Holidays

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Holidays
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
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Did you know? Some balloons are so complex that they are built in sections and zipped together like a massive, air-filled jigsaw puzzle. elaborate

Fact 1 of 18

18 facts about Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

  1. 1
    The internal pressure of the balloons is adjusted throughout the morning because the rising sun heats the gas and causes the characters to expand slightly.
  2. 2
    A common belief is that the parade route has stayed the same since 1924, but it has actually changed its path through Manhattan multiple times over the decades.
  3. 3
    The giant Snoopy balloon has appeared in the parade more times than any other character in the event's history.
  4. 4
    Some balloons are so complex that they are built in sections and zipped together like a massive, air-filled jigsaw puzzle.
  5. 5
    There is a 'Balloon Inflation Celebration' the day before Thanksgiving that draws over 200,000 spectators to the Upper West Side to watch the characters come to life.
  6. 6
    Many people think the parade has always been televised, but it was not broadcast on national television until 1946.
  7. 7
    The first parade in 1924 featured live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo, including bears, elephants, and monkeys.
  8. 8
    The parade route covers 2.5 miles of New York City streets, ending right in front of the flagship Macy's store on 34th Street.
  9. 9
    The parade has never been cancelled due to snow, though it has dealt with rain and very high winds in the past.
  10. 10
    During the early decades, the parade featured live camels and goats who apparently were not very good at walking in straight lines.
  11. 11
    It is a common misconception that Macy's started the parade to sell toys; it was actually organized by immigrant employees who wanted a festival similar to those in their home countries.
  12. 12
    Many people believe the parade route stays the same every year, but it has actually changed numerous times to accommodate city construction and traffic flow.
  13. 13
    The sheer size of some balloons is so massive that they are larger than a standard three-bedroom house.
  14. 14
    People often think the parade has always been on television, but it was not broadcast nationwide until 1947, twenty-three years after it began.
  15. 15
    The very first parade in 1924 did not feature giant balloons but instead used live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo, including bears, elephants, and monkeys.
  16. 16
    The giant balloons are not actually filled with helium to their maximum capacity at the start of the parade, because the gas expands as the sun warms the balloons throughout the morning, which would cause them to burst if they were fully inflated from the beginning.
  17. 17
    The giant character balloons are held down by teams of people who must follow strict rules, including a ban on wearing high heels or using cell phones while walking the route.
  18. 18
    In the early years of the parade, the giant balloons were released into the sky at the end of the event; they were equipped with return addresses and offered rewards to anyone who found and mailed them back.
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