History of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Timeline

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade held in Manhattan, New York City, presented by Macy's department store. Inaugurated in 1924, it is one of the oldest Thanksgiving parades in the U.S. The three-hour parade runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon EST on Thanksgiving Day, concluding outside Macy's Herald Square. It has been nationally televised on NBC since 1953, becoming a holiday tradition for many Americans.

1920: First Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade Held

In 1920, the first Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade, now known as the 6abc Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade, was held in Philadelphia. This parade is the nation's oldest Thanksgiving parade.

1924: First Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 1924, the first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade took place, organized by the Macy's department store chain in New York City. Store employees marched to Macy's Herald Square, dressed in vibrant costumes, accompanied by floats, professional bands, and live animals from the Central Park Zoo. The parade concluded with Santa Claus being welcomed into Herald Square and crowned "King of the Kiddies" on the Macy's balcony, attracting an audience of over 250,000 people, and prompting Macy's to declare it an annual event.

1924: Inaugural Parade in New York City

In 1924, the inaugural Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City. Store employees, dressed in vibrant costumes, marched with floats, bands, and live animals to Macy's Herald Square. The parade culminated in Santa Claus's arrival and coronation as "King of the Kiddies", drawing a crowd of over 250,000 people and establishing the parade as an annual tradition.

1927: Introduction of Balloons

In 1927, balloons were introduced to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, replacing the live zoo animals that had been featured in the first parade.

1928: Helium Balloons Introduced

In 1928, Macy's switched from using air to helium to inflate the balloons, allowing them to float during the parade.

1928: Balloon Release with Reward

In 1928, Sarg released five balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, offering a $100 reward (equivalent to $1,830 in 2024) for whoever found them after they slowly leaked over a week.

1931: Dragon Balloon Decapitation

In 1931, aviation pioneer Clarence Chamberlin decapitated a dragon balloon midair during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and claimed a $25 reward.

1932: Local Radio Broadcasts Begin

In 1932, the annual festivities of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began being broadcast on local radio stations in New York City, increasing its reach to a wider audience.

1932: End of Balloon Release Practice

In 1932, the practice of releasing balloons at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade ended after a novice pilot nearly crashed her plane attempting to retrieve one.

1932: Santa Leads the Parade

In the 1932 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Santa Claus led the parade, a departure from the tradition of Santa Claus arriving at the end of the parade.

1933: Parade Crowds Exceed One Million

In 1933, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade drew crowds of over one million people along the parade route, indicating the event's growing popularity and significance.

1933: Warmest Parade on Record

The 1933 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was the warmest on record, with a temperature of 69°F (21°C).

1934: Mickey Mouse Balloon Debut

In 1934, the Mickey Mouse balloon made its debut in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, marking the introduction of popular culture characters into the parade's lineup of balloons.

1941: Radio Broadcasts Temporarily Suspended

In 1941, the local radio broadcasts of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade were temporarily suspended, ending a decade of increased exposure for the event.

1942: Parade Suspension Due to World War II

In 1942, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was suspended due to World War II, as resources like rubber and helium were needed for the war effort.

1944: Second Year of Parade Suspension Due to WWII

In 1944, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade remained suspended for the third year due to World War II and the ongoing need for resources like rubber and helium for the war effort.

1945: Parade Resumes After World War II

In 1945, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade resumed after being suspended during World War II, signaling a return to normalcy and celebration.

1945: Radio Broadcasts Resume

In 1945, the local radio broadcasts of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade resumed, following a temporary suspension, continuing to broaden the parade's reach.

1946: Parade Filmed for Miracle on 34th Street

In 1946, footage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was filmed for the upcoming movie "Miracle on 34th Street", which would be released in 1947.

1947: Parade Featured in "Miracle on 34th Street"

In 1947, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was prominently featured in the film "Miracle on 34th Street," incorporating footage from the 1946 festivities and contributing to the parade's growing national recognition.

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1948: First Network Television Broadcast

In 1948, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade had its first broadcast on network television, significantly expanding its audience and national presence.

