Quick History of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®
November 24, 2011 No Comments
Where can you find Buzz Lightyear, Sponge Bob, Snoopy, Kermit the Frog and Spiderman all in one place? At the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, of course!
For 85 years, the streets of New York have been filled for the annual parade event, sponsored by Macy’s department store.
According to the Macy’s parade website, the first parade, known at the Macy’s Christmas Parade, was started by employees in 1924 and featured animals from the Central Park Zoo. The theme for 85 years has been “A Holiday Treat for Children Everywhere.”
It is estimated that now over 3 million people line the parade route while over 50 million people watch on television at home each year that starts at 9:00 Eastern. Over 4,000 volunteers take part in this parade that stretches down a 2 ½ mile route starting on the west side of Central Park at 77th Street to moving south to 34th Street.
The website notes the parade route will change next year so plan ahead if you’re headed to the city!
In 1927, the first helium balloons were brought in and were actually released into the sky at the parade’s conclusion. One hitch – they unexpectedly burst above the crowd! The next year, the balloons contained a safety valve to allow them to float for several days and contained return address labels. Anyone recovering the balloons and returning them to Macy’s received a reward.
From 1942-1944, the parade was put on hold due to the war. Instead, the balloons were given to the war effort as scrap rubber.
In 1946, the parade was televised in the New York area for the first time and the next year, 1947, it was televised nationally.
In 1957, the Popeye balloon gave the crowd a surprise. After a downpour filled his hat with water, he tipped and soaked the spectators below with rainwater.
1969 was the first year floats were introduced into the parade. Some floats stands as tall as 40 feet (that’s so people watching from the 4th floors can see them, I suppose). Balloon inflating is a spectator event as well and takes place the day before.
“This year, as we celebrate 85 years of magical moments, we are truly humbled by the unique role the Macy’s parade now fills in the lives of Americans, and we are thrilled to celebrate this special milestone with an unparalleled line-up of new balloons, floats and the nation’s best performers – all here to kick-off the spectacular holiday season,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Kule is part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony that kicks off the parade this morning. She’ll be joined by children from Tuesday’s Children, an organization dedicated to helping the families of the victims of September 11.
This year’s parade contains 15 character balloons (including a new balloon of Paul Frank’s monkey Julius), 44 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles and balloonheads, 27 floats, 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers and performance group members, 800 clowns, 11 marching bands, a host of celebrity performers like Neil Diamond, Cee Lo Green and Avril Lavigne, and the one-and-only Santa Claus. A special shout-out to the Legacy High School marching band from our neighboring town of Broomfield, Colorado!
So grab a cup of coffee and the kids and get ready for the show!
Photos courtesy of www.macys.com
Marijo Tinlin is the editor in chief of Family First, one of the oldest family-oriented websites on the internet. She is also the author of the new book about patriotism and teaching our children to love this country. It’s called “How to Raise an American Patriot, Making it Okay for Our Kids to Be Proud to Be American” and features 13 interviews with patriotic Americans including Ed Meese, Erick Erickson and Jackie Gingrich Cushman. It’s available at www.raisinganamericanpatriot.com.
Holiday, Television
