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This Thanksgiving, as we all gobble down on turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and all of those classic Thanksgiving treats, a bigger Thanksgiving tradition will occur that morning for the 89th time: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Dating back to 1924, the parade has a rich history of balloons, floats, marching bands, Rockettes and musical performances from chart-topping artists and Tony winning Broadway musicals. Included in its history are years of Muppet appearances from balloons to parade floats.

Jim Henson’s history with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1974 when a Sesame Street float made its debut in the annual parade. On November 11, 1974, Jim Henson’s characters made their first appearance at the parade with Sesame Street well into its 5th season. Big Bird, Bert and Ernie, and the rest of the cast decorated a float that resembled the familiar architecture of Sesame Street, including the notable street sign at the front of it and a smaller recreation of Hooper’s Store and the famous 123 Sesame Street stoop. Big Bird was perched in his giant nest on the roof of the float, while characters such as Cookie Monster and The Count stuck their heads out of the windows. Human cast members including Mr. Hooper, Gordon and Bob stood on the front of the float. The Sesame Street float became the parade’s official representation of the work of Jim Henson with appearances in 1975 and 1976. In 1977, along with the return of the Sesame Street float, a balloon featuring a Muppet character was finally introduced with the debut of the first Kermit the Frog balloon. Standing at 63 feet tall and 24 feet wide, requiring 5,220 cubic feet of helium and four hours to reach its full size, the balloon arrived at the annual parade. The float and balloon returned in 1978 and, in that same year, a special titled “Hip Hip Parade” aired about the Macy’s parade, hosted by Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear, in which the duo discussed the parade and poked fun at the television event.

In 1979, the Kermit the Frog balloon returned alongside both a new Sesame Street float and the appearance of the Electric Mayhem bus as a float to promote The Muppet Movie. Miss Piggy appeared in the parade riding Hollywood-style in a Rolls Royce, while the Electric Mayhem bus featured in the movie followed behind with various Muppets appearing in the windows. With the main Muppet performers inside of the bus, new performers were brought on to perform in the new Sesame Street float, including Kevin Clash, who of course later became such popular characters as Selma Worm and Baby Fats Domino. He also created and performed a certain Furry Red Monster with his own line of “Tickle Me” dolls. With the Children’s Television Workshop celebrating its 10th anniversary of the show, the new Sesame Street float, a much taller, two-story structure with Big Bird once again perched at the top of the building and human cast members standing at the front of the float with kids. A sign was carried in front of the float, “Macy’s wishes Sesame Street a Happy 10th Year”.

The 1981 parade featured Beauregard’s taxi, with Beauregard driving around the parade carrying passengers Kermit, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo to promote The Great Muppet Caper. The Kermit balloon and Sesame Street float made appearances in the 1980-1982 parade, before being joined by a third Henson property for the 1983 parade: Fraggle Rock. The popular children’s show debuted its own float that year, featuring Junior Gorg sitting on top of a set based on the Gorg’s garden, while Uncle Traveling Matt hid below Junior’s sight. Below the garden set, the float opened into a set of the Fraggle caves, where the main Fraggle characters played instruments and sang, including other Fraggles around them, with two specifically balancing on a seesaw. This was a lavish set filled with so much going on, especially for a parade float. The Fraggle Rock float returned for an encore performance in 1984 alongside the Kermit balloon once again as well as a Sesame Street car replacing the typical float. The show used its walk-around characters of Ernie, Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Bert to march alongside a car carrying Oscar the Grouch in puppet form. While the walk-around characters would return in other parades to promote Sesame Street Live!, this was the only appearance of a Sesame Street car, with 1985 and 1986 returning to the usual format of having a Kermit balloon and a Sesame Street float. The 1985 parade saw the Kermit balloon rip its stomach along Central Park West after heavy rain weighed down the balloons that year. The balloon was punctured by a tree and almost fell onto spectators, with its left foot dragging along the street. The balloon ended with about 20% helium remaining inside and had to be carried by its handlers, dressed in Kermit green. Both returned in 1987 as well, which also saw Jim Henson and Kermit the Frog accepting the Rollie Award live on the telecast, an award for their years of service to the parade.

