A wave of excitement swept through the Upper West Side on Wednesday as the giant character balloons began to inflate, a pre‑parade ritual that always draws a crowd. Hundreds of kids and their parents gathered along 72nd Street, eager to see the beloved figures puff up with helium moments before the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade takes off.
The partially inflated mascot balloons—ranging from a Marshal from Paw Patrol to the mischievous Pac‑Man—stood ready to make their debut. Fans were especially thrilled to see Derpy, the tiger from Netflix’s K Pop Demon Hunters. The crowd erupted in cheers as the large balloon “Derpy, Derpy, Derpy” filled with air, and 10‑year‑old Marisa declared, “This is my favorite movie ever,” eyes glued to the glowing tiger.
Beyond the familiar faces, the parade’s lineup includes brand‑new giants like Buzz Lightyear, Pac‑Man, Super Mario, and Shrek, alongside fresh floats that tout 2025’s biggest names: The Land of Glaciers, Wildlife & Wonder by Holland America Line; The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta; Master Chocolatier by Lindt; Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix; The Littlest Float from Goldfish; Labubu makers’ Friends‑giving in PopCity by Pop Mart; and Brick‑tastic Winter Mountain by the LEGO Group. Altogether, the float parade will feature 27 spectacular displays and 36 enormous balloons. In addition, singers Cynthia Erivo, Conan Gray, and Lady Wilson, plus K Pop Demon Hunters themselves, will perform live—marking their first on‑stage appearance at the event.
According to Will Coss, executive producer of the 99th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the floats and balloons are part of the parade’s heritage, but each year they strive to exceed previous limits. “Every year we push farther, testing new tech and animation opportunities,” he said. He added that the Minions balloon this year incorporates tiny mini‑Minions painting fresh patterns directly onto the surface—an example of their continual innovation.
Weather forecasts for Thursday predict sunny skies with daytime highs in the lower 40s, though gusts of 20‑30 mph could force some balloons to float lower than usual or even temporarily ground them if winds exceed 23 mph sustainedly or gust to over 34 mph, according to AccuWeather. The parade will start at 72nd Street and Central Park West, winding down to 34th Street and Avenue of the Americas, with a launch time of 8:30 a.m. EST. Viewers can catch the festivities live on NBC and Peacock.
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