Photos: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade through the years
Here's a look back at several decades of balloons, marching bands and more at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
1929 - A large outdoor float of Captain Nemo makes its way down the street during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, on Nov. 28, 1929. Originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade, the Thanksgiving Day parade started in 1924. (AP Photo/File)
1930 - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade passes down Broadway in New York on Nov. 27, 1930. The parade's first giant balloons debuted in 1927. (AP Photo/File)
1933 - The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade makes its way down Broadway in New York City on Nov. 30, 1933. (AP Photo/File)
This is a scene from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade along Broadway in New York City on Nov. 30, 1933. (AP Photo)
1940 - In this 1940 handout photo, a helium inflated Superman rises over Times Square to lead the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1940. According to Macy's, in 1929, a newly added safety valve allowed helium to slowly seep out of the balloons as they floated above the city's streets. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 1945 file photo a float is paraded through New York's Times Square during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the first parade since the festivities were suspended during World War II. (AP Photo, File)
A giant baseball player float moves down 7th Avenue during the Macy' Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 28, 1946. (AP Photo/John Rooney)
A huge balloon in the form of comic fireman floats over Broadway during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Nov. 25, 1948. Thousands jammed the streets to watch .(AP Photo/John Rooney)
A giant turkey float squeezes between buildings as the 31st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade moves down Broadway near 37th Street in New York, Nov. 28, 1957.(AP Photo/John Lindsay)
1959 - A helium-filled Popeye balloon participates in the 33rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Times Square, New York, on Nov. 26, 1959. An estimated 1.3 million people watched the parade in 1959. (AP Photo/File)
Diane Lynn Cox, 17, top right, recently named Miss Teenage America, waves from her float as she takes part in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Nov. 23, 1961. Movie actor Troy Donahue, top left, her "Prince Charming," joins in greeting the crowd as they ride south along Broadway and 52nd Street. (AP Photo/Anthony Camerano)
1962 - Comedian Jimmy Durante rides on a Jumbo the elephant float during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Nov. 22, 1962. (AP Photo/File)
Members of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes entertain crowds in front of rain-streaked Macy's department store, Nov. 25, 1971. The Rockettes were one of the many attractions of the 44th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. (AP Photo/Ed Ford)
1983 - In this handout photo, Miss America Vanessa Williams joins two members of the 1983 McDonald's All-American High School Band in New York, Nov. 22, 1983, in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Leslie Crowley, second from left, and Jeff Hanson, right, both from Utah, are among the 104 high school musicians selected annually to participate in the band. (AP Photo/File)
The new Humpty Dumpty balloon, followed by a redesigned Olive Oyl holding Swee' Pea, floats down Broadway in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City, Thursday, Nov. 27, 1986. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
The Pink Panther, a new addition to the cast of balloon characters in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, floats above Broadway in New York City, Thursday, Nov. 24, 1988. (AP Photo/Chuck Wenzelberg)
Bugs Bunny, who will make his debut in the upcoming Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, is hoisted in New York's Central Park, Saturday, Nov. 11, 1989. (AP Photo/Sergio Florez)
Garfield the Cat, with Snuggle the Bear behind, floats down Broadway in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Thursday, Nov. 23, 1989. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)
Ronald McDonald cruises over spectators on Broadway during the 63rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Thursday, Nov. 24, 1989. An estimated 1.8 million people attended the parade in the cold weather. (AP Photo/Tim Clary)
Kermit the Frog droops after a puncture in his head lets out the oxygen-helium mixture in the balloon during the 65th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Thursday, Nov. 28, 1991. (AP Photo/Mark D. Phillips)
Goofy, the Disney cartoon character, makes his debut in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade along Broadway at West 35th Street in New York City, Thursday, Nov. 26, 1992. Behind Goofy is Bugs Bunny. The Marshfield, Wis., senior high school marching band leads the way. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Bart Simpson is carefully handled as the helium balloon splits a seam on Broadway at 55th Street in the 67th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, Thursday, Nov. 25, 1993. Several balloons had problems as a result of the windy weather and chilly conditions. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
FILE - In this Nov. 23, 1995 file photo Woody Woodpecker leads a line of other balloons and floats into New York's Times Square during the 69th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. (AP Photo/Paul Hurschmann, File)
The familiar face of the Snoopy balloon hovers 50 feet over Broadway during Macy's 69th annual Thanksgiving Day parade in New York Thursday, Nov. 23, 1995. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Handlers struggle with a wind-whipped Peter Rabbit balloon during Macy's 71st annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 27, 1997. Wind gusts of 40 mph were reported in the area as the parade, famous for its huge helium balloons of cartoon characters, got under way. (AP Photo/Emile Wamsteker)
2002 - Little Bill, based on Bill Cosby's "Little Bill" book series, makes his debut on Broadway in the 76th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002. The 2002 parade featured 1,000 cheerleaders, 500 clowns, 25 floats, 12 marching bands, 10 novelty balloons, four toy floats and three balloon-floats. (AP Photo/Suzanne Plunkett, File)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon Harold the Fireman flies down Broadway in New York, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003. (AP Photo/John Marshall Mantel)
