Macy's Parade introduces giant character balloons

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 with live animals from the store's collection; in 1927 the parade introduced large helium character balloons that would become its signature feature. Early reported balloons included popular cartoon characters such as Felix the Cat. The switch from live animals to oversized balloons marked a shift toward the parade's tradition of larger-than-life, spectacle-driven displays.