Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a time-honored tradition on Thanksgiving morning. It’s essentially an extremely long, live advertisement, with companies doing everything they can to appeal to the nostalgia of their multi-generational audiences.
Having it on in the background while you start prepping your Thanksgiving feast and realizing that you forgot to pick up pretty key ingredients for your menu, the giant balloons, repetitive performances, and inane banter from the hosts has a calming effect. It reminds us of all the past Thanksgivings when something went wrong, but nothing was insurmountable with enough spiked egg nog and massive balloons of cartoon characters.
But as fun and familiar as Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade can be, it’s hard to watch. It’s background noise. That ceases to be the case when something goes wrong. Over the decades, the parade has seen balloons crash, floats falter, and performers stumble, creating unforgettable moments that live on in pop culture lore. This is what it’s all about.
Here’s a look at the most memorable Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade fails, gaffes, blunders, and mishaps in the parade’s history.
Balloon Blunders That Floated into Infamy
Felix the Cat Flies Away (1927)
Felix the Cat debuted as the parade’s first-ever balloon in 1927. However, organizers didn’t have a plan to deflate him after the event. The solution? Let him fly off into the sky. Unfortunately, Felix popped shortly after being released, marking the start of the parade’s long history of balloon-related issues.
Mighty Mouse Collapses (1956)
In 1956, Mighty Mouse met his match when a street sign punctured the balloon at Columbus Circle. The resulting collapse left spectators stunned, as the hero who was supposed to “save the day” ended up deflated on the pavement.
Popeye’s Hat Dumps Water (1957)
Rainy conditions during the 1957 parade turned Popeye’s hat into a hazard. As his iconic sailor cap filled with water, it tipped over, dousing unsuspecting spectators with cold rain. A soggy surprise no one saw coming!
Kermit the Frog Takes a Nose Dive (1991)
Kermit the Frog has had his fair share of bad luck in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but his 1991 incident stands out as particularly memorable. While floating along the parade route, the beloved amphibian suffered a collision that caused a massive tear. The balloon deflated so dramatically that it appeared Kermit was faceplanting into the street, much to the dismay (and amusement) of onlookers.
This wasn’t Kermit’s first brush with trouble. In 1985, a tree ripped a hole in the balloon during one of the rainiest parades on record. But the 1991 mishap cemented his legacy as a fan-favorite balloon prone to misadventures.
Superman Loses His Arm (1986)
Superman’s 1986 appearance in the parade ended disastrously when his arm got tangled in a tree. The collision ripped the limb clean off, and Superman finished the parade route in a not-so-super state.
Bugs Bunny Rips in a Snowstorm (1989)
The 1989 parade faced harsh conditions as a snowstorm wreaked havoc on the balloons. Bugs Bunny, in particular, took a hit, with a tear to his side leaving him partially deflated. The wintry weather proved too much for several of the day’s floats and balloons.
Sonic the Hedgehog Crashes Into a Lamp Post (1993)
Sonic’s parade debut in 1993 turned disastrous when he collided with a lamp post. The impact punctured the balloon, leaving him deflated and sidelining the popular character. A police officer was also injured during the incident, adding to the chaos.
Rex the Dinosaur Deflates (1993)
The 1993 parade was particularly rough for balloons, with Rex the Dinosaur joining Sonic in colliding with street lamps. Both balloons were quickly deflated, marking one of the parade’s most accident-prone years.
Barney Deflates in High Winds (1997)
Barney the Dinosaur faced his downfall in 1997 when high winds caused a tear in his balloon. Handlers struggled to control the enormous purple figure, eventually removing him from the parade route 15 blocks before the grandstand. Among all the other Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade fails, this one is probably my favorite.
Related: Relive The Hilarious Moment Barney Deflated On Live T.V. During the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Keith Haring Balloon Hits Broadcast Booth (2008)
A Keith Haring-inspired balloon made headlines in 2008 when it took a wide turn and crashed into the NBC broadcast booth. Al Roker, Meredith Vieira, and Matt Lauer were briefly taken off the air, creating a moment of chaotic hilarity.
Musical and Performance Mishaps
Tony Bennett Forgets the Lyrics (2008)
Even legendary performers aren’t immune to mistakes. Tony Bennett stumbled over his lyrics during a 2008 performance. While he recovered gracefully, the moment became a memorable reminder that live performances are never guaranteed to be perfect.
Rita Ora’s Microphone Mishap (2018)
In 2018, Rita Ora became the center of a lip-sync controversy when her pre-recorded track failed to sync with her live performance. The incident exposed the widespread use of pre-recorded tracks in outdoor performances and sparked a social media debate.
A Parade of Perfection? Not Quite, but That’s the Charm
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is as much about tradition as unpredictability. From flying Felix the Cat to deflated dinosaurs, these blunders remind us that even the most polished events have room for a little chaos. They’re the moments we remember long after the lip-synced performances end.