Minden Taketa, 14, of Oahu, Hawaii, right, plays the flute with Hawaii's Roosevelt High School Marching Band, as they make their way down New York's Broadway during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Thursday Nov. 27, 2003, in New York. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg)
Ask Jeeves character balloon is paraded down Broadway through Times Square during the 78th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Nov. 25, 2004 in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Volunteers work on inflating the Kermit the Frog balloon Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, near Central Park in New York. The balloon is a traditional attraction in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade which will take place on Thursday. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
FILE - This Nov. 24, 2005 file photo shows a balloon of Peanuts character Charlie Brown chasing a football down Broadway during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York. The parade has to be a crowd-pleaser for a multigenerational crowd. More than 3 million people typically attend the event that also unfolds in front of a TV audience of 50 million. This year's parade will feature balloons include Papa Smurf and the Elf on a Shelf, while Buzz Lightyear, Sailor Mickey Mouse and the Pillsbury Doughboy keep their place in the lineup. A new version of Hello Kitty is also to be included. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, file)
Members of the Hawaii all-state band during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005. (AP Photo/Adam Rountree)
The Scooby Doo balloon hangs over Central Park West as it is pulled through the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
The Sponge Bob Square Pants balloon passes through Columbus Circle during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
The Mr. Potato Head balloon passes through Times Square during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Thursday, Nov. 24, 2005 in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
The Dora the Explorer balloon moves through Times Square during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006 in New York. Officials waited until right before the 9 a.m. start to decide whether it was safe for the event's famous balloons to float through Midtown despite the wet and wind. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The first balloon floats down Broadway during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
A group of Southern Belles walks down Broadway in the rain during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
The balloon of Jo Jo the Clown makes its way through Columbus Circle during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Nov. 23, 2006 in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
The Abby Cadabby balloon makes its way down Central Park West during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
The Pikachu balloon floats down Broadway during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen)
The Hello Kitty balloon moves through Times Square during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade Thursday, Nov. 22, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Spiderman float is guided across Central Park South during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Santa Claus rides a float during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)
A balloon of video game icon "Sonic the Hedgehog" passes spectators on a balcony during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, in New York. A jetpack-wearing monkey and a freakish creation from filmmaker Tim Burton are two of the big new balloons that will make their inaugural appearances in front of millions of people at this year's parade. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
'B,' designed by Tim Burton, floats during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Times Square in New York on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011. The parade premiered in 1924, this is its 85th year. (AP Photo/Andrew Burton)
Neil Diamond rides a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)
The balloon Angry Bird is moved through Columbus Circle during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan R. Smith)
A reveler carries balloons as police steer their motorcycles across Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Performers cheer in front of Macy's Tom Turkey float as they take part in the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
The Grinch balloon floats over Central Park West during the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)
Heavily-armed police officers stand guard as the Olaf balloon floats down 6th Avenue during the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
The Snoopy balloon is ready to go at the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
The Boss Baby balloon is deflated as it ends its appearance during the modified Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. The annual parade goes on but only after great changes as compared to previous years due to the current deadly pandemic. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
Participants dancing in the modified Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade are seen from a barricade about two blocks away in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2020. Due to the pandemic, crowds of onlookers were not allowed to attend the annual parade. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
The Astronaut Snoopy balloon floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
The Sonic the Hedgehog balloon floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
The Tough Guy balloon is driven down Sixth Avenue on a bicycle during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, in New York. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is returning in full, after being crimped by the coronavirus pandemic last year. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)
FILE - Parade performers lead the Tom Turkey float down Central Park West at the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York on Nov. 28 2024. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)
FILE - The Macy's Great American Marching Band plays as it heads down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
FILE - Handlers guide the Snoopy balloon down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
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