Macy's Day Parade Balloons

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Balloons that have appeared at the Macy's Thanksgiving parade in years past include: “Strike Up the Band” Barney; Macy's holiday ambassador Super Grover and his Sesame Street neighbor, Big Bird; Garfield; Charlie Brown & the Elusive Football; Clifford The Big Red Dog; Jeeves; Kermit the Frog; Little Bill; Mr. Monopoly; Pikachu and Ronald McDonald, Freida the Dachshund, Flying Fish, Harold the Fireman, Toy Soldier, Uncle Sam, and Wiggle Worm.

Other balloons that have appeared at the parade are the Marx Brothers balloon heads, featuring Groucho, Chico & Harpo and Balloonheads Family, featuring Mama, Papa, and Baby are the Founding Fathers Balloonheads, featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. Is this a Parade or a Safari? Because one can’t help but notice the small herd of manned, inflatable Elephants and Rhinos that are migrating their way down Broadway.

Baloons come in the shape of many of the things that make childhood so much fun!

It’s a wondrous sight to see larger-than-life characters take flight in the most beloved Parade in the world. Which is why the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade doesn’t disappoint the millions of fans who wake up early Thanksgiving morning to see their best buddies and favorite friends fly high in the sky above. These gentle giants easily make there way down to Herald Square to the delight of the 2.5 million spectators who line the street. As easy as it seems to pilot these massive figures, much work, time and energy goes into getting the giant helium balloons off the ground. Under the tutelage of Macy's Parade Studio Vice President, John Piper, ten specially skilled artists, sculptors, mold makers and designers devote countless hours to designing, calculating and constructing these magnificent visions to larger-than-life form. It takes approximately one-year to design – from computer-generated renderings, to miniature clay models; the arduous process results in aesthetic perfection. But before a new balloon debuts in the Parade, it must first go through a series of trial inflations and test flights. Three weeks before their maiden Parade voyage each freshman Balloon is fully inflated and flown in what is known as Balloonfest. Under the direction of a Pilot, and a Captain, the flight management team of fourteen and an additional corps of approximately 70 balloon handlers are given instructions as to how to support and fly the balloon. This year’s new cast of giant helium wonders include the not so tiny, Chicken Little, the rambunctious M&M’s Red and Yellow, and taking a leave from Bikini Bottom is the very square SpongeBob SquarePants. They will join such Parade favorites as Big Bird, Super Grover and Kermit the Frog. For more than seven decades, the Parade has managed to entertain, delight and thrill millions through the use of technology and aeronautic know how. Each year the Parade is challenged to make the next Parade bigger and better than the last and for 77 years, it has yet to disappoint.

Following is a list of Giant Helium Balloons that have appeared in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

BIG BIRD SESAME WORKSHOP

Elmo is a well known muppet on Sesame Street, and a crowd favorite.

CHICKEN LITTLE WALT DISNEY PICTURES

No the Sky wasn’t falling on that fateful day and for Chicken Little that “acorn incident” that made him the town fool was unfortunate indeed, but in Walt Disney Picture’s upcoming animated comedy, Chicken Little, which picks up after that blunder, the sky really is falling. Now it will be up to this pint-sized chicken who will have to step up to the plate to save the day. In preparation for his upcoming heroics, Chicken Little will take a trip down Broadway leaving his pint-sized proportions for the movies as he towers over New York City as a 60.5 feet tall, 26 feet wide and 68.5 feet long giant helium balloon. Filled with 12,700 cubic ft. of helium and weighing in at 493 pounds Chicken Little, will block a huge portion of that darn sky when he flies in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Flown with the help of 50 handling lines, Chicken Little will be just the right “saving the day” proportions that will really show the towns folk this little chicken’s giant-sized tenacity.

CHARLIE BROWN & THE ELUSIVE FOOTBALL UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE

Charlie brown is a well known mascot, and the Football display is his most iconic scene.

The spirit of triumph over adversity powers Charlie Brown & The Elusive Football down Broadway for the lovable blockhead’s third appearance in the Parade. Taking flight on Thanksgiving Day, Charlie Brown stands tall at 50.9 feet high, 53.4 feet long and 29.4 feet wide and is filled with 13,330 cubic feet of helium. Chasing that ever-elusive football down Broadway, Charlie Brown is dressed to impress the millions of Parade spectators in his trademark yellow zigzag sweater as he sticks out his tongue and gets ready to pounce on the football ahead.

CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG SCHOLASTIC, INCORPORATED

It’s a dog day afternoon as Scholastic's literary icon, Clifford The Big Red Dog, is unleashed this Thanksgiving, marking his 14th walk in the Parade. Clifford is 60 feet long, 30 feet wide and 44 feet high. With 12,500 cubic feet of helium, Clifford has grown to such an astonishing size as a result of how much his owner Emily Elizabeth loves him. Abiding by New York City leash laws, this colossal canine has the world’s longest leash - a whopping 65 feet! Clifford has more than 110 million books in print and two top-rated television programs on PBS KIDS, including the spin-off series Clifford Puppy Day’s about his days as a tiny pup. This year also marks Clifford’s debut onto the silver screen with Clifford's Really Big Movie. More than forty balloon handlers will be taking Clifford for his annual holiday walk along Broadway.