For the 1988 parade, the Kermit balloon did not return, instead joining the Sesame Street float was a new Big Bird balloon. Designed by Michael Frith, best known for designing such Muppets as Fozzie Bear, The Swedish Chef, Dr. Teeth and so many more. The Big Bird Balloon featured the character wearing a winter cap and a sweater, and carrying alphabet blocks. The Big Bird balloon and Sesame Street float returned in 1989. 1990 brought an explosion of Muppet appearances with the returns of both the Big Bird balloon and Sesame Street float as well as walk-around characters and the return of the Kermit the Frog balloon after the 1985 incident. Kermit and Miss Piggy walk-arounds rode in a Rolls-Royce car, while Ernie and Bert walk-arounds marched along the parade route singing “Do You Like Me?”, a song featured in a segment on Sesame Street. The broadcast also incuded a tribute to Jim Henson, who had passed away earlier that year. From 1991 to 1997, the Kermit and Big Bird balloons as well as the Sesame Street float made various appearance, also joined by walk-around characters of Kermit and Miss Piggy again in 1994. A new Sesame Street float debuted in 1998 and continued alongside the Big Bird balloon through 2000. In 2001, the Sesame Street float was joined by a Kermit walk-around, who appeared on a commemorative float with other classic children’s characters, while a new Big Bird balloon made its debut. The previous balloon had its stitching frayed and was extensively patched up, with the new one showing Big Bird playing a pair of cymbals.

2002 saw the introduction of a new Kermit the Frog balloon, 78 feet long, 61 feet high and 36 feet wide, containing 11,000 cubic feet of helium. Kermit became the official holiday mascot for Macy’s in 2002, with Kermit riding on Santa’s sleigh at the end of the parade as well as joining Miss Piggy for an interview with Today Show weatherman Al Roker, promoting their new TV movie that aired a day later, It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie. The 2002 Sesame Street float celebrated a message of peace and universal goodwill as the American cast of the show were joined by international Sesame Street characters from all across the world including characters from the show’s adaptions in Egypt, China, Germany, Mexico and Israel. The Sesame Street float and both the Kermit and Big Bird balloons were joined in 2003 by a third balloon: Super Grover. These four parade pieces returned for 2004, although with a new float, a colorful recreation of the 123 Sesame Street apartment building with Big Bird’s nest on display at the front of the float, carrying Big Bird alongside Elmo and Zoe, while other characters pop out from the windows. The two balloons and float returned in 2005 and 2006. 2007 saw Abby Cadabby join the Kermit the Frog balloon and Sesame Street parade float. Standing at 56 feet long, 37.5 feet wide and 48.5 feet high, both Abby and her magic wand are filled with 16,100 cubic feet of helium.

In 2008, the Kermit and Abby balloons as well as the Sesame float were joined by a special live performance by the real Kermit the Frog. Kermit sat perched on a log wearing a candy cane striped scarf on a special Central Park float. Joined by Camp Broadway, Kermit sang a brand new Christmas song written specifically for the Macy’s parade called “I Believe”. This format returned in 2009, including Kermit returning to perform “I Believe”, this time on the Bountiful Harvest Cornucopia float alongside Disney Channel star Tiffany Thornton, who at that time was starring on the Demi Lovato sitcom “Sonny With A Chance”, and who also recorded a music video of the song with Kermit that aired frequently on Disney Channel at that time. From 2010 through 2012, the Kermit the Frog balloon and Sesame Street float made appearances in the parades.

Then in 2013, the Sesame Street float became the only representation of Jim Henson. Although that year, the Sesame Street characters we joined alongside Jimmy Fallon and the Roots from the popular late night show “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”. Based on a popular YouTube video in which Jimmy Fallon, The Roots and the Sesame Street Muppets sang the “Sesame Street Theme” while performing with classroom musical instruments, the float featured Fallon and The Roots playing toy instruments alongside the popular children’s characters to the song “Somebody Come and Play”. 2014 saw the float return and 2015 it has been announced that Questlove, drummer for The Roots, will appear on the float with the Sesame Street characters.

As you can see, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, besides becoming an American tradition and beloved parade, show and television event, has a long history and close ties to Jim Henson and his characters. I can only hope that the future will bring more balloons and floats. Wouldn’t it be cool to have the Electric Mayhem bus return riding down the parade route promoting “The Muppets”. Or a balloon flying high in the sky of Animal with drumsticks in hand and most definitely chasing the Rockettes dancing in front of him. Thanks for reading this, and I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!