1951: End of the Local Radio Broadcasts

In 1951, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade discontinued its local radio broadcasts, which had been running since 1945 (and earlier from 1932 to 1941).

1953: First Televised Broadcast on NBC

In 1953, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was televised nationally on NBC for the first time, enhancing its reach and popularity across the United States.

1956: Last Ragamuffin Parade in New York City

In 1956, the last ragamuffin parade took place in New York City. Ragamuffin Day, a children's Thanksgiving activity involving a primitive form of trick-or-treating, had been popular from 1870 but gradually declined due to the increasing popularity of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

1957: Rockettes' Annual Performance Begins

In 1957, The Rockettes of Radio City Music Hall began their annual performances at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. They perform last before the parade starts, followed by a commercial break.

1958: First Celebrity Performance

In 1958, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade incorporated celebrity performances for the first time, with the Benny Goodman sextet joining the parade.

1964: Transition to Lip Sync

In 1964, due to technical and logistical difficulties with live music performances on moving stages, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began transitioning to lip sync performances.

1971: Balloons Grounded

In 1971, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons were grounded for the only time in history due to weather conditions.

1980: End of Goodyear Balloon Production

In 1980, Sarg's large animal-shaped balloons, which had been produced by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, since the 1920s, ended their run, marking a change in balloon production for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

1984: Raven Industries Begins Making Balloons

In 1984, Raven Industries of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, through its Raven Aerostar division, began manufacturing the balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

1985: NYPD Highway Patrol Leads Parade

In 1985, the New York City Police Department Highway Patrol began its tradition of leading the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

1993: Sonic the Hedgehog Balloon Incident

During the 1993 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, strong winds pushed the Sonic the Hedgehog balloon into a lamppost at Columbus Circle, causing damage to the balloon and injuring a child and an off-duty police officer.

1997: Balloon Accidents and Safety Regulations

In 1997, high winds at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade caused the Cat in the Hat balloon to hit a lamppost, injuring a parade-goer. The Barney the Dinosaur and Pink Panther balloons also experienced issues. Consequently, Mayor Rudy Giuliani formed a task force, and safety regulations were implemented, including balloon size restrictions, lamppost modifications, and handler training.

2001: Parade Held After September 11 Attacks

In 2001, following the September 11 attacks in New York City, the decision to proceed with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was met with debate. Despite concerns about insensitivity, the parade went on as scheduled, symbolizing resilience and recovery for the city.

2002: Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando Resort

In 2002, Macy's Studios partnered with Universal Orlando Resort to bring balloons and floats from New York City to Florida for the Macy's Holiday Parade, performed daily during the holiday season and including the Santa Claus float.

2005: M&M's Balloon Collision

During the 2005 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the M&M's balloon collided with a streetlight in Times Square, causing parts of the light to fall and injure two sisters. This incident prompted new safety measures for subsequent parades.

2005: Introduction of Blue Sky Gallery

In 2005, the "Blue Sky Gallery" was introduced to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, transforming contemporary artists' works into full-size balloons.

2006: Macy's Sponsors Celebrate the Season Parade

In 2006, Macy's began sponsoring the Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburgh. Macy's sponsorship started after they acquired the Kaufmann's store chain, which had previously sponsored the parade.

2006: Implementation of New Safety Measures

In 2006, new safety measures were implemented for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, including wind measurement devices and protocols to keep balloons closer to the ground during windy conditions, following a balloon-related accident in the previous year.

2006: Wettest Parade on Record

The 2006 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was the wettest on record, with 1.72 inches (44 mm) of rain.

2007: Broadway Show Performance During Strike

The 2007 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade took place during a strike by the I.A.T.S.E. (a stagehands' union). Legally Blonde, the musical affected by the strike, performed in show logo shirts, with makeshift props and no sets.

2009: New Parade Route Established

In 2009, a new parade route was established that detoured from the traditional Broadway path. The route started at 77th Street and Central Park West, went south to Columbus Circle, east along Central Park South, south on 7th Avenue to Times Square, east on 42nd Street, south on 6th Avenue to 34th Street, and west to the terminating point at 7th Avenue.

