FLOSSI AND THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with its long history dating back to 1924, has seen its share of unusual and unexpected events. Here are some of the most notable and unusual moments:
1. Balloons Floating Away (1932)
In the early years, Macy's had no system for deflating the massive balloons after the parade. Instead, they released them into the sky, where they would eventually deflate and fall to the ground. In 1932, a balloon landed in the East River, and another caused a stir when it landed on a ship and broke the rudder, leaving the ship to drift for weeks. Macy's offered a reward for their return, sparking a competitive "balloon hunt."
2. The Cat in the Hat Incident (1997)
During high winds in 1997, the Cat in the Hat balloon struck a streetlamp, causing debris to fall and seriously injuring a spectator. This incident led to tighter regulations on balloon size and the cancellation of balloons in certain weather conditions.
3. A Tear in Superman (1986)
The Superman balloon suffered an embarrassing fate when it tore in half during the parade. It became a running joke that Superman had met his kryptonite in the form of strong winds and sharp objects.
4. Sonic the Hedgehog Crash (1993)
The Sonic the Hedgehog balloon became the first video game character to trash the parade, but strong winds caused it to crash into a lamppost. The accident injured an off-duty police officer and highlighted the risks of handling giant balloons filled with nitrous oxide in poor weather.
5. Barney Deflates in the Rain (1997)
Heavy rain proved too much for the Barney the Dinosaur balloon, which deflated mid-parade in dramatic fashion. The moment was widely captured on camera, and some even described it as looking like a "melancholy collapse."
6. Unexpected Guest: A Wild Turkey (1993)
During the parade, a wild turkey wandered onto the route and caused a distraction by ripping off the face of the Grand Marshall. The irony of a turkey crashing a Thanksgiving parade was not lost on the amused crowd.
7. Power Outage Halts the Parade (1941)
A citywide power outage caused many of the floats and displays to stop mid-route. Despite this, performers continued entertaining because they had nothing else to do.
8. Kermit the Frog Gets Stuck (1985)
The Kermit the Frog balloon snagged on a tree, puncturing its side. This mishap left Kermit looking deflated.