New Yorkers are filled with excitement when they see the balloons being inflated.
On the Upper West Side Wednesday, a large crowd of kids and their parents gathered to watch as beloved character balloons were filled with helium in preparation for the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Cheers erupted from the crowd when balloons from Netflix’s “K-Pop Demon Hunters” were inflated, with children chanting “Derpy, Derpy, Derpy” for the character Derpy, a quirky tiger.
“This is my absolute favorite movie,” exclaimed Marisa, age 10, eyes glued to Derpy as he took shape in front of her.
Exciting new balloons making their debut this year include Buzz Lightyear, Pac-Man, Super Mario, Shrek, and others.
The floats for 2025 feature themes like The Land of Glaciers, Holland America Line’s Wildlife & Wonder, and Serta’s The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator. Other additions include Netflix’s “Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things,” along with Pop Mart’s PopCity and LEGO Group’s “Brick-tastic Winter Mountain.”
The parade will showcase 27 floats and 36 giant balloons, plus performances by Cynthia Erivo, Conan Gray, Lady Wilson, and K-Pop Demon Hunter. Organizers mentioned that Netflix stars will be making their live performance debut during the parade.
“Parade floats and balloons are part of our identity, and we’ve navigated numerous challenges,” shared Will Koss, the executive producer of the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He added that each year they aim to innovate, exploring new technologies and animation opportunities.
One highlight this year is the Minion Balloon, which incorporates tiny minions that draw new patterns on the balloon, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
The weather forecast for Thursday indicates it will be sunny, with temperatures expected to be in the 40s. However, winds between 20 to 30 mph could impact how high the balloons can fly or whether some may need to come down. According to AccuWeather, should wind speeds hit 23 mph or gusts exceed 34 mph, certain balloons will be grounded.
The parade route stretches from 72nd Street and Central Park West to 34th Street and Avenue of the Americas.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will conclude Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET, with viewers able to catch it live on NBC and Peacock.