2011: 9/11 Anniversary Tribute

In 2011, for the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade invited family members from Tuesday's Children to cut the ribbon at the start of the parade with NBC's Al Roker, leading the parade alongside Amy Kule.

2012: New Parade Route Introduced

In 2012, another new route was introduced. This change was similar to the 2009 route, but eliminated Times Square altogether, instead going east from Columbus Circle along Central Park South, then south on Sixth Avenue to Herald Square.

2012: End of Annual Blue Sky Gallery Balloon

In 2012, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stopped featuring a new "Blue Sky Gallery" balloon each year, transitioning to a more intermittent schedule for these contemporary art balloons.

2013: End of Macy's Sponsorship of Celebrate the Season Parade

In 2013, Macy's ended its sponsorship of the Celebrate the Season Parade in Pittsburgh. Macy's had sponsored the parade since 2006, following its acquisition of the Kaufmann's store chain.

2014: Entry and Performer Fees Cost

Since 2014, the cost to book performers and pay the entry fee to Macy's for participating in the parade has hovered between $200,000 and $250,000.

2017: Macy's Singing Christmas Tree choir Debuts

From 2017 to 2023, the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree choir precedes Santa Claus as the final performer of the parade, except for the 2022 and 2023 parades.

2017: Macy's Holiday Parade Renamed

In 2017, the Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando Resort was renamed to Universal's Holiday Parade Featuring Macy's.

2018: Coldest Parade and Same-Sex Kiss

The 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was the coldest on record, with a temperature of 19°F (-7°C). Also, Actresses Caitlin Kinnunen and Isabelle McCalla's kiss during The Prom's performance at the parade received media attention as the first broadcast of a same-sex kiss in the parade's history.

2019: Raven Industries Last Balloon Production

In 2019, Raven Industries, through its Raven Aerostar division, produced balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the last time, concluding a decades-long partnership.

2019: Balloons face downward due to wind

In 2019, taller upright balloons were rotated to appear horizontal and face downward due to wind

2019: Sesame Street Leads Parade for 50th Anniversary

In 2019, the cast of Sesame Street led the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in honor of the show's 50th anniversary, marking a special celebration.

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2019: Character Balloons Handled by 90 People Each

In 2019, the larger character balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, primarily consisting of licensed pop-culture characters, were each handled by exactly 90 people.

2020: Downsized Parade Due to COVID-19

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was downsized and closed to the public, being filmed as a broadcast-only event in the Herald Square area. There were 88% fewer participants, social distancing was enforced, and the event did not include college and high school marching bands or any participant under 18 years of age. Balloons were tethered to a specially rigged anchor vehicle.

2020: Universal's Holiday Experience Featuring Macy's Balloons

In 2020, the Macy's Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando Resort was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, Universal's Holiday Experience Featuring Macy's Balloons, a walkthrough experience, was held.

2021: Parade Returns to In-Person Procession

In 2021, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade returned to its traditional in-person procession with 6,500 participants marching after being downsized and closed to the public in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Macy's Singing Christmas Tree Performs Second-to-Last

In 2022, the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree choir performed second-to-last, preceding Santa Claus, in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2022: All-Female Broadcast Hosts

In 2022, the NBC broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade marked the first time that the broadcast was hosted entirely by women, as Al Roker was unable to host that year due to blood clots in his legs and lungs.

2023: Macy's Singing Christmas Tree Performs Second-to-Last

In 2023, the Macy's Singing Christmas Tree choir performed second-to-last, preceding Santa Claus, in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

2023: Parade Begins Earlier and Disrupted by Protests

In 2023, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began half an hour earlier, at 8:30 am, marking the first time in nearly a century that the parade has started earlier. Around 10 am, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the parade in three locations, including some who glued themselves to the parade route at Sixth Avenue near 45th street while wearing white jumpsuits covered in fake blood.

2024: $100 Prize Value in 1928 Adjusted for Inflation

In 1928, Sarg offered a $100 prize for finding the released balloons from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 2024, that prize would be worth approximately $1,830 when adjusted for inflation.