The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is something Americans have been looking forward to each year since 1924. The parade has greatly evolved over the years and so have its floats and balloons. But not all of the balloons and floats have been winners. Some of them have been downright flops. Some of them have been just sort of creepy looking. While others have been simply terrifying and the things nightmares are made of. They’ve gotten less creepy over the years. But the early ones were just unbelievably weird. You’ll see what we mean…Here are 30 of the most awkward looking Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade balloons of the past:
The Bjorn balloon floating during the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Photo courtesy: AFP Posted by MySinchew onFriday, November 23, 2018
1) Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Did anyone watch the parade? I think the person who decided the line up didn’t really think it through. First, Diary of… Posted by Amy Banks onThursday, November 28, 2019
2) Little Bill
#tbt Happy Thanksgiving! 20 years ago today, Little Bill premiered on Nick, Jr. and 17 years ago today, Little Bill made… Posted by Kat Novelli onThursday, November 28, 2019
3) The Rabbit
A rabbit balloon in Times Square. Photo: Librado Romero/The New York TimesFull Slideshow:… Posted by The New York Times onThursday, November 22, 2007
4) Bullwinkle Float
The Bullwinkle balloon in the 1963 Macy's Thanksgiving parade. Posted by Groovypix onWednesday, August 7, 2019
5) KAWS
6) B
Here's the new Tim Burton-designed balloon, B., appearing in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. What do you think, can he compete with Kermit? Posted by Magic 98.3 onThursday, November 24, 2011
7) Smokey the Bear
Happy Thanksgiving! This Smokey Bear balloon will be in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Smokey made his parade debut last year for his 75th birthday.Only You Can Prevent Wildfires Posted by Smokey Bear's Hometown Association onFriday, November 20, 2020
8) Bjorn
The Bjorn balloon floating during the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Photo courtesy: AFP Posted by MySinchew onFriday, November 23, 2018
9) Scrat
Ice Age’s Scrat balloon – NYC, NY – 11/26/15 -Ice Age’s Scrat balloon makes its inaugural appearance in the Macy’s… Posted by Ice Age Movies onThursday, November 26, 2015
10) Jimmy Neutron
1663299MT009_paradeNEW YORK – NOVEMBER 28: The Jimmy Neutron balloon waits to be deflated during the 76th annual Macy… Posted by U.S. Embassy Tunis onThursday, November 28, 2013
11) Ronald McDonald
McDonald's1986: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeSay hello to the first-ever Ronald McDonald balloon in the Macy's… Posted by Leon Williams onThursday, October 15, 2020
12) Pillsbury Dough Boy
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours! With a special shout out from @robertcduda who is out this morning piloting the @pillsbury dough boy balloon! #macysthanksgivingdayparade Posted by Peppercomm onThursday, November 28, 2019
13) Uncle Sam
14) Shrek
The Shrek balloon floats down Central Park West during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) Posted by Zaman Amerika onThursday, November 25, 2010
15) Toothless
16) Skylander Eruptor
17) Elf on the Shelf
An Elf on the Shelf balloon floating during the 92nd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Photo courtesy: AFP Posted by MySinchew onFriday, November 23, 2018
18) The Grinch
19) Mr. Monopoly
20) Cat
21) Jerry the Pig
Turns out Pink Floyd was not the first to fly a giant pig balloon. This pig is coming from the 1932 Macy’s Thanksgiving… Posted by Linda Laurelin onWednesday, June 17, 2020
22) Disembodied Head Float
In the 1930s, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade wasn’t yet made up of corporate billboards for bad movies and cartoons…. Posted by Byrum Lee onThursday, November 26, 2015
23) Captain Nemo
Captain Nemo 1929. Posted by Fall into The Holidays onWednesday, November 27, 2019
24) Dachshund
Happy thanksgiving! Dachshund balloon from 1933 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Posted by Ellen Farber, Realtor-Fathom Realty NC LLC onThursday, November 22, 2018
25) Superman
The Superman balloon from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, NYC. (1966)#HappyThanksgiving Posted by Govirally onThursday, November 22, 2018
26) Giant Clown
Macy's Thanksgiving day Parade has been a Thanksgiving Day tradition for 85 years. Giant balloons made their debut in… Posted by Lost History onThursday, November 24, 2011
27) Guy
Creepy Balloon Float at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade vintage 1940 Posted by Rockin' Ramzi's Rockabilly and Pin-Up Emporium onSunday, October 12, 2014
28) The Nose
29) Dragon Cat?
November 27, 1924 – The giant floating figures crowding through the streets of Manhattan are almost as much a… Posted by Old Marietta (O.M.) onThursday, November 24, 2016
30) Mouse Monster