Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons: Almost a century of tradition
- Morgan Jensen
- Nov 24, 2025
- 2 min read
Arguably one of the most memorable parts of Thanksgiving Day for the last 99 years has been the amazing balloons that parade through the streets of New York City during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This parade started in 1924, but the iconic giant balloons were not introduced until three years later in 1927. The original balloon, Felix the Cat, was added in order to create a more whimsical aspect to the event.
This year, people can either watch along the two and a half mile stretch or from the comfort of their own home. The parade will run between the times of 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., and viewers can watch live on NBC or Peacock.
The giant balloon line-up is already available to view online. There is a wide variety of balloons that will be returning to the parade, but none have had a longer run than the following.
The SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary balloon sponsored by Nickelodeon will be in the parade for its seventh year. Making its fifth year debut is Pikachu & Eevee by The Pokemon Company International. Finally, all in their fourth year returning are Stuart the Minion (Illumination), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams Books) and Bluey (BBC Studios & Ludo Studio).
When surveyed, 33% of college students are most highly anticipating seeing SpongeBob SquarePants & Gary on Thanksgiving Day.
There will be four new giant balloons to make their debut at the 2025 parade. Pixar Animation Studios will be sponsoring Buzz Lightyear and Nintendo will be sponsoring Mario. A PAC-MAN balloon will be sponsored by BanDai Namco, and Shrek’s Onion Carriage is sponsored by Universal Pictures DreamWorks Animation.
Concerning the new balloons debuting, 42% of college students are most excited to see Shrek’s Onion Carriage at its debut on Thanksgiving.
According to Diario AS, a newspaper, these giant balloons take many months of planning. They are hand painted and are anywhere between five and six stories tall. The cost of helium alone for a balloon of that size can cost upwards of $500,000.
In addition, sponsors have to pay for a spot in the parade. Returning sponsors have a fee of $90,000 and new sponsors have additional fees that total $190,000. Each balloon requires 80 to 100 handlers to walk them in the parade. The balloon handlers for the parade are mostly volunteer positions who are typically employees, family members or friends of the sponsor.
Thanksgiving Day 2025 for most Americans will start with watching The 99th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and all the balloons it has to offer. Make sure to look out for your favorite balloon during the parade!
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Amazing how the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons have kept this tradition alive for nearly a century. The scale and planning behind each balloon is impressive. I even saw fans sharing clips on colorearm while waiting for their favorite characters to appear.
This was such a compelling look at the history and evolution of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons. It’s remarkable how an event that began with relatively simple inflatable figures has transformed into a massive, technically sophisticated spectacle watched by millions worldwide. The parade isn’t just entertainment—it’s a cultural institution that connects generations through shared experience.
What stands out most is the balance between nostalgia and innovation. Each year introduces new characters and creative designs, yet the essence of the parade remains unchanged. That continuity is rare in today’s fast-moving media environment. The engineering, coordination, and safety planning behind each balloon are also fascinating. The teams managing wind conditions, tether control, and route logistics demonstrate a level of operational precision…
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