Woodpecker
1977: Kermit the Frog
1975: Weeble
1972: Smile (Happy Face), Mickey Mouse (2nd version; this balloon was to have debuted in 1971, but high winds cancelled the balloons participation.)
1968: Aviator Snoopy (1st version; was redesigned the following year as "Astronaut Snoopy" in tribute to Apollo 11., thus becoming second version)
1966: Smokey Bear, Superman (2nd version; largest balloon ever used in the parade)
1965: Underdog
1964: Linus the Lionhearted
1963: Dino the Dinosaur, Elsie the Cow
1951: Lucky Pup
1934: Mickey Mouse
1927: Felix the Cat (First balloon used in parade)
Balloon Introductions
2007: Artie The Pirate, Baseball, Rabitt by Jeff Koons, Parade Balloon Cluster, Planet Earth, Soccer Ball
2006: Green Candy Cane, Handprint Stars, Ice Cream Cone
2005: Wiggle Worm, Candy Canes, Snow Crystals, Poinsettias
2004: Uncle Sam
2006: Energizer Bunny (B)
2005: SnowBo (B)
2004: Weebles (B) - (3) Tibby, Tooey, Bumpus
Balloon Introductions
2007: The Care Bears Winter Fun-Derland, International Cele-Bear-Ation Clock Tower, M&M's Chocolate Candies on Broadway, Music Bigger than Life, Barbie as The Island Princess
2006: Barbie & the 12 Dancing Princesses, Doodlebug, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Mother Goose, Space Station Discovery,
2005: Holiday Beat, Krazy Kritters , The Magic of Childhood, 123 Sesame Street, Barbie as the Princess & The Pauper, NFL Classic, Tutenstein, and Voyage to Adventure
2002: Barney's Playtime in The Park
1998: Sesame Street
1987: Marvel Comics
1984: Fraggle Rock
1971: Tom Turkey
Balloon Introductions
In addition to the well-known balloons and floats, the parade also features live music and other performances. College and high school marching bands from across the country participate in the parade, and the television broadcasts feature performances by famous singers and bands. The Radio City Rockettes are a classic performance as well.
Balloon Introductions
Every year, a number of Broadway shows perform in the parade. The 2007 parade was notable as it took place during I.A.T.S.E. strike of 2007, and as such, Legally Blonde, the one performing musical affected by the strike, performed in show logo shirts, with make-shift props and no sets. The other 3 shows perform in theaters which were not affected by the strike
