The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the world's largest parade, is an annual parade in New York City presented by the American department store chain Macy's. While not the first such event held in the
2005 parade
Hamlet the Balloon School Pig being inflated by the Steven's Inflation Crew during training at Giants Stadium
Santa Claus' arrival at the parade's finale marks the start of the Christmas season
Tom the Turkey and Underdog arriving at Macy's Herald Square during the 1979 edition of the parade.
The 71st Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 27, 1997, under high winds, which led to multiple mishaps involving the parade's signature balloons. A Cat in the Hat balloon collided with
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
…and the top of the post broke off while inside the balloon, dragging it down, injuring a child and an off-duty police officer in the process. During the 1997 parade, very high winds pushed the Cat in the Hat balloon into a lamppost. The falling debris struck a parade-goer, fracturing her skull and leaving her in a…
The corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West (photographed in 2008), site of the near-fatal lamppost collision
Rudy Giuliani in 2000