11 Insane Things You Probably Didn't Know About The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
How much do you know about this American tradition that's nearly 100 years old?
Macy's Thanksgiving... Circus?
Before the balloons, live animals such as lions, elephants and camels were borrowed from the Central Park Zoo to walk the parade route.
The Roaring Twenties...
The first parade took place in 1924, but the helium balloons didn't show up until 1927 with Felix the Cat and a toy soldier.
Santa knows best...
Santa Claus has been the final float in the parade every year except for 1933 when he was the first in the parade.
Bizarre...
Because of a helium shortage in 1958 the balloons were brought down Broadway on cranes.
Thanksgiving was.... worshiped?
In 1926 the parade was protested by the Allied Patriotic Societies who said a department store-sponsored parade interfered with Thanksgiving worship.
A very patriotic company...
The parade was canceled in 1942, 1943, and 1944 due to World War II. Macy's donated its helium and rubber to the U.S. military during those years.
"Balloonatics" exist...
The balloons are designed in-house by Macy's “balloonatics” and each one cost around $190,000 to make.
Such demanding characters...
Each balloon requires around 90 handlers who must weigh at least 120 lbs and be able to walk the 2.65 mile-long parade route.
The REAL face of Thanksgiving...
Snoopy has appeared more than any other balloon since making his debut in 1968. 2016 will be his 40th parade appearance.
The bigger they are...
The balloons take around 90 minutes to inflate but are deflated in just 15 minutes once their air compartments are unzipped.
High flying stats...
After the United States' government, Macy's balloons are the second largest consumer of helium in the world.
