The countdown to the 98th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has begun, and while each year we look forward to all the parade’s new balloons, we decided to take you back in time to where it all began.
From Felix the Cat making a name for itself as the first ever balloon in the Parade to more recent balloons such as Tim Burton’s B., here are some vintage photos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade through the years.
1920s Balloons
Felix the Cat, circa 1927
Felix the Cat was the first ever balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Happy Dragon, circa 1927
Daschund, circa 1929
1930s Balloons
Mickey Mouse, circa 1934
Eddie Cantor, circa 1934
Eddie Cantor was the first ever balloon based on a real person.
1940s Balloons
Santa, circa 1940
Harold the Baseball Player, circa 1946
Macy’s Elf, circa 1947
Uncle Sam, circa 1940s
Happy Hippo, circa 1940s
1960s Balloons
Bullwinkle, circa 1961
Donald Duck, circa 1962
Underdog, circa 1965
Superman, circa 1966
Flying Ace Snoopy, circa 1968
1970s Balloons
Kermit the Frog, circa 1977
1980s Balloons
Woody Woodpecker, circa 1982
Raggedy Ann, circa 1984
Betty Boop, circa 1985
Pink Panther, circa 1988
1990s Balloons
Clifford, circa 1990
Spider Man, circa 1991
This was the first appearance of the iconic superhero.
2000s Balloons
Bandleader Mickey Mouse, circa 2000
Big Bird, circa 2001
Kermit The Frog, circa 2002
Humpty Dumpty, circa 2005
Humpty Dumpty was the first Blue Sky Gallery Series Balloon.