17 Unnerving And Scary Old Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloons I'm So Glad They Retired

Audrey Engvalson

28 November 2024 at 5:31 am·3-min read

Please don't take this the wrong way: the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is my absolute favorite part of the holidays. However, just like vintage Disney World characters, some of the balloons and floats of yesteryear were...well...creepy. Take a look:

1.This 35-foot-long fish balloon in the 1928 Thanksgiving Day Parade with...razor...sharp...teeth completely lining its face.

Vintage parade with large fish balloon and a crowd watching. Participants march in costumes. Historic buildings and old cars are visible — Here's a fun fact: Back then, the balloons would be released and the person that recovered the balloon when it landed would get $100.

Underwood Archives / Getty Images

2.This 1940 genie float from the movie The Thief of Baghdad is just disproportionately long.

Parade float featuring a large genie figure from "The Thief of Bagdad" with a crowd of spectators lining the street — Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

3.This 1937 Pinocchio float definitely looks like Pinocchio got stung by a bee instead of telling a lie.

Vintage parade with large cartoon character balloon floating above a crowd in a city street, surrounded by buildings with signs — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

4.This unnerving 1931 hippo balloon whose eyes just follow me no matter how I pivot the screen.

1930s parade scene with large animal balloons and performers in costume walking along a crowded city street lined with spectators — Bettmann / Bettmann Archive

5.Morton the Nantucket Sea Monster is enough of a deterrent for me never to get in the water.

Large Mickey Mouse balloon floating above a crowded city street during a parade, surrounded by skyscrapers and spectators — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

6.This giant-faced clown, which I would back away very quickly from if it came close.

Parade scene with a large-headed clown entertaining a crowd of onlookers, including children and adults dressed in 1940s attire — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

7.This scary-looking dragon from the 1931 Thanksgiving Day Parade. It's actually so ferocious that I didn't notice literally every person in this photo is wearing a hat.

Crowds gather at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in a 1931 photo, featuring a large Felix the Cat balloon among the spectators — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

8.This balloon-faced guy who looks like a tortured soul.

Parade in a city with large elephant and smiling face balloons, surrounded by crowds and buildings in the background — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

9.This too-realistic-for-comfort dog could also stand on its hind legs and bark.

Large parade float of a fluffy dog with big eyes, standing on a platform. People are visible around it, suggesting a festive event — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

10.This poor photo shows that all Superman really needed was a hand.

Giant balloon depicting a man with an outstretched hand floats in a city parade, guided by two handlers — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

11.This Linus the Lion balloon's face I actually missed when I looked for it. Seriously, why is his face so small?

Large cartoon character balloons float down a crowded city street during a parade. Spectators line the street to watch — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

12.I don't quite trust this "Doodle Bug" from the 1984 parade.

Caterpillar float with a large smiling face and clowns walking alongside in a parade — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

13.And this centipede, who is from the same genre of nightmares and, I'd even argue, a little worse.

Giant caterpillar float with a smiling face in a parade; people and buildings are visible in the background — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

14.This 1945 Bobo the Hobo balloon is bothersome to me because of the eyes. That's why I think the sheep in Zootopia look extra scary, the non-round eyes. The only non-round eyes I trust are Kermit the Frog's.

People preparing a large inflatable balloon for a parade, working on securing its ropes — Weegee(arthur Fellig) / Getty Images

15.This Humpty Dumpty with...hair? Why does the egg have hair?

Parade float shaped like a large cartoon face with arms, observed by a crowd of onlookers in winter clothing — New York Daily News Archive / NY Daily News via Getty Images

16.This 1974 tortoise float, which, OK, isn't that scary, but something about him makes me feel inferior like he'd embarrass me at a party and everyone would laugh.

Giant turtle float with child rider in a parade; guide in vintage attire leads it, crowd and balloons visible in the background — Newsday Llc / Newsday RM via Getty Images

17.Finally, these three pigs from 1961 are staring through the camera, through the computer screen, through my heart, and into my soul.

People in animal costumes and sequined outfits parade down a street during a festive event — William Lovelace / Getty Images

What's been your favorite Thanksgiving float? Tell us in the comments below!