Behind the Balloons: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

In 1927, a giant inflatable Felix the Cat lifted off the ground (just barely; he was filled with air, not helium) in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and cartoon character balloons have been a holiday tradition ever since.

Felix the Cat 1927 – first balloon in Macy’s Parade

(courtesy of Macy’s)

Mickey Mouse, Kermit the Frog, and Supermanhave wound their way down the parade route. Snoopy will make his 38th appearance this year. Macy’s is guarded about their selection process, saying only that parade organizers “are always on the lookout for what is popular with kids, teens and adults. The new balloons in the line up reflect that. Each has pop culture relevance.”

What we do know is that the balloons are designed and made here in the US, at a dedicated studio in New Jersey. A balloon in today’s parade is as tall as a three- to five-story building and requires 90 handlers. They are made of polyurethane and contain several chambers to facilitate inflation. Each balloon starts with a pencil sketch that must be vetted by aerodynamic and engineering consultants before a scale model in clay and a painted replica are made — that’s before any fabric for the actual balloon is cut. The process from design to realization can take a year.

So what happens to the balloons after they have made their run? In the early days, the balloons were released and eventually burst. In 1929, designers came back with an interesting plan: give the balloons safety valves so they can float for a few days while the helium is released, and sew tags onto them encouraging finders to return the balloons to Macy’s for a reward. Of the five balloons released, one was lost to the sea, another to the East River, and three made it out to Long Island, where neighbors fighting over the right to claim the reward shred one of them to pieces. Macy’s wasn’t ready to give up, though —until 1932, whena balloon wrapped itself around an airplane’s wing and sent it into a tailspin. (The pilots of the plane weren’t harmed; the Tom-Kat balloon, on the other hand, suffered serious injuries.) That incident put an end once and for all to the balloon-releasing scheme. Nowadays the balloons are deflated and brought back to New Jersey.

This year, Macy’s is introducing six new balloons: two reboots and four newcomers. Let’s meet The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon Class of 2014:

The Pillsbury Dougboy is a veteran of the parade, but over the years, he was poked in the belly one too many times, so he needed to be cloned.

The Pillsbury Doughboy

(courtesy of Macy’s)

Pikachu is back in a redesign because someone somewhere thought the only thing better than a giant Pikachu balloon is a giant Pikachu balloon holding a little Pikachu snow man.

Pikachu

(courtesy of Macy’s)

The Red Mighty Morphin Power Rangeris making his first appearance in 2014 because the 90s are cool again.

Red Mighty Morphin Power Ranger

(courtesy of Macy’s)

A red ball spewing lava, from the video game Skylanders, Eruptor might seem an unlikely choice. But look at that face —doesn’t itjust scream”Happy Thanksgiving”?

Skylanders Eruptor

(courtesy of Macy’s)

Thomas the Tank Enginegets bragging rights to “largest balloon by helium volume” and “most balloon fabric ever used to design one character.”(We doubt he could fit that on a trophy.)

Thomas the Tank Engine

(courtesy of Macy’s)

After decades in obscurity and several bumpy years in production,Paddington Bear is starring in his first feature film and making his first appearance in the parade. But where are his yellow Wellingtons?

Paddington Bear

(courtesy of Macy’s)

Who would you like to see floating over Sixth Avenue? Tell us in a comment below. And have a happy Thanksgiving.