See the Biggest Balloon Blunders at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade: From a Runaway Felix the Cat to the Infamous Barney Disaster

Mar. 15, 2025

The Snoopy balloon hovers over the crowd during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23, 2023.Photo:Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images

Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images

Each year, audiences at home and along the streets of New York City await the big, colorful balloons of theMacy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade— which debuted on Nov. 25, 1924 — to float across their screens and down the winding city streets. While theselarger-than-life inflatablesoften glide along without a hitch, every once in a while, something goes awry due to wind, rain, snow or even a pesky street sign.From a deflated Kermit the Frog to a tangled-up Superman, here are some of the biggest balloon fiascos in the history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Each year, audiences at home and along the streets of New York City await the big, colorful balloons of theMacy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade— which debuted on Nov. 25, 1924 — to float across their screens and down the winding city streets. While theselarger-than-life inflatablesoften glide along without a hitch, every once in a while, something goes awry due to wind, rain, snow or even a pesky street sign.

From a deflated Kermit the Frog to a tangled-up Superman, here are some of the biggest balloon fiascos in the history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

01of 10Felix the Cat Flies Away in the 1927 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeMarchers walk the Felix the Cat balloon during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927.Courtesy Macy’sFelix the Cat was the parade’s first-ever balloon, debuting in 1927. However, there wasn’t a plan on how to deflate him after the event,according to TIME, so handlers released him — and he promptly popped.

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Felix the Cat Flies Away in the 1927 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Marchers walk the Felix the Cat balloon during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927.Courtesy Macy’s

Felix the Cat was the parade’s first-ever balloon, debuting in 1927. However, there wasn’t a plan on how to deflate him after the event,according to TIME, so handlers released him — and he promptly popped.

02of 10Mighty Mouse Collapses in the 1956 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe Mighty Mouse balloon deflates at Columbus Circle during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 1956.Hal Mathewson/NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesPer TIME, Mighty Mouse “failed to save the day” in 1956, crashing into a street sign and promptly collapsing.

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Mighty Mouse Collapses in the 1956 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Mighty Mouse balloon deflates at Columbus Circle during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 1956.Hal Mathewson/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

Per TIME, Mighty Mouse “failed to save the day” in 1956, crashing into a street sign and promptly collapsing.

03of 10Popeye’s Hat Dumps Water in the 1957 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadePopeye the balloon stands 56 feet tall the day before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1957.NY Daily News Archive via Getty ImagesDuring the rainy 1957 parade, Popeye’s iconic hat filled up with water — and on one tight turn, dumped the chilly liquid onto some unpleasantly surprised spectators.

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Popeye’s Hat Dumps Water in the 1957 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Popeye the balloon stands 56 feet tall the day before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1957.NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

During the rainy 1957 parade, Popeye’s iconic hat filled up with water — and on one tight turn, dumped the chilly liquid onto some unpleasantly surprised spectators.

04of 10Kermit the Frog Hits a Tree in the 1985 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe Kermit the Frog balloon droops during the 65th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1985.MARK D. PHILLIPS/AP/REX/ShutterstockAt the time, the 1985 Thanksgiving parade was one of the rainiest on record, according to The Weather Channel. That was bad news for Kermit the Frog, who careened into a tree and ripped.

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Kermit the Frog Hits a Tree in the 1985 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Kermit the Frog balloon droops during the 65th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1985.MARK D. PHILLIPS/AP/REX/Shutterstock

At the time, the 1985 Thanksgiving parade was one of the rainiest on record, according to The Weather Channel. That was bad news for Kermit the Frog, who careened into a tree and ripped.

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Superman Tangles with a Tree in the 1986 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Not so super? In 1986, Superman’s arm ripped right off mid-parade after getting tangled in a tree, ascaptured in this video.

06of 10Bugs Bunny Rips in the 1989 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe Bugs Bunny balloon levitates over the Great Lawn in Central Park during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1989.Monica Almeida/NY Daily News Archive/GettyThe 1989 parade stepped off in a snowstorm, wreaking havoc on several balloons — including Bugs Bunny — whotook a tear to his side,according toThe New York Times.

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Bugs Bunny Rips in the 1989 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Bugs Bunny balloon levitates over the Great Lawn in Central Park during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1989.Monica Almeida/NY Daily News Archive/Getty

The 1989 parade stepped off in a snowstorm, wreaking havoc on several balloons — including Bugs Bunny — whotook a tear to his side,according toThe New York Times.

07of 10Two Balloons Hit Street Lamps in the 1993 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeThe Rex balloon deflates during the 67th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1993.KATHY WILLENS/AP/REX/ShutterstockThe 1993 parade was a tough one for balloons: Rex the Dinosaur and Sonic the Hedgehog both hit street lamps, deflating almost immediately (viaThe Hollywood Reporter).

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Two Balloons Hit Street Lamps in the 1993 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Rex balloon deflates during the 67th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1993.KATHY WILLENS/AP/REX/Shutterstock

The 1993 parade was a tough one for balloons: Rex the Dinosaur and Sonic the Hedgehog both hit street lamps, deflating almost immediately (viaThe Hollywood Reporter).

08of 10Barney Deflates in the 1997 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeMarchers pose with the Barney balloon during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1997.NBCU Photo BankWinds reached 45 miles per hour on the day of the 1997 parade, which made controlling the balloons extra hard for handlers. Poor Barney suffered a tear, deflating dramatically.According toEsquire,the inflatable dinosaur actually had to be removed about 15 blocks before hitting the grandstand.

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Barney Deflates in the 1997 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Marchers pose with the Barney balloon during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1997.NBCU Photo Bank

Winds reached 45 miles per hour on the day of the 1997 parade, which made controlling the balloons extra hard for handlers. Poor Barney suffered a tear, deflating dramatically.According toEsquire,the inflatable dinosaur actually had to be removed about 15 blocks before hitting the grandstand.

09of 10A Keith Haring Balloon Takes Out the Broadcast Booth in the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeA Keith Haring balloon floats during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2008.Erik C. Pendzich/REX/ShutterstockAl Roker,Meredith VieiraandMatt Lauergot quite the unpleasant surprise in 2008 when a Keith Haring balloon took a wide turn and crashed right into their broadcast booth, temporarily taking them off the air.

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A Keith Haring Balloon Takes Out the Broadcast Booth in the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

A Keith Haring balloon floats during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2008.Erik C. Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock

Al Roker,Meredith VieiraandMatt Lauergot quite the unpleasant surprise in 2008 when a Keith Haring balloon took a wide turn and crashed right into their broadcast booth, temporarily taking them off the air.

10of 10Several Balloons Deflate in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day ParadeA view of the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ balloon during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in N.Y.C. on Nov. 23, 2023.Gotham/GC ImagesDuring the 97th annual parade, social media had a field day over several balloons that seemed to berunning low on air. Balloons forDiary of a Wimpy Kid’s Greg Heffley and Toys R Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe were spotted looking slightly limp, while Snoopy andOne Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy had noticeably droopy hats.

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Several Balloons Deflate in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

A view of the ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ balloon during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in N.Y.C. on Nov. 23, 2023.Gotham/GC Images

Gotham/GC Images

During the 97th annual parade, social media had a field day over several balloons that seemed to berunning low on air. Balloons forDiary of a Wimpy Kid’s Greg Heffley and Toys R Us mascot Geoffrey the Giraffe were spotted looking slightly limp, while Snoopy andOne Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy had noticeably droopy hats.

source: people.com