Buzz
Managing the enormous, floating character balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a challenging feat. Since their debut in 1927, these balloons have faced challenges from wind, light poles, and occasional lapses in judgment by parade organizers. While accidents have decreased since the Great Balloon Massacre of 1997 (detailed in entries five and six), they remain a memorable part of the parade’s legacy. Below are some of the most notorious incidents involving Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons.
1. The Felix the Cat Balloon Goes Up in Flames
When Macy’s first introduced balloons to the parade in 1927, there was no strategy for deflating them. For years, balloons were simply released into the sky at the parade’s conclusion, left to deflate on their own. This approach didn’t always go as planned. In 1931, a Felix the Cat balloon became entangled in a high-tension wire after being released. Shortly after, it burst into flames.
2. A Plane Collides with the Tom Cat Balloon
The tradition of releasing balloons at the parade’s conclusion persisted until 1932, when it almost resulted in catastrophe. In those early days, Macy’s offered cash rewards to anyone who retrieved their escaped balloons. Some individuals took extreme risks to claim the prize. A 22-year-old pilot flying over Queens spotted the 60-foot Tom Cat balloon drifting in the air and attempted to bring it down by flying into it. According to The New York Times, she quipped to her flight instructor, “I think I’ll have a piece of the neck,” as she executed the dangerous move. The balloon caught on the plane’s wing, nearly causing it to crash. At one point, the cabin door opened, and the pilot almost fell out. Fortunately, her instructor managed to stabilize the plane. Following this incident, Macy’s discontinued the practice of releasing balloons.
3. The Popeye Balloon Drenches Onlookers
Inclement weather has often caused parade mishaps. On a rainy Thanksgiving Day in 1957, the Popeye the Sailor balloon made its debut. His hat collected rainwater, and when the balloon’s handlers made a sharp turn, the water spilled out, drenching spectators below.
4. The Sonic the Hedgehog Balloon Bursts
For decades, the balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade have clashed with the streetlights along the parade route. In 1993, strong winds forced the Sonic the Hedgehog balloon into a pole on West 58th Street, ripping a large hole in its eye. The accident scattered debris, causing minor injuries to a 10-year-old girl and leaving an off-duty police officer with a broken shoulder. Despite the damage, Sonic was repaired and returned for the following year’s parade.
5. The Barney Balloon Meets a Dramatic Demise
The 1997 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade faced relentless high winds, resulting in some of the most infamous incidents in the event’s history. One particularly unforgettable moment (especially for young attendees) was the chaotic destruction of the Barney the Dinosaur balloon. After handlers struggled to control it, the wind slammed it into a streetlight, tearing it open and causing it to deflate. To make matters worse, police officers rushed in with knives, stabbing additional holes to release the remaining helium. (The Pink Panther balloon also required intervention that year—an officer punctured its tail to stabilize it.) The entire dramatic scene can be viewed above.
6. The Cat in the Hat Balloon Causes a Coma
The 1997 parade was so disastrous that a balloon’s destruction wasn’t even the worst incident of the day. The most infamous accident in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade history occurred when the Cat in the Hat balloon struck a streetlight, sending debris into the crowd. Four people were injured, with two women hospitalized—one of whom remained in a coma for a month. (She later sued Macy’s and New York City, securing a multi-million dollar settlement.) The sheer number of accidents that year earned the parade the nickname “The Great Balloon Massacre.” In response, stricter regulations on balloon types and handling were implemented to prevent future tragedies.
7. The M&Ms Balloon Causes a Glass Shower
The most severe Macy’s accident in the new millennium happened in 2005. A sudden wind gust in Times Square pushed the M&Ms balloon off its path, causing it to collide with a light pole. The impact rained broken glass onto the crowd, injuring two sisters who were hospitalized for minor cuts and bruises. They were discharged the same day, and their father told The New York Times, “We’re planning to return to the parade next year.”
8. The Keith Haring Balloon Startles News Anchors
In 2008, Macy’s introduced a balloon inspired by artist Keith Haring. The 48-foot-tall creation left a lasting impression when it collided with the broadcast booth where Al Roker, Meredith Viera, and Matt Lauer were hosting the parade. The incident startled the Today show anchors and briefly interrupted their live coverage.
This article was originally published in 2020 and has been updated for 2022.
