New York
Popular citiesBrowse all cities
Timeout

Get us in your inbox

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Search

Check out vintage photos of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

That giant Snoopy float has been rolling down Fifth Avenue in front of thousands of people for a long, long time

Written by
Jillian Anthony
Advertising

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is up, the weather is cooling down and it’s almost time for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! The tradition that began in 1924 is one of the best fall events in NYC, and we’re already looking forward to it. For now, look back on 85 years of photos of the creatures and characters that once took flight on the city streets on Thanksgiving in NYC.

RECOMMENDED: The guide to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Miss Muffett float, 1924
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Balloonatics Float, 1926
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Happy Dragon, 1927
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Dachshund, 1929
Advertising
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Eddie Cantor, 1934

Right: Mickey Mouse, 1934

Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Santa balloon, 1940
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Happy Hippo, 1940s
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Uncle Sam, 1940s
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Tin Man float, 1940s
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Pilgrim balloon, 1946
Advertising
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Macy’s Elf balloon, 1947; Right: Harold the Fireman, 1948
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Harold the Baseball Player, 1949
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Bullwinkle, 1961
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Peanuts float, 1960s
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Donald Duck, 1962
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Underdog, 1965; Right: Superman, 1966
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Flying Ace Snoopy, 1968
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Tom Turkey float, 1970s
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Sesame Street float, 1978
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Kermit the Frog, 1977; Right: Woody Woodpecker, 1982
Advertising
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Raggedy Ann, 1984; Right: Betty Boop, 1985
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Pink Panther, 1988
Advertising
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Clifford, 1990; Right: Spiderman, 1991
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Charlie Brown, 2002
Advertising
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Bandleader Mickey Mouse, 2000; Right: Big Bird, 2001
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Kermit the Frog, 2002
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Strike Up the Band Barney, 2003
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Barney’s Playtime in the Park, 2002
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Lego float, 2002
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Humpty Dumpty by Tom Otterness, 2005
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Soaring Spirit Canoe, 2000s
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Barbie: The Prince & the Pauper float, 2004
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Rabbit by Jeff Koons, 2007
Photographs: Courtesy Macy's

Left: Figure with Heart by Keith Haring, 2008; Right: Kaikai and Kiki by Takashi Murakami, 2010
Advertising
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Tim Burton’s B., 2011
Photograph: Courtesy Macy's

Companion by KAWS, 2012
Recommended

    More on Thanksgiving

      You may also like
      You may also like
      Advertising

      Get us in your inbox

      Loading animation
      Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

      By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

      🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

      Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

      Time Out

      About us

      Contact us

      Time Out products

      Site map
      © 2024 Time Out America LLC and affiliated companies owned by Time Out Group Plc. All rights reserved. Time Out is a registered trademark of Time Out America LLC.