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Pack up your picnic baskets and pumpkin pies! Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is galloping around the corner, ready to dazzle and delight on November 28. This landmark New York City event has been a cherished part of American tradition since 1924, making holiday dreams come to life with its iconic giant balloons, spectacular floats, and electrifying live performances. From that very first parade featuring whimsical characters created by Tony Sarg, to the stunning, high-flying spectacles we see today, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade continues to captivate hearts and ignite holiday spirit in millions! Get ready to join in the excitement and experience this wonder of holiday magic. It's almost parade time, let the countdown begin!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1924</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Parade's Inception</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debuts in New York City, featuring live animals from the Central Park Zoo.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1927</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Giant Balloons</div><div class='timeline-text'>Replacing live animals, first helium-filled character balloons, including the Felix the Cat, were introduced in the parade.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1933</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Mickey Mouse Balloon</div><div class='timeline-text'>The first Mickey Mouse balloon made its debut, beginning a long tradition of Disney characters in the parade.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1947</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Parade Broadcast Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was televised for the first time on NBC, expanding its reach beyond New York City.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2001</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Post 9/11 Parade</div><div class='timeline-text'>After the 9/11 attacks, the parade acted as a beacon of hope and resiliency, featuring a special firefighter balloon and policeman balloon to honor first responders.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Interactive Floats</div><div class='timeline-text'>In an effort to modernize the parade, interactive floats featuring augmented reality (AR) experiences were introduced.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a parade viewing party</h3><p class='facts-text'>Get your friends and family together and host a viewing party of the parade. You can create a festive atmosphere with holiday decorations and serve snack foods that are easy to eat while watching the parade on TV.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Make themed snacks</h3><p class='facts-text'>Prepare snacks or desserts that are themed around the parade. For instance, you might make balloon-shaped cookies or cupcakes decorated like some of the famous characters that have appeared in the parade.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Play parade trivia</h3><p class='facts-text'>Research some fun facts about the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and create a trivia game to play with your family. It's a fun way to learn more about this beloved tradition!</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Have a pre-parade celebration</h3><p class='facts-text'>Join in the magic and excitement by having your own pre-parade celebration. Patience and Fortitude, the iconic marble lions that guard the New York Public Library, are decked out in holiday wreaths, which serves as the perfect backdrop for holiday photo shoots. Witness the balloon inflation and staging spectacle, another magical event leading up to the big day.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Craft parade floats and balloons</h3><p class='facts-text'>Get creative with your kids by making your own parade floats and balloons. Decorate a shoebox to serve as your ‘float,' and for balloons, you can blow up balloons and draw popular characters on them.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's Full of Tradition</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>First started in 1924, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade has become a cherished part of American tradition. The parade takes us on a journey throughout the years with its iconic balloons, spectacular floats, and electrifying live performances, instilling a sense of unity and excitement that continues to captivate hearts every year.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Holiday Magic</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade evokes a sense of wonder and holiday magic like no other. From stunning, high-flying balloons to mesmerizing live performances, it's an event that lights up the holiday season and sparks joy in millions of spectators year after year.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's Interactive and Fun</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Watching the parade is not only about spectating but also interacting! The vibrant celebration provides ample opportunities to host viewing parties, craft parade-inspired snacks, play fun trivia games, and even create our own floats and balloons. It's a special event that offers a unique blend of fun and learning for families across the nation.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Parade Had to Be Cancelled During World War II</h3><p class='facts-content'>Due to the scarcity of helium and rubber during World War II, the parade had to be cancelled from 1942 to 1944. These remain the only years in parade history when it didn't take place.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>"Let's Have a Parade!" is the Parade's Iconic Phrase</h3><p class='facts-content'>The well-known phrase "Let's Have a Parade!" has served as the iconic opening line for the Macy's Parade since its first televised broadcast, becoming a quotable part of American holiday tradition.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Balloons Were Originally Filled with Air, Not Helium</h3><p class='facts-content'>In the initial years, parade balloons were filled with air and had to be propped up on sticks. Only after a few years were they filled with helium to make them float.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Balloons began being deflated after the 1927 parade</h3><p class='facts-content'>Before 1927, balloons were released into the air after the parade. This practice ended due to safety concerns, when a pilot trying to catch a balloon crashed his plane.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Broadway Performances Joined Only after Television Broadcasts Began</h3><p class='facts-content'>Though Broadway performances are now a beloved aspect of the parade, they didn't become part of the tradition until the event began to be broadcast on television, adding a new level of entertainment for audiences at home.</p></div></div>
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