Macy’s Balloon Parade at Universal Studios: Your #1 Source of Memorable Holiday Fun!

When you think of the Macy’s balloon parade, you probably picture New York City on Thanksgiving morning – skyscrapers, a chill in the November air, and a Broadway ditty playing in the background.

Now, picture this: sunny skies, rustling palm trees, and fun rides – but the iconic, leviathan-sized balloons are still there. That’s right – somehow, the Macy’s balloon parade just got better.

How is this possible? Well, Universal Studios Orlando has successfully kidnapped – uh, totally legally procured – the Macy’s balloons!! (We don’t ask questions, we just enjoy the parade.)

A Fête Fit for the Roaring Twenties

The Macy’s balloon parade first debuted on Thanksgiving Day, 1924.

Except it wasn’t themed around Thanksgiving…and there were no balloons. *gasp*

The Macy’s parade was actually meant to usher in the Christmas shopping season for the rapidly expanding Macy’s department store. Floats were based on Mother Goose nursery rhymes – like Little Red Riding Hood – to match the window displays in the storefront. The Central Park Zoo loaned bears, elephants, camels, and monkeys to the procession while store employees walked with the floats dressed as clowns, cowboys, and knights in shining armor. The finale was a float featuring Santa in his sleigh, ready to bring toys and goodies (probably from Macy’s store) to everyone on his nice list.

The parade’s success was so overwhelming that Macy’s promised the very next day, via newspaper announcement, that they were already planning one for the next year. And, as we know, the year after that, and after that!!

By 1927, the parade was looking more like the one we enjoy today.

The zoo animals were starting to get cranky by the end of the parade – growling and scaring spectators – so they were replaced with balloon animals of gigantic proportions. The best and most notable balloon that year was the adorable Felix the Cat.

With his happy little face, Felix started off the pop culture character-balloon tradition, and in 1934, our beloved Mickey Mouse was seen floating in the sky, too! Even today, new characters are continually added every year, with Stuart the Minion and Bluey being last year’s newest stars, joined by second-year veterans Pikachu, Eevee, and Grogu. There are also the classics, like Snoopy, whose face is a welcome sight year after year.

Now, the only thing that could possibly make this parade better is if it were somewhere warm and sunny, with a theme park to enjoy after the balloons had all floated by. . .

Upgrade Complete: Macy’s Balloon Parade At Universal

Well, I have some great news for you!

You no longer have to feel torn between Orlando and NYC for your winter break because now Orlando has it all! A ticket to Universal Studios is also a ticket to the Macy’s balloon parade.

The collab with Macy’s began in 2002 when Universal Orlando had its first Macy’s Holiday Parade. Although the partnership was only meant to be temporary, Universal and Macy’s became good friends and have paraded together every year since! In 2017, their parade was revamped and renamed Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.

With dozens of jumbo balloons and floats, Macy’s balloon parade at Universal is the spectacle of the season! The balloons of unusual size are designed by Macy’s Parade Studio, tested in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then shipped to sunny Florida for their tropical debut.

Past balloons have been made in the image of favorite characters from beloved movies like Shrek, Despicable Me, and Madagascar. Gingy has been a Christmas favorite from Shrek, while Bob the Minion is always a Despicable Me crowd-pleaser with his charming yellow face and a teddy bear in tow.

Like in the original parade from 1924, Santa Claus (as a person, not a balloon) is traditionally part of the finale – along with a helium-filled Nutcracker!

While specific balloons haven’t been announced for this year’s line-up, as of writing, Universal’s website promises Minions (hopefully Bob!) and offerings from Shrek and Madagascar.

In addition to themed balloons, characters often perform on the floats – for example, everyone’s favorite ring-tailed lemur, King Julien, has been known to grace the crowd with a holiday ditty before lounging back on his throne. We live in the hope of our king’s triumphant return (and the inclusion of his assistant mouse lemur, Mort).

Alongside the floats are also a cavalcade of beautifully costumed dancers, performing stunning choreography in time to the holly-jolly music.

Some character performers have been known to interact – and take selfies! – with the theme park guests! In the past, interactive characters have included Gru, Puss in Boots, Santa, and Santa’s helpers.

If Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s wasn’t on your holiday bucket list before, it is now, right??

The Universal Bonus

The Macy’s balloon parade takes place during the Holidays at Universal, an event that traditionally lasts from November until January 1st.

The parade is definitely a must-see, but it’s not an all-day thing, which means you’ll still have time to check out your favorite areas in Universal! (The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, obviously.) We like to call this the Universal Bonus.

Rather than just watching the Macy’s balloon parade and heading home (or switching the TV over to a football game), you can have an entire day filled to the brim with fun activities like hanging with Spiderman on Super Hero Island or saving a planet with E.T. Now that’s how to celebrate the holidays!

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Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s always promises to be a delightful time for the entire family. With song, dance, and giant balloons of your favorite characters, what’s not to love?

Let us know what your favorite balloon is in the comments below! (I personally am still in love with the original Felix the Cat balloon.)

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Featured photo: Anthony Quintano via Flickr