The First Macy's Thanksgiving Parade

The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in New York City on November 27, 1924. Macy's employees dressed in costumes and marched from 145th Street in Harlem to the flagship store on 34th Street accompanied by animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. The original parade featured no giant balloons; those were added in 1927, when Felix the Cat became the first character balloon. Today the parade draws about 3.5 million spectators along its route and is watched on television by roughly 50 million more.

Source: History.com