GARFIELD PAWS INCORPORATED

Garfield, that lasagna loving Fat Cat, returns to the Parade after taking a break from his catnap to fly down Broadway on Thanksgiving Day. Accompanied by his long-time companion and confidant, Pooky the teddy bear, Garfield gives America a big thumbs up as parade-goers partake in one of Garfield’s favorite hobbies- chowing down Thanksgiving dinner. At 49.5 feet long and 34.5 feet wide and standing at 48.5 feet tall, Garfield’s bulk is made up of 13,900 cubic feet of helium (which is equivalent to 37,000 pans of lasagna).

JEEVES ASK JEEVES, INC.

You search and Jeeves finds… Jeeves, the Internet’s most famous butler makes his much anticipated return to the 78th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. All the information on the Internet is a lot to hold, but at 39 feet high, 70 feet in length, 25 feet wide and with 12,700 cubic feet of helium, Jeeves is ready to spread the wealth of knowledge on Parade Day. The Jeeves Balloon will be all style from his dapper duds right down to his shoes, which are 19 feet long. To guarantee Jeeves finds his way from the Internet to Herald Square, more than fifty balloon handlers will be at Jeeves’ service!

KERMIT THE FROG THE JIM HENSON COMPANY

America’s premier frog returns to the skies over Manhattan leaving the comfort of the swamp for the Great White Way. Making his third Parade appearance, Kermit the Frog turns 5o next year but before the big day he will stand larger than life flying over New York City. At 78 feet long, 36 feet wide, 61 feet tall and filled with 11,000 cubic ft. of helium, Kermit makes a big green impression on the city skyline. Already a bonafide super star, Kermit and the rest of the Muppets gang will for the first time ever grace official US Stamps in 2005.

LITTLE BILL NICKELODEON

Not so Little Bill’s waving hand and signature smile are the perfect way to say Hello Friend to the millions of fans down below. Leaving Biladelphia for the Big Apple for the third year in a row, the Little Bill Balloon will happily fly in America’s favorite Parade. As the star of Nickelodeon’s Emmy-winning animated series, based on Bill Cosby's popular books, Little Bill can’t find a better way to spend Thanksgiving than with friends down the Great White Way. Dressed in his favorite Rugby shirt and blue jeans, Little Bill is inflated with 12,000 cubic feet of helium and stands more than 48 feet high. At 54.2 feet long and 34 feet wide, Little Bill’s popularity will continue to rise when he flies through the New York sky on Thanksgiving Day.

MR. MONOPOLY PARKER BROTHERS

MR. MONOPOLY trades Atlantic City for the Big City as he gathers his trusty moneybag and get-out-of-jail free card to take flight in the 78th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Dressed in his dapper morning coat and signature spats, Mr. MONOPOLY is on the go! Standing at 60.7 feet long, 24.4 feet wide and 42 feet tall, even a self-made millionaire such as MR. MONOPOLY needs the help of Macy's Parade Studio and 12,650 cubic feet of helium to lift him off the ground. As an international icon and mascot for the best-known board game around, Mr. Monopoly appears on MONOPOLY board games in 80 countries and his picture has been featured on more than 200 million MONOPOLY sets around the globe.

PIKACHU THE POKéMON COMPANY

Pikachu is one of the most recognized children's entertainment mascots of all time.

Pikachu, the most recognizable of over 350 Pokémon characters, makes his fourth return to the skies over New York City in the 78 th Macy’s Parade, much to the delight of Pokémon Masters everywhere. At 65 feet long, 30 feet wide, 30.8 feet tall and weighing in at 373 pounds, Pikachu who is loved by millions worldwide, will conquer Broadway filled with 13,200 cubic feet of helium and maneuvered by 54 handling lines. A beloved star of video games, an animated TV series and feature films, Pikachu currently stars in the new Pokémon FireRed and Pokémon LeafGreen video games and trading card games.

RONALD MCDONALD MCDONALD’S CORPORATION

America’s most recognized clown and McDonald’s CHO (Chief Happiness Officer), Ronald McDonald, will take his fifth trip down the line of march. Making appearances in the Parade since 1967, Ronald McDonald will delight all along the Parade route as he smiles upon them! Standing at 44 feet high, 63 feet long, and 23 feet wide, the Ronald balloon is filled with 12,500 cubic feet of helium, and each one of his shoes measures 22 ft long and 8ft wide. Ronald McDonald himself will star in his new Go Active with Ronald McDonald show later this year. The show teaches the benefits of leading a balanced, active lifestyle. Fifty-five balloon handlers will fly Ronald high above New York City’s skies!