Macy's annual tradition kicked off when the store expanded to Broadway and 30th becoming world's largest store with 1 million square feet of retail space. The first parade took place in 1924 with inflated balloons and zoo animals.
However, Macy's parade was not always the Thanksgiving Parade it is today. The first parade was arranged by the owner Rowland Hussey Macy to mark the Christmas and took the procession from Harlem to Herald Square.
In 1927, Macy's Thanksgiving Parade introduced floats instead of real animals. The first float was that of the Felix Cat. The parade was canceled very rarely. The only time the parade was canceled was between 1942 to 1944. The parade also continued post the 9/11 attacks.
For the 96th Macy's Thanksgiving Parade that will take place on November 24th, 2022, celebrities like Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, and Hoda Kotb will fulfill host duties. The star-studded morning will be attended by celebs like Paul;a Abdul, Gwen Stefani, Jimmy Fallon, and others.