It’s almost that time of year again! annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Live from the streets of New York City on Thursday, November 28, 2024. While viewers look forward to their favorite holiday tradition, many people are still yet to learn about the history of the event. After all, credit should be given to whoever came up with the brilliant idea of marching around Manhattan with Thanksgiving and Christmas-themed displays. So, when was the first time? Macy’s The Thanksgiving Day Parade, and who created this tradition?
See the history of the annual event below.
In what year was the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade held?
The first-ever Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City on November 27, 1924. However, according to the Library of Congress, it was not broadcast on television until 1947.
Who created the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Macy’s employees organized the first parade in 1924. After that, the parade continued to grow year after year. Per library of congressThe event was initially called the Macy’s Christmas Parade, Thanksgiving Day. Department store staff members organized the first parade in an effort to increase sales and showcase Macy’s Herald Square, New York, store.
According to the Library of Congress, the first balloon to launch the parade was Felix the Cat. Since then, audiences and home viewers have enjoyed seeing their favorite fictional characters float around Manhattan – including Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Blue’s Clues, SpongeBob SquarePants and Mickey Mouse.
In the early days of the parade, organizers had no way to safely release the balloons. So, at that time, they left them in the air. However, after one balloon got stuck in the wing of an airplane, no balloon was ever sent into the air from the parade again.
How to Watch the 2024 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
NBC hosts and broadcasts the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade every year. Since 1947, viewers at home have been watching live broadcasts on NBC’s cable channel.
Now that fans have streaming options, they can stream Parade Live on More. The parade begins at 9 a.m. (ET) and ends at approximately noon (ET).
