Biggest Thanksgiving Day Parade Mishaps Over the Years

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade doesn't go off without a hitch every year.

The world's largest parade originally began in 1924 and has become the go-to watch on Turkey Day. From the giant balloons to the musical performances, there's something for everyone in the household to enjoy before digging into their Thanksgiving dinner.

The parade started with Macy's employees walking to the store's first location at Herald Square. The tradition was suspended from 1942 to 1944 when World War II required helium and rubber, forcing the event to hit pause.

Since 1952, families around the United States have been able to watch the broadcast on NBC. But with live TV comes potential on-air mistakes such as injuries and balloon malfunctions.

Keep scrolling for the most memorable on screen mishaps over the years:

Kicking Off the 1st Parade on an Unexpected High Note

In 1927, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debuted its first balloon: Felix the Cat. Things took a turn when the event ended and handlers had no idea how to deflate the giant balloon. As a result, Felix the Cat was released and he subsequently popped.

Mighty Mouse Down

Another balloon malfunction came in 1956 when Mighty Mouse hit a street sign and deflated.

Popeye's Rainy Day

One year later, the Popeye balloon started to overflow with water due to the weather. The situation got even worse when a strong gust of wind caused the rainwater to fall on parade-goers in the crowd.

Superman's Surprising Injury

While the Superman balloon made its way through the parade in 1985, the decoration got caught on a tree branch and was ripped off.

Bugs Bunny's Unfortunate Tear

Due to a snowstorm in 1989, the Bugs Bunny balloon got a tear on the side.

Kermit Takes a Bow

In 1991, the Kermit balloon crashed into a tree and became deflated on the left side of its head. Handlers were able to keep the balloon in the parade until the end but Kermit was taken out of rotation until 2002.

Rex the Dinosaur and Sonic the Hedgehog Meet Their Match

Two balloons took a hit in 1993 after crashing into lamp posts. Sonic the Hedgehog fell on an off-duty police officer, which caused minor injuries. The balloon wouldn't make another appearance in the parade until 2011.

Cat in the Hat Causes a Coma

During the 1997 parade, the Cat in the Hat balloon hit a lamppost, which broke and fractured a woman's skull. The attendee was in a coma for a month and Macy's subsequently enforced new rules on the size of their balloons.

Barney Scares the Children

That same year, Barney was not a sight to see because the wind caused the balloon to be ripped apart. Handlers attempted to deflate the balloon but the damage was already done for young fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the large purple dinosaur.

An M&Ms Accident Leads to Stitches

Two sisters were injured in 2005 when the M&Ms balloon hit a street light due to the heavy wind. The street light ultimately broke and pieces hit the sisters , which caused one of them to get stitches on the back of her head.

A Broadcast Disaster

Amid the 2008 broadcast of the parade, Al Roker, Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer were taken off the air when a Keith Haring balloon crashed right into their booth.

Scotty McCreery's On-Air Mistake

Following his American Idol season 10 win, McCreery got the opportunity to perform in the 2011 parade. However, McCreery missed his cue while performing "The Trouble With Girls" and viewers caught on to the fact that he was lip-syncing.

Spider-Man Is Out of Commission

In 2013, Spider-Man's arm was ripped open after the balloon hit a tree. The fictional superhero was able to finish its route through New York.

American Authors Delivers a Surprising Performance

While preparing to sing "Best Day of My Life" in 2014, the band lost track of time and continued to wave to the crowd as the music started. The camera cut away for a few seconds before returning to American Authors now singing to the track but it was too late.

Nutcracker Gets Overpowered

In 2019, the Nutcracker balloon hit a woman hard enough that she fell onto the pavement following a strong gust of wind.

Ronald McDonald Requires Medical Assistance

That same year, the Ronald McDonald balloon had its foot ripped open after hitting a tree. The strong wind didn't help and the clown deflated so heavily it needed to be pulled from the parade.

A Wimpy Parade Appearance

Like years past, several of the 2023 floats lost air while traveling down the parade route, most noticeably the Diary of a Wimpy Kid float. The balloon version of Greg Heffley's left hand completely deflated and hung by his side. Meanwhile, Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece's famous straw hat was completely deflated by the time he arrived at Macy's in Herald Square.

That Awkward Music Moment

The 2024 parade brought an awkward music moment, which was saved by NBC hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb. Just before The War and Treaty was set to perform, their backtrack never played. "Well, you know what, every now and then there's a little hiccup," Kotb told viewers as fans could be heard cheering despite the mishap. "We're getting the music, but it will be worth it. They should be coming up any moment now."

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This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM.