Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons

It started in 1924 when employees at the Macy's Department Store in NYC decided to put on a parade and marched down 145th street in Harlem to The Macy's Store on 34th Street. There were bands, animals borrowed from the zoo at Central Park, floats and costumes.
This parade was called "The Macy's Christmas Parade". Nearly 90 years later, this parade, now known as The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" has evolved into a NYC tradition as famous as the New Year's Eve Ball dropping in Time Square.

From marching bands to elaborate floats, this parade is HUGE. But what the parade is best know for is the giant hot air balloons that hover above the marchers and millions of people watching below. Here's a look at some of the more famous balloons.


(click on the picture to see full size)








































4 comments:

plainolebob said...

Rick,
amazing, how it started and even more so on how far it has come

Sarah said...

some are scary looking. i wonder if they ever scared little kids to tears. :)

jonathan paul gillette said...

Rick

since the photos are from 1924, could i use the one of the spaceman float for a poster for my friends rockshow?

Meghan said...

Jonathan,

Actually, the Macy's parade didn't begin using balloons until 1927. The first few years, live animals were used.