In case you missed it, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year was the 98th edition. It featured 7 featured character balloons, 22 floats, 15 heritage and novelty inflatables, 11 marching bands, more than 700 clowns and 10 musical performance groups.
Somehow Laura got a ring-side seat. Happy Thanksgiving!
In 1924, store employees marched to Macy’s herald Square, the flagship store on 34th Street, dressed in vibrant costumes. There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, Santa was enthroned on the Macy’s balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he was then crowned “King of the Kiddies”. With an audience of over 250,000 people, the parade was such a success that Macy’s declared it would become an annual event, despite media reports only barely covering the first parade.
The balloons were introduced in 1927, replacing live zoo animals that were featured in the first parade. In 1928, Macy’s switched from inflating the balloons with air to helium, making them float. Large animal-shaped balloons were produced by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio from the 1920s through 1980.
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About the Author: Michael
