In 1924, the Macy’s department store company sponsored a thanksgiving day parade in New York. It featured floats, bands, and balloons. Throughout the 98 years that the parade has gone on, many balloons have been used and reused. Here are the top ten best:
- Eruptor (Skylanders)
Skylanders was a popular video game series created in 2011 by Activision and Toys for Bob. One of the many playable characters was Eruptor, a lava monster with a big temper and an even bigger love of burning bad guys to a crisp! In 2014, to coincide with the release of the fourth game in the series, “Skylanders: Trap Team”, he was brought to life using nearly forty gallons of fluorescent paint. Eruptor made two more parade appearances before being retired at the end of the 2016 run, and the Skylanders series was discontinued the following year.
- Garfield (Garfield)
In 1978, Jim Davis brought to life the fat orange cartoon cat, “Garfield”, and quickly took the world by storm. With cartoons, comics, a few movies, and even amusement park attractions centered around the Monday-despising mascot, it would only make sense that he would be brought to life as a balloon. He appeared as a 60-foot-tall balloon, one of the first balloons added to the parade. He starred for nearly 13 years between 1984-1999, only taking a two-year hiatus from 1990-1992.
- Dino (Sinclair Oil Corporation)
The Sinclair Oil Dino has been part of the parade since the beginning, and even a little before, as the original balloon was made in 1964 for a world’s fair. Having three separate balloons over the course of the years, the simple design of the dinosaur keeps him loved throughout the years. The most modern version, premiering this year, is 68 feet long and nearly 50 feet tall.
7 Super Grover (Sesame Street)
Premiering in 1969, “Sesame Street” has entertained children from across the world for over fifty years! With that resume, it would only fit that one of its lovable muppets would find his way into the sky. In 2003, the daring alter ego of Grover, Super Grover, appeared high in the sky. With 90 handlers in total, this giant muppet brought sunny days to parades until 2006, when he slipped into retirement to make room for his co-star, Abby Cadabby.
- Kermit the Frog (The Muppets)
From one Muppet to another, Kermit the Frog sprung into hearts in 1954. In 1977, He appeared as a balloon and joined his muppet friends, who were on the ground in their own float. After retirement in 1991, Kermit appeared as a new balloon in 2002, where he stayed for two years. After another run from 2007-2012, he has since been put into retirement.
- Red Ranger (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
Even if you’ve never seen the show, the name “Power Rangers” will likely ring a bell. First premiering in 1993, the series has become beloved by both children and adults. In 2014, the Red Ranger, leader of the Power Rangers, appeared in the sky wearing his classic costume from the original series. At 77 feet long, he is one of the longest balloons in the parade’s history. The ranger made four more appearances before being retired after the 2019 run.
- Spider-Man (Spider-Man)
Created by Stan Lee in 1962, the amazing Spider-Man has been considered one of, if not the most, popular superheroes of all time, becoming the flagship character for Marvel Studios. His first balloon, premiering in 1987, was considered a technical marvel (pun intended) at the time, with lifelike muscle tones never before seen in a helium balloon. After being retired in 1998, a new balloon was created and premiered in 2009, where he stayed until he ended his career in 2014.
- Popeye the Sailor (Popeye)
The oldest character on this list, Popeye, was created in 1929 in the comic strip “Thimble Theater” and four years later, the sailor premiered on the silver screen with Paramount Pictures. In 1957, the famous sailor was blown up to ten times his size and joined the parade. After a history of mishaps, including getting an arm punctured by a tree, Popeye was permanently retired in 1968.
- Greg (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
Almost every child in the past ten years has read at least one of the eighteen “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” novels by award-winning author Jeff Kinney. In 2010, the wimpy kid himself was made into a balloon, clutching his famous journal (NOT a diary). A new, balloon appeared in 2016 sporting a yellow jacket, and a brand-new, 39 feet tall, and fully colored balloon will premiere this year.
1. Snoopy (Peanuts)
Quite possibly the most iconic character on this list. With eight different balloons over the course of fifty-four years. This famous beagle has become a staple of the holiday season, as millions of people watch him and the rest of the peanut gang celebrate Thanksgiving. The current iteration of Snoopy has him dressed in an orange astronaut suit to coincide with the Apple TV series, “Snoopy in Space.”