when was the first macys thanksgiving day parade

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held on November 27, 1924, in New York City.

Quick Scoop

• The event debuted in 1924 under the name “Macy’s Christmas Parade,” even though it took place on Thanksgiving Day.

• It was organized to celebrate Macy’s expanded “world’s largest store” at Herald Square and to kick off the Christmas shopping season.

• The first parade featured store employees, bands, floats themed on fairy tales, and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo instead of the giant balloons seen today.

A Tiny Bit of Story

In 1924, Macy’s employees asked to celebrate Thanksgiving with a big, festival-style march through Manhattan, ending at the flagship store on 34th Street. Crowds reportedly reached into the tens or even hundreds of thousands, and the spectacle was such a hit that Macy’s immediately committed to making it an annual Thanksgiving tradition.

TL;DR: The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (then called Macy’s Christmas Parade) took place on November 27, 1924, in New York City.

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