Our Favorite Balloons From The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Get the kids excited for the 88th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with our roundup of some of our favorite balloons throughout the parade’s history.

Live Elephants
The parade didn't always showcase high-flying helium characters. The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (then called the Macy's Christmas Parade), held in 1924, featured elephants from the Central Park Zoo. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)
Betty Boop
Betty Boop led the parade perched on a crescent moon in 1985. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)
Clifford
Clifford the Big Red Dog was a parade fixture from 1990-2004. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)
Spider-man
The iconic Spider-man balloon has always been a parade crowd-pleaser since 1987. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)
Rugrats
"Rugrats'" Tommy Pickles, Chuckie, and Spike were the first Nickelodeon characters to join the parade.When they debuted in 1997, they were also the parade's first three-character balloon.
Arthur
Arthur the aardvark brought his school books along for the 1997 parade.
Big Bird
Sesame Street's beloved Big Bird balloon debuted in 1988.This second version of him playing the cymbals joined the procession in 2001. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)
Kermit the Frog
This second version of Jim Henson's leading muppet took to the skies in '02, a 25 years after the character's 1977 debut. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)
Garfield
The lasagna-loving kitty joined the parade in 1984, and a second version of the balloon joined the lineup in 2003.
Hello Kitty
We can't wait to see Hello Kitty take to the skies this year in celebration of her 40th anniversary. She's been a part of the parade since 2007. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)
Jeff Koons' "Rabbit"
Jeff Koons' transformed his "Rabbit" sculpture into a balloon for the '07 parade.
Buzz Lightyear
Buzz traveled to infinity--or rather, Central Park West--and beyond starting in 2008.
Sailor Mickey
The first Mickey Mouse appeared in the 1934 parade. Sailor Mickey debuted in 2009 to mark the announcement of Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships.
Julius
Paul Frank's "Julius The Sock Monkey" jetted above the crowds for the first time in 2011.
Snoopy and Woodstock
Seven versions of Snoopy have floated down the West Side since Aviator Snoopy debuted in 1968, flying in a total 38 parades. This version of the lovable dog and his sidekick debuted in 2013. (Photo courtesy of Macy